Letter 11

I know your grief, dear brothers, because it is my own. You weep over the downfall of our brothers and sisters — I weep with you. Each one who fell brings pain to all of us. As the apostle said: "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn?" And again: "If one member suffers, all the members suffer with it." I share your suffering for those who buckled under the severity of the persecution and fell — tearing away, as it were, a piece of our own flesh as they went. God's mercy can bring healing to them. But I do not think we should rush. Nothing must be done carelessly or prematurely. If we grab at peace too hastily, we risk provoking God's anger more seriously. The blessed martyrs have written to me about certain individuals, asking that their cases be reviewed. When the Lord grants us peace and we return to the Church, those cases will be examined in your presence and with your input. But I hear that certain presbyters — ignoring both the Gospel and what the martyrs actually wrote to me, and disregarding the bishop's authority — have already begun granting communion to the lapsed. This is premature and destructive. What good is a reconciliation that isn't grounded in genuine repentance? It's a bandage over an unhealed wound. I urge you all: be patient. Wait for the proper time and process. Those who have fallen must show by their tears and their works that they understand the gravity of what happened. And those who stood firm must see that their courage is not cheapened by an indiscriminate forgiveness that costs nothing. The time will come to welcome them back. But it must be done right — for their sake, for ours, and for the Lord's.

Epistle 11 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To the People. Argument.— The Substance of This Letter is Also Suggested in Epistle XIV, Among the People Also, He Says, I Have Done What I Could to Quiet Their Minds, and Have Instructed Them to Be Retained in Ecclesiastical Discipline. 1. Cyprian to his brethren among the people who stand fast, greeting. That you bewail and grieve over the downfall of our brethren I know from myself, beloved brethren, who also bewail with you and grieve for each one, and suffer and feel what the blessed apostle said: Who is weak, said he, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? 2 Corinthians 11:29 And again he has laid it down in his epistle, saying, Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member rejoice, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 I sympathize with you in your suffering and grief, therefore, for our brethren, who, having lapsed and fallen prostrate under the severity of the persecution, have inflicted a like pain on us by their wounds, inasmuch as they tear away part of our bowels with them — to these the divine mercy is able to bring healing. Yet I do not think that there must be any haste, nor that anything must be done incautiously and immaturely, lest, while peace is grasped at, the divine indignation be more seriously incurred. The blessed martyrs have written to me about certain persons, requesting that their wishes may be examined into. When, as soon as peace is given to us all by the Lord, we shall begin to return to the Church, then the wishes of each one shall be looked into in your presence, and with your judgment. 2. Yet I hear that certain of the presbyters, neither mindful of the Gospel nor considering what the martyrs have written to me, nor reserving to the bishop the honour of his priesthood and of his dignity, have already begun to communicate with the lapsed, and to offer on their behalf, and to give them the eucharist, when it was fitting that they should attain to these things in due course. For, as in smaller sins which are not committed against God, penitence may be fulfilled in a set time, and confession may be made with investigation of the life of him who fulfils the penitence, and no one can come to communion unless the hands of the bishop and clergy be first imposed upon him; how much more ought all such matters as these to be observed with caution and moderation, according to the discipline of the Lord, in these gravest and extremest sins! This warning, indeed, our presbyters and deacons ought to have given you, that they might cherish the sheep committed to their care, and by the divine authority might instruct them in the way of obtaining salvation by prayer. I am aware of the peacefulness as well as the fear of our people, who would be watchful in the satisfaction and the deprecation of God's anger, unless some of the presbyters, by way of gratifying them, had deceived them. 3. Even you, therefore, yourselves, guide them each one, and control the minds of the lapsed by counsel and by your own moderation, according to the divine precepts. Let no one pluck the unripe fruit at a time as yet premature. Let no one commit his ship, shattered and broken with the waves, anew to the deep, before he has carefully repaired it. Let none be in haste to accept and to put on a rent tunic, unless he has seen it mended by a skilful workman. and has received it arranged by the fuller. Let them bear patiently my advice, I beg. Let them look for my return, that when by God's mercy I come to you, I, with many of my co-bishops, being called together according to the Lord's discipline, and in the presence of the confessors, and with your opinion also, may be able to examine the letters and the wishes of the blessed martyrs. Concerning this matter I have written both to the clergy and to the martyrs and confessors, both of which letters I have directed to be read to you. I bid you, brethren beloved and most longed-for, ever heartily farewell in the Lord; and have me in remembrance. Farewell.