Letter 52: Cyprian to Fortunatus, Ahymnus, Optatus, Privatianus, Donatulus, and Felix, his brothers, greetings.

Cyprian to Fortunatus, Ahymnus, Optatus, Privatianus, Donatulus, and Felix, his brothers, greetings. You wrote to me, dearest brothers, reporting that when you were in the city of Capsa to ordain a bishop, our brother and colleague Superius brought a case before you. Three of our brothers — Ninus, Clementianus, and Florus — had been arrested during the persecution and confessed the Lord's name. They overcame the violence of the magistrate and the fury of the mob. But then, brought before the proconsul and subjected to severe torture, they were broken by the prolonged agony of their sufferings and fell. They lost the glory toward which their full and vigorous faith had been carrying them. After this grave lapse — incurred not willingly but under duress — they have continued in repentance for the space of three years. You asked whether it was right to readmit them to communion. In my own judgment, I believe the Lord's mercy will not be withheld from men who are known to have stood in the front lines of battle, confessed the name, resisted the magistrates and the raging crowd with unshaken faith, endured imprisonment, and held out through wave after wave of torture — only to be overcome at the last by the frailty of the flesh. Their earlier courage should count in their favor. It may be enough that they lost their glory; we should not also close the door of forgiveness and deprive them of their Father's love and our communion. Three years of continuous, sorrowful repentance ought to satisfy the plea for the Lord's mercy. However, since after the festival of Easter we will be holding a council of bishops, I will raise the matter with them at that time, and we will reach a decision together. Farewell, dearest brothers.

Epistle 52