Letter 53: From Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, Nicomedes, Caecilius, Junius, Marrutius, Felix, Successus, Faustinus,...

From Cyprian, Liberalis, Caldonius, Nicomedes, Caecilius, Junius, Marrutius, Felix, Successus, Faustinus, Fortunatus, Victor, Saturninus, another Saturninus, Rogatianus, Tertullus, Lucianus, Eutyches, Amplus, Sattius, Secundinus, another Saturninus, Aurelius, Priscus, Herculanus, Victoricus, Quintus, Honoratus, Montanus, Hortensianus, Verianus, Iambus, Donatus, Pompeius, Polycarpus, Demetrius, another Donatus, Privatianus, another Fortunatus, Rogatus, and Monulus — to our brother Cornelius, greetings. We had decided some time ago, dearest brother, after mutual consultation, that those who were overthrown by the enemy during the ferocity of the persecution — who lapsed and polluted themselves with unlawful sacrifices — should undergo a long and thorough repentance. If the danger of illness became urgent, they could receive peace on the very point of death. It was not right, and neither the Father's love nor divine mercy allowed, that the Church should be closed to those who knock, or the hope of salvation denied to those who mourn and plead. When they depart this world, they should not be dismissed to the Lord without communion and peace. But now we see that another day of trouble is drawing near. Frequent warnings tell us to prepare and arm ourselves for the struggle the enemy is announcing. We must also prepare the people entrusted to us by God, gathering all the soldiers of Christ from every quarter — those who desire weapons and are eager for battle — within the Lord's camp. Under the pressure of this necessity, we have decided: peace is to be given to those who have not abandoned the Church, who have repented from the first day of their lapse, who have never stopped grieving, weeping, and pleading with the Lord. They should be armed and equipped for the coming fight. If we were to deny them communion, we would find them unarmed and naked when the battle comes — and that would be our failure, not theirs. The hand we extend is not the hand of easy forgiveness but the hand that puts a sword into the grip of a soldier who has proved, by long penance, that he wants to fight again. [Context: This is a synodal letter — a joint communication from an African council of over 40 bishops — announcing to Cornelius, Bishop of Rome, their decision to readmit the penitent lapsed to communion in anticipation of a new wave of persecution under Emperor Gallus (251-253 AD). The decision represents a middle path between Novatian's total refusal and the confessors' blanket pardons.]

Epistle 53