Letter 18

Caldonius to Cyprian and his fellow presbyters in Carthage, greetings. The urgency of the times makes us reluctant to grant peace hastily. But I thought it right to write to you about certain people who, after having sacrificed, were put on trial again and sent into exile. It seems to me that they have atoned for their earlier sin by now giving up their property and homes. They have repented and are following Christ. Take Felix, for example — he served as a presbyter under Decimus and was close to me during my own imprisonment. I knew him well. He, his wife Victoria, and Lucius — all faithful — have been banished. Their property has been seized by the imperial treasury. Then there is a woman named Bona, who was physically dragged to the altar by her husband. Her hands were held down while the sacrifice was made, but she had no willing part in it — she cried out against them: "I didn't do it! You did!" She too was banished. All of these people are now asking for peace, saying: "We have recovered the faith we lost. We have repented. We have publicly confessed Christ." It seems to me they ought to receive peace, but I have referred the matter to your judgment rather than presume to act rashly on my own. If you want me to take any action based on a common decision, write to me. Greet our brothers and sisters — ours send their greetings to you. Farewell, beloved brothers.

Epistle 18 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... Caldonius to Cyprian. Argument.— When, in the Urgency of a New Persecution, Certain of the Lapsed Had Confessed Christ, and So, Before They Went Away into Exile, Sought for Peace, Caldonius Consults Cyprian as to Whether Peace Should Be Granted Them. Caldonius to Cyprian and his fellow presbyters abiding at Carthage, greeting. The necessity of the times induces us not hastily to grant peace. But it was well to write to you, that they who, after having sacrificed, were again tried, became exiles. And thus they seem to me to have atoned for their former crime, in that they now let go their possessions and homes, and, repenting, follow Christ. Thus Felix, who assisted in the office of presbyter under Decimus, and was very near to me in bonds (I knew that same Felix very thoroughly), Victoria, his wife, and Lucius, being faithful, were banished, and have left their possessions, which the treasury now has in keeping. Moreover, a woman, Bona by name, who was dragged by her husband to sacrifice, and (with no conscience guilty of the crime, but because those who held her hands, sacrificed) began to cry against them, I did not do it; you it was who did it!— was also banished. Since, therefore, all these were asking for peace, saying, We have recovered the faith which we had lost, we have repented, and have publicly confessed Christ — although it seems to me that they ought to receive peace — yet I have referred them to your judgment, that I might not appear to presume anything rashly. If, therefore, you should wish me to do anything by the common decision, write to me. Greet our brethren; our brethren greet you. I bid you, beloved brethren, ever heartily farewell.