Letter 23

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his brothers, greetings. So that nothing remains unknown to you, beloved brothers, I have sent you copies of what was written to me and how I replied. I trust my response will meet with your approval. But I should also tell you this: for urgent reasons, I have sent a letter to the clergy in Rome. And since I needed to send it by way of clergy members, and I know that many of ours are absent while the few who remain can barely manage the daily duties, it was necessary to appoint some new ones who could be dispatched. So know that I have made Saturus a reader and Optatus the confessor a subdeacon. We had already begun moving them toward the clergy by common agreement — I had entrusted Saturus with the reading on Easter Day, more than once, and when we were carefully examining readers with the teacher-presbyters, we appointed Optatus from among the readers to be a teacher of the catechumens. We first verified that they possessed all the qualities required of candidates for clerical office. Nothing new has been done in your absence. What we had already begun by common consent has simply been completed under the pressure of necessity. Farewell, beloved brothers, and remember me.

Epistle 23 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 Clergy, on the Letters Sent to Rome, and About the Appointment of Saturus as Reader, and Optatus as Sub-Deacon. A.D. 250. Argument.— The Clergy are Informed by This Letter of the Ordination of Saturus and Optatus, and What Cyprian Had Written to Rome. Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his brethren, greeting. That nothing may be unknown to your consciousness, beloved brethren, of what was written to me and what I replied, I have sent you a copy of each letter, and I believe that my rejoinder will not displease you. But I ought to acquaint you in my letter concerning this, that for a very urgent reason I have sent a letter to the clergy who abide in the city. And since it behooved me to write by clergy, while I know that very many of ours are absent, and the few that are there are hardly sufficient for the ministry of the daily duty, it was necessary to appoint some new ones, who might be sent. Know, then, that I have made Saturus a reader, and Optatus, the confessor, a subdeacon; whom already, by the general advice, we had made next to the clergy, in having entrusted to Saturus on Easter-day, once and again, the reading; and when with the teacher-presbyters we were carefully trying readers — in appointing Optatus from among the readers to be a teacher of the hearers — examining, first of all, whether all things were found fitting in them, which ought to be found in such as were in preparation for the clerical office. Nothing new, therefore, has been done by me in your absence; but what, on the general advice of all of us had been begun, has, upon urgent necessity, been accomplished. I bid you, beloved brethren, ever heartily farewell; and remember me. Farewell.