Letter 35

Safe by God's grace, dear brothers, I greet you and long to come to you soon, to satisfy my own desire as well as yours and that of all the brethren. But I must also consider the common peace, and for now — though it wears on my spirit — remain absent. If my presence provoked the jealousy and violence of the pagans, I'd be the cause of breaking the very peace I ought to protect. When you write that things are settled, or when the Lord Himself signals it to me, I'll come. For where could I be happier than in the place where the Lord first brought me to faith and let me grow? In the meantime, I ask you to take diligent care of the widows, the sick, and all the poor. You may cover the expenses for any needy strangers from my own funds, which I've left with our fellow presbyter Rogatianus. Since those funds may run short, I've sent an additional sum through the acolyte Naricus, so that the suffering may be relieved more generously and promptly. I bid you, dear brothers, ever heartily farewell. Keep me in your remembrance. Greet the brotherhood for me, and tell them to remember me as well.

Epistle 35 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, Concerning the Care of the Poor and Strangers. Argument.— He Cautions Them Against Neglecting the Widows, the Sick, or the Poor, or Strangers. Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, his beloved brethren, greeting. In safety, by God's grace, I greet you, beloved brethren, desiring soon to come to you, and to satisfy the wish as well of myself and you, as of all the brethren. It behooves me also, however, to have regard to the common peace, and, in the meantime, although with weariness of spirit, to be absent from you, lest my presence should provoke the jealousy and violence of the heathens, and I should be the cause of breaking the peace, who ought rather to be careful for the quiet of all. When, therefore, you write that matters are arranged, and that I ought to come, or if the Lord should condescend to intimate it to me before, then I will come to you. For where could I be better or more joyful than there where the Lord willed me both to believe and to grow up? I request that you will diligently take care of the widows, and of the sick, and of all the poor. Moreover, you may supply the expenses for strangers, if any should be indigent, from my own portion, which I have left with Rogatianus, our fellow presbyter; which portion, lest it should be all appropriated, I have supplemented by sending to the same by Naricus the acolyte another share, so that the sufferers may be more largely and promptly dealt with. I bid you, beloved brethren, ever heartily farewell; and have me in remembrance. Greet your brotherhood in my name, and tell them to be mindful of me.