Letter 50

Cyprian to Maximus the presbyter, and to Urbanus, Sidonius, and Macarius, his brothers, greetings. When I read your letter, beloved — the letter you wrote to me about your return, and about the peace of the Church, and the restoration of brotherhood — I confess that I was overjoyed, in just the same measure as I had been overjoyed when I first heard of the glory of your confession and received the news of the heavenly and spiritual renown of your warfare. For this, too, is another confession of your faith and praise: to confess that the Church is one; to refuse to become a partner in another man's error — or rather in his wickedness; to seek out again the same camp from which you had gone forth, the camp from which you leapt out with such vigor to fight the battle and overcome the enemy. The trophies from the field ought to be brought back to the place from which the weapons were received — otherwise the Church of Christ would not retain the very warriors whom Christ had furnished for her glory. Now, however, you have kept in the Lord's peace the proper course of your faith and the law of undivided love and concord, and you have given by your example a lesson of love and peace to all others. The truth of the Church, and the unity of the Gospel mystery that we hold in common, are sealed and confirmed by your return. Confessors of Christ do not become leaders of error, having stood forth first as praiseworthy champions of virtue and honor. Let others consider how much there is to congratulate you about. I know what I think: that you are more fully confessors now than before — because now your confession includes the unity of the Church herself.

Epistle 50 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... From Cyprian to the Confessors, Congratulating Them on Their Return from Schism. Argument.— Cyprian Congratulates the Roman Confessors on Their Return into the Church, and Replies to Their Letters. 1. Cyprian to Maximus the presbyter, also to Urbanus, and Sidonius, and Maturest, his brethren, greeting. When I read your letters, dearest brethren, that you wrote to me about your return, and about the peace of the Church, and the brotherly restoration, I confess that I was as greatly overjoyed as I had before been overjoyed when I learned the glory of your confession, and thankfully received tidings of the heavenly and spiritual renown of your warfare. For this, moreover, is another confession of your faith and praise; to confess that the Church is one, and not to become a sharer in other men's error, or rather wickedness; to seek anew the same camp whence you went forth, whence with the most vigorous strength you leapt forth to wage the battle and to subdue the adversary. For the trophies from the battlefield ought to be brought back there whence the arms for the field had been received, lest the Church of Christ should not retain those same glorious warriors whom Christ had furnished for glory. Now, however, you have kept in the peace of the Lord the fitting tenor of your faith and the law of undivided charity and concord, and have given by your walk an example of love and peace to others; so that the truth of the Church, and the unity of the Gospel mystery which is held by us, are also linked together by your consent and bond; and confessors of Christ do not become the leaders of error, after having stood forth as praiseworthy originators of virtue and honour. 2. Let others consider how much they may congratulate you, or how much each one may glory for himself: I confess that I congratulate you more, and I more boast of you to others, in respect of this your peaceful return and charity. For you ought in simplicity to hear what was in my heart. I grieved vehemently, and I was greatly afflicted, that I could not hold communion with those whom once I had begun to love. After the schismatical and heretical error laid hold of you, on your going forth from prison, it seemed as if your glory had been left in the dungeon. For there the dignity of your name seemed to have stayed behind when the soldiers of Christ did not return from the prison to the Church, although they had gone into the prison with the praise and congratulations of the Church. 3. For although there seem to be tares in the Church, yet neither our faith nor our charity ought to be hindered, so that because we see that there are tares in the Church we ourselves should withdraw from the Church: we ought only to labour that we may be wheat, that when the wheat shall begin to be gathered into the Lord's barns, we may receive fruit for our labour and work. The apostle in his epistle says, In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, and some to honour and some to dishonour. 2 Timothy 2:20 Let us strive, dearest brethren, and labour as much as we possibly can, that we may be vessels of gold or silver. But to the Lord alone it is granted to break the vessels of earth, to whom also is given the rod of iron. The servant cannot be greater than his lord, nor may any one claim to himself what the Father has given to the Son alone, so as to think that he can take the fan for winnowing and purging the threshing-floor, or can separate by human judgment all the tares from the wheat. That is a proud obstinacy and a sacrilegious presumption which a depraved madness assumes to itself. And while some are always assuming to themselves more dominion than meek justice demands, they perish from the Church; and while they insolently extol themselves, blinded by their own swelling, they lose the light of truth. For which reason we also, keeping moderation, and considering the Lord's balances, and thinking of the love and mercy of God the Father, have long and carefully pondered with ourselves, and have weighed what was to be done with due moderation. 4. All which matters you can look into thoroughly, if you will read the tracts which I have lately read here, and have, for the sake of our mutual love, transmitted to you also for you to read; wherein there is neither wanting for the lapsed, censure which may rebuke, nor medicine which may heal. Moreover, my feeble ability has expressed as well as it could the unity of the Catholic Church. Which treatise I now more and more trust will be pleasing to you, since you now read it in such a way as both to approve and love it; inasmuch as what we have written in words you fulfil in deeds, when you return to the Church in the unity of charity and peace. I bid you, dearest brethren, and greatly longed-for, ever heartily farewell.