Letter 82

Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons and all the people, greetings. When it was reported to me, dearest brothers, that messengers had been sent to bring me to Utica for punishment, those dearest to me urged me to withdraw for a time from my gardens, and I consented — because a just reason presented itself. A bishop ought to confess the Lord in the city in which he presides over the Lord's Church, and the whole people should be glorified together with their bishop at the moment of his confession. For whatever the confessor-bishop speaks in that moment, he speaks in the mouth of all, by the inspiration of God. But the honor of our Church — glorious as it is — would be diminished if I, a bishop placed over another city, were to receive my sentence and make my confession in Utica, and were then to depart thence as a martyr to the Lord. It is for my own sake and for yours both that I pray with continual supplications — it is what all my desires entreat — that I may confess among you, and suffer here, and from this place depart to the Lord. And that is as it should be. I remain therefore in this hidden retreat, awaiting the arrival of the proconsul when he returns to Carthage, so that I may hear from him what the emperors have commanded concerning Christian laymen and bishops, and may say what the Lord grants me to say in that hour. Be at peace. Prepare yourselves. The hour is near, and the one who calls us to it has also promised to be with us in it. What is asked of us is nothing more or less than what has been asked of all the martyrs who have gone before: to confess his name and to refuse to deny it. This we will do — in the sight of God, the angels, and the people of Carthage.

Epistle 82 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 and People Concerning His Retirement, a Little Before His Martyrdom. Argument.— When, Near the End of His Life, Cyprian, on Returning to His Gardens, Was Told that Messengers Were Sent to Take Him for Punishment to Utica, He Withdrew. And Lest It Should Be Thought that He Had Done So from Fear of Death, He Gives the Reason in This Letter, Viz., that He Might Undergo His Martyrdom Nowhere Else Than at Carthage, in the Sight of His Own People. A.D. 258. 1. Cyprian to the presbyters and deacons, and all the people, greeting. When it had been told to us, dearest brethren, that the jailers had been sent to bring me to Utica, and I had been persuaded by the counsel of those dearest to me to withdraw for a time from my gardens, as a just reason was afforded I consented. For the reason that it is fit for a bishop, in that city in which he presides over the Church of the Lord, there to confess the Lord, and that the whole people should be glorified by the confession of their prelate in their presence. For whatever, in that moment of confession, the confessor-bishop speaks, he speaks in the mouth of all, by inspiration of God. But the honour of our Church, glorious as it is, will be mutilated if I, a bishop placed over another church, receiving my sentence or my confession at Utica, should go thence as a martyr to the Lord, when indeed, both for my own sake and yours, I pray with continual supplications, and with all my desires entreat, that I may confess among you, and there suffer, and thence depart to the Lord even as I ought. Therefore here in a hidden retreat I await the arrival of the proconsul returning to Carthage, that I may hear from him what the emperors have commanded upon the subject of Christian laymen and bishops, and may say what the Lord will wish to be said at that hour. 2. But do you, dearest brethren, according to the discipline which you have ever received from me out of the Lord's commands, and according to what you have so very often learned from my discourse, keep peace and tranquillity; nor let any of you stir up any tumult for the brethren, or voluntarily offer himself to the Gentiles. For when apprehended and delivered up, he ought to speak, inasmuch as the Lord abiding in us speaks in that hour, who willed that we should rather confess than profess. But for the rest, what it is fitting that we should observe before the proconsul passes sentence on me for the confession of the name of God, we will with the instruction of the Lord arrange in common. May our Lord make you, dearest brethren, to remain safe in His Church, and condescend to keep you. So be it through His mercy.