Saint Cyprian, bishop, and Saint Cornelius, pope (3rd century martyrs)
These
two martyrs are mentioned together in the Roman Canon (First
Eucharistic Prayer) indicating they had already attained a position of
honour in fourth century Rome.
Dilemma following the Decian persecution
In a
year 250 there was no pope, because of the Decian persecution. When it
became possible to hold an election, Cornelius (image right) was the
leading contender.
However, a counter candidate emerged called Novatian
who was strongly opposed to forgiving the Church members who had
apostasised (denied their faith) in the persecution and allowing them
back into the Church.
Cornelius (image left), however, was for allowing
them back and his candidacy was supported by a letter from Cyprian,
bishop of Carthage.
A middle position
Cyprian was born in that city
about 210. He trained and practised as a lawyer before his conversion to
Christianity in 245. Within two years, he was elected bishop and
shortly after he went into hiding because of the Decian persecution. For
this he was criticised, but he did manage to continue administering his
diocese through letters.
A dispute about those who had lapsed during
the persecution: some said they should be allowed to come back without
any demands being made on them. Cyprian opposed this and insisted they
could be re-admitted - provided and after they had completed a period of
penance.
This middle position was supported by the newly elected Pope
Cornelius. Cornelius was sent into exile by the emperor Gallus and he
died at Civitavecchia in 253.
The baptism of heretics
Another sacramental issue
arose in 255 and this time Cyprian held a more rigorist position
against that of Pope Stephen.
The question was whether baptism according
to the accepted form was valid if it was administered by a heretic.
The
new pope Stephen held that provided the accepted form was used - in the
name of Christ or in the name of the Trinity - it was valid.
Cyprian
held it wasn't valid and insisted on re-baptism.
He did allow that
heretics who had been baptized in the Church, but had temporarily fallen
away and wished to return in penitence, need not be re-baptized.
Eventually the Church decided in favour of the position held by
Pope Stephen.
Sacramental principles
Three principles of
Church sacramental theology were established through the disputes that
arose following the persecutions at this time.
The first was that the
Church exercised the power to remit sin, even apostasy: the second was
that unworthy members can be accepted back into the Church, provided
they did penance; the third was the validity of heretic baptism.
Death and influence
Cyprian was imprisoned under
the persecution of Valerian in 257 and was exiled for refusing to
participate in worshipping the Roman gods. He was put to death on 14th
September 258.
Since much of his writing helped to clarify issues about
the sacraments, Church unity and the role of the bishop, St
Cyprian figures and is quoted quite a lot in in Vatican II's
Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium.