FEAST OF THE DAY
Cornelius and Cyprian are saints of the third century and are
mentioned in the First Eucharistic Prayer
Around the year 251, St. Cornelius ascended to the Chair of Peter
after almost a year and a half period when the Church had been
without a pope. His predecessor St. Fabian was killed around the
year 250 by Decius and the Church did not think it wise to quickly
elect another man, while Decius was still so powerful, to follow the
steps of Fabian. Much of the first hand biographical information
about St Cornelius comes from the writings of St. Cyprian. Some of
the virtues that Cyprian attributed to the new pope were purity,
humility, and modesty. Part of Cyprian's biography also tells us that
Cornelius was reluctant to take the chair of Peter and was perfectly
content serving God's people as a priest.
Soon after he was made pope, Cornelius began to experience
difficulties. A man named Novatian who developed his own
philosophy concerning the worthiness of those who called
themselves Christian and was threatening the Church with schism
and heresy. Novatian convinced several bishops to join him and was
elected, by them, to be bishop of Rome. In response, Cornelius
assembled a synod of 60 bishops and reiterated the correct
teachings of the Church and excommunicated Novatian.
Soon after this action was taken a general of Decius renewed the
persecution of the Christians. Cornelius was captured and exiled to
Civitavecchia where he died around the year 252. The body of
Cornelius was buried in the cemetery of Callistus and a chapel was
later built over his relics in his honor.
Cyprian was born in Northern Africa and grew up in a wealthy non-
Christian household. He was converted to the Faith by the example
of his friends and began to strive to live a life pleasing to God and a
life forsaking the decadence of his upbringing. Cyprian made a
complete conversion of heart and while he was still preparing to
enter the Church, he was chosen by the people to become a priest.
After several years of priesthood, the bishop of Carthage died and
Cyprian was chosen as his successor. Cyprian resisted this position,
but in the end he accepted it. Cyprian served as bishop of Carthage
for many years, was exiled from his see for a while by the Christian
persecutions, but continued to guide his flock through letters and
other writings.
In addition to serving as bishop, God also used Cyprian to help battle
the Novatian heresy through his writings and example. Cyprian
attended various Church councils and continually advised his flock
through writing. Several years after the death of Cornelius, Cyprian
was arrested and sent into exile for his faith and was later beheaded.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those
who had to bear the greatest trials. -St. Teresa of Avila
TODAY IN HISTORY
258 Death of St. Cyprian
681 Ending of the 6th Ecumenical Council of Constantinople
1087 Death of St. Victor III, Pope
TODAY'S TIDBIT
The Novatian heresy, which these two martyrs fought against, was
started by Novatian who was the first anti-pope and denied the
power of the Church to absolve the sin of those who lapsed into
certain serious sins.
INTENTION FOR THE DAY
Please pray that all people may develop a deeper relationship with God.
American Cathlic's Saint of the Day
September 16, 2004
St. Cornelius
(d. 253)
There was no pope for 14 months after the martyrdom of St. Fabian because of the intensity of the persecution of the Church. During the interval, the Church was governed by a college of priests. St. Cyprian, a friend of Cornelius, writes that Cornelius was elected pope "by the judgment of God and of Christ, by the testimony of most of the clergy, by the vote of the people, with the consent of aged priests and of good men."
The greatest problem of Cornelius's two-year term as pope had to do with the Sacrament of Penance and centered on the readmission of Christians who had apostatized during the time of persecution. Two extremes were finally both condemned. Cyprian, primate of Africa, appealed to the pope to confirm his stand that the relapsed could be reconciled only by the decision of the bishop (against the very indulgent practice of Novatus).
In Rome, however, Cornelius met with the opposite view. After his election, a priest named Novatian (one of those who had governed the Church) had himself consecrated a rival Bishop of Rome—the first antipope. He denied that the Church had any power to reconcile not only the apostates, but also those guilty of murder, adultery, fornication or second marriage! Cornelius had the support of most of the Church (especially of Cyprian of Africa) in condemning Novatianism, though the sect persisted for several centuries. Cornelius held a synod at Rome in 251 and ordered the "relapsed" to be restored to the Church with the usual "medicines of repentance."
The friendship of Cornelius and Cyprian was strained for a time when one of Cyprian's rivals made accusations about him. But the problem was cleared up.
A document from Cornelius shows the extent of organization in the Church of Rome in the mid-third century: 46 priests, seven deacons, seven subdeacons. It is estimated that the number of Christians totaled about 50,000.
Cornelius died as a result of the hardships of his exile in what is now Civitavecchia (near Rome).
Comment:
It seems fairly true to say that almost every possible false doctrine has been proposed at some time or other in the history of the Church. The third century saw the resolution of a problem we scarcely consider—the penance to be done before reconciliation with the Church after mortal sin. Men like Cornelius and Cyprian were God's instruments in helping the Church find a prudent path between extremes of rigorism and laxity. They are part of the Church's ever-living stream of tradition, ensuring the continuance of what was begun by Christ, and evaluating new experiences through the wisdom and experience of those who have gone before (Roliner).
Quote:
"There is one God and one Christ and but one episcopal chair, originally founded on Peter, by the Lord's authority. There cannot, therefore, be set up another altar or another priesthood. Whatever any man in his rage or rashness shall appoint, in defiance of the divine institution, must be a spurious, profane and sacrilegious ordinance" (St. Cyprian, The Unity of the Catholic Church).
