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Love of the World Fuels the Fear of Death – A Meditation on a Teaching of St. Cyprian Msgr. Charles Pope • November 15, 2016 • As November winds down and Advent still looms, the traditional meditation we make on the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell) is still operative. A classic writing by St. Cyprian comes to mind. It is a meditation on the fundamental human struggle to be free of undue attachment to this world and to have God (and the things waiting for us in Heaven) as our highest priority.In this meditation, St. Cyprian...

Love of the World Fuels the Fear of Death – A Meditation on a Teaching of St. Cyprian Msgr. Charles Pope • November 26, 2015 • As November winds down and Advent approaches, the traditional meditation we make on the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell) is still operative. A classic writing by St. Cyprian comes to mind. It is a meditation on the fundamental human struggle to be free of undue attachment to this world and to have God (and the things awaiting us in Heaven) as our highest priority.In writing this meditation, St. Cyprian had in...

The Hieromartyr Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, was born in about the year 200 in the city of Carthage (Northern Africa), where all his life and work took place. Thascius Cyprianus was the son of a rich pagan senator, and received a fine secular education becoming a splendid orator, and a teacher of rhetoric and philosophy in the school of Carthage. He often appeared in the courts to defend his fellow citizens. Cyprian afterwards recalled that for a long time “he remained in a deep dark mist.., far from the light of Truth.” His fortune, received from his parents and from...

Considering the Crusades in the Context of the Current Conflict with Radical Islamists By: Msgr. Charles PopeRecent and persistent attacks by radical Muslims, especially the most recent beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians, have many asking what can or should be done to end such atrocities. Military actions by numerous countries, including our own, are already underway. Most feel quite justified in these actions and many are calling for more concerted efforts to eliminate ISIS and related zealots who seem to know no pity, no reason, and no limits. I do not write here to opine on the need for...

On St. Cyprian "His Book on the 'Our Father' Has Helped Me to Pray Better" VATICAN CITY, JUNE 6, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today at the general audience in St. Peter's Square. The reflection focused on St. Cyprian. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Continuing with our catechetical series on the great figures of the ancient Church, we arrive today to an excellent African bishop of the third century, St. Cyprian, "the first bishop in Africa to attain the crown of martyrdom." His fame, as his first biographer, the deacon Pontius,...

September 16, 2006 Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr Psalm: Saturday 38 Reading 11 Cor 10:14-22 My beloved ones, avoid idolatry.I am speaking as to sensible people;judge for yourselves what I am saying.The cup of blessing that we bless,is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ?The bread that we break,is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?Because the loaf of bread is one,we, though many, are one Body,for we all partake of the one loaf. Look at Israel according to the flesh;are not those who eat the sacrifices participants...

September 16, 2005Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr Psalm: Friday 40 Reading I1 Tm 6:2c-12 Beloved:Teach and urge these things.Whoever teaches something differentand does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christand the religious teachingis conceited, understanding nothing,and has a morbid disposition for arguments and verbal disputes.From these come envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions,and mutual friction among people with corrupted minds,who are deprived of the truth,supposing religion to be a means of gain.Indeed, religion with contentment is a great gain.For we brought nothing into the world,just as we shall not...

September 16, 2004 Memorial of Saint Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr Psalm: Thursday 40 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Cor 15:1-11 I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the...

September 16, 2003Memorial of Saints Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Cyprian, bishop and martyr Psalm: Tuesday 40 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Tm 3:1-13 Beloved, this saying is trustworthy:whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task.Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable,married only once, temperate, self-controlled,decent, hospitable, able to teach,not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle,not contentious, not a lover of money.He must manage his own household well,keeping his children under control with perfect dignity;for if a man does not know how to manage his own household,how can he take care of the Church of...

September 16, 2002Memorial of Saints Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Cyprian, bishop and martyr Psalm: Monday 41 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading I1 Cor 11:17-26, 33 Brothers and sisters:In giving this instruction, I do not praise the factthat your meetings are doing more harm than good.First of all, I hear that when you meet as a Churchthere are divisions among you,and to a degree I believe it;there have to be factions among youin order that also those who are approved among youmay become known.When you meet in one place, then,it is not to eat the Lord's supper,for in eating,...