Vigils Reading – SS Cornelius & Cyprian

A LETTER FROM ST CYPRIAN

TO ST CORNELIUS

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My very dear brother, we have heard of the glorious witness given by your

courageous faith. On learning of the honor you had won by your witness, we

were filled with such joy that we felt ourselves sharers and companions in your

praiseworthy achievements. After all, we have the same Church, the same mind.

The same unbroken harmony. Why then should a priest not take pride in the

praise given to a fellow priest as though it were given to him? What brotherhood

fails to rejoice in the happiness of its brothers wherever they are?

Words cannot express how great was the exaltation and delight here when

we heard of your good fortune and brave deeds: how you stood out as a leader

of your brothers in their declaration of faith, while the leader’s confession was

enhanced as they declared their faith. You led the way to glory, but you gained

many companions in that glory; being foremost in your readiness to bear

witness on behalf of all, you prevailed on your people to become a single

witness. We cannot decide which we ought to praise, your own ready and

unshaken faith or the love of your brothers who would not leave you. While the

courage of the bishop who thus led the way has been demonstrated, at the same

time the unity of the brotherhood who followed has been manifested. Since you

have one heart and one voice, it is the Roman Church as a whole that has thus

borne witness.

Dearest brother, bright and shining is the faith which the blessed Apostle

praised in your community. He foresaw in the spirit the praise your courage

deserves and the strength that could not be broke; he was heralding the future

when he testified to your achievements; his praise of the fathers was a challenge5

to the sons. Your unity, your strength have become shining examples of these

virtues to the rest of the brethren.

Divine providence has now prepared us. God’s merciful design has

warned us that the day of our own struggle, our own contest, is at hand. By that

shared love which binds us closely together, we are doing all we can to exhort

our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in

common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us strength to stand firm

and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that

protect us.

Let us then remember one another, united in mind and heart. Let us pray

without ceasing, you for us, we for you; by the love we share we shall thus relieve

the strain of these great trial