Pages

▼

Friday, January 21, 2011

Words on Unity & the Eucharist by St. Cyprian (249-258 A.D.)

St. Cyprian of Carthage converted from paganism to Christianity around the year 246 A.D. Soon afterwards, he aspired to the priesthood and eventually was ordained Bishop of Carthage. He was beheaded for his Faith in the year 258 A.D., thus he was the first African bishop to have been martyred.

"So too the the sacred meaning of the Pasch lies essentially in the fact, laid down in Exodus, that the lamb - slain as a type of Christ - should be eaten in one single home. God says the words: 'In one house shall it be eaten, ye shall not cast its flesh outside.' The flesh of Christ and the Lord's sacred body cannot be cast outside, nor have believers any other home but the one Church."

-"The Unity of the Catholic Church". Ch.8, circa 249-258 A.D.
at

1 comment:

  1. UnknownJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    Denise,

    For those of us that are involved with Kairos Prison Ministry we are familiar with prayer of St Cyprian:


    PRAYER OF SAINT CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE
    For Prisoners & Correction Officers.

    Most gracious Father,
    bless with your special care
    all penitentiaries and homes of refuge.
    Look with pity on those who are housed there.
    Guide and protect those who have returned to the world.
    Grant all of them true contrition for past sins,
    and strengthen them in their good resolutions.
    Lead them along from grace to grace
    so that by the help of the Holy Spirit
    they may persevere in the ways of obedience and humility,
    and in the struggle against evil thoughts and desires.
    Grant the Holy Spirit
    to those engaged in teaching and training them,
    that they might have a right judgment
    with respect to those entrusted to them.
    May they labour for love of your with deep humility
    and singleness of purpose,
    purity of heart and life,
    and true zeal for your glory
    and the salvation of souls.
    Give them faith and love
    to sustain them in disappointment,
    love and patience toward those under them,
    and in your own good time
    crown their work with an eternal recompense.

    Amen.

    God's blessings with your ministry

    ReplyDelete