Profile
Cyprian was born to wealthy pagan parents. He taught rhetoric and literature. He was an adult convert in 246, and taught the faith by Saint Caecilius of Carthage. He was ordained in 247 and became Bishop of Carthage in 249. During the persecution of Decius, beginning in 250, Cyprian lived in hiding, covertly ministering to his flock; his enemies condemned him for being a coward and not standing up for his faith. As a writer, he was second only in importance to Tertullian as a Latin Father of the Church. He was a friend of Saint Pontius. He was involved in the great argument over whether apostates should be readmitted to the Church; Cyprian believed they should, but under stringent conditions. He supported Pope Saint Cornelius against the anti-pope Novatian. During the persecutions of Valerian, he was exiled to Curubis in 257, brought back Carthage, and then martyred in 258. His name is in the Communicantes in the Canon of the Mass.
Born
- 190 in Carthage, North Africa
Died
- beheaded 14 September 258 in Carthage, North Africa
Canonized
- Pre-Congregation
Patronage
- Algeria (proclaimed on 6 July 1914 by Pope Pius X)
- North Africa (proclaimed on 6 July 1914 by Pope Pius X, on 10 January 1958 by Pope Pius XII, and on 27 July 1962 by Pope John XXIII editor’s note – no, I don’t know why it was done so many times)
– - Lyon, France
- in Italy
– Albano Sant’Alessandro
– Cerro Maggiore
– Moissac
Source: https://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyprian-of-carthage/
