Pope Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian in the Crisis of the Fallen
In 251, the Church was torn apart. Persecution had forced many Christians to deny their faith. These fallen believers—called the lapsi (the fallen)—wanted to return.
Some wanted the doors shut forever. But Pope Cornelius chose mercy: with true repentance, forgiveness must be given. For this, he faced fierce opposition and even a rival “anti-pope.”
Across the sea, Bishop Cyprian of Carthage stood with him. In strong letters, he defended Pope Cornelius as the true shepherd, declaring that the Church is not a fortress for the perfect but a home for the forgiven.
They never met in person, yet their witness was one. And in time, both sealed their stand with their blood—proving that mercy, not exclusion, is the mark of Christ’s Church. Their memory is kept together each year on September 16, a witness that mercy is the mark of the Church that endures.
ᴛʸᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴏᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ʙˡᵘᵉ ᵈᵃʳᵉᵐ ᵐᵘˢⁱᶜ ᵇˡᵒᵍ
Listen on Apple Music, Apple Music Classical, and YouTube Music
