September 16 - Saint Cyprian of Carthage
Quick Facts- Born to wealthy pagan parents.
- Taught rhetoric and literature.
- Adult convert in 246.
- Ordained in 247.
- 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.
- Writer second only in importance to Tertullian as a Latin Father of the Church.
- Exiled during the persecutions of Valerian.
- Friend of Saint Pontius.
- Involved in the great argument over whether apostates should be readmitted to the Church; Cyprian believed they should, but under stringent conditions.
- Supported Pope Saint Cornelius against the anti-pope Novatian.
- In the persecutions of Valerian, he was exiled to Curubis in 257, then brought back Carthage and martyred in 258.
- His name is in the Communicantes in the Canon of the Mass.
