St. Cyprian of Carthage

Born to wealthy pagan parents, Cyprian taught rhetoric and literature. As an adult, he converted to Christianity. He was a student of Saint Caecilius of Carthage. He was ordained in 247 and proclaimed 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. 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. In the Latin Church, he is remembered on August 31.