TREATISES
Translated and Edited by
roy j. deferrari
With The Dress of Virgins, trans., Sister Angela Elizabeth Keenan; S. N. D.; Mortality, trans. Mary Hannan Mahoney; and The Good of Patience, trans. Sister George Edward Conway, S. S. J.
the catholic university of america press
Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 77-081349
ISBN 8132-0036-9
ISBN 978-0-8132-1512-9 (pbk.)
Copyright © 1958 by
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS, INC.
All rights reserved
Second printing 1977
Third Printing 1981
First paperback reprint 2007
THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
a new translation
VOLUME 36
editorial board
Hermigild Dressler, O.F.M.
Quincy College
Editorial Director
Robert P. Russell, O.S.A. Villanova University | Thomas P. Halton The Catholic University of America |
Robert Sider Dickinson College | Sister M. Josephine Brennan, I.H.M. Marywood College |
Richard Talaska
Editorial Assistant
former editorial directors
Ludwig Schopp, Roy J. Deferrari, Bernard M. Peebles
For the period of Cyprian’s life following his conversion we have several important sources. Most reliable and informative are his own writings, namely, his treatises and many letters. For the details leading to his martyrdom and for the martyrdom itself the proconsular acts of St. Cyprian inform us rather fully. These are based on official reports put together with connecting phrases by an editor, and consist of three separate documents covering the following events: the first trial that sent Cyprian to Curubis in exile, the arrest and second trial, and the execution. Finally, there is a short memoir of his life written by his deacon, Pontius. The latter is the first Christian biography that attained popularity. It is by no means a finished literary product, and it is important chiefly because of its originality in the field. Pontius was deeply convinced of the greatness of his master and was anxious to make the world equally conscious of his admirable character. Its chief purpose was to edify. It is historically unreliable. As to the events of Cyprian’s life previous to his conversion very little is known. This too has to be gathered usually with difficulty and uncertainty from these same sources, and from St. Jerome’s famous Illustrious Men.
St. Cyprian (Thascius Caecilius Cyprianus) was a bishop and martyr. He was born, very probably at Carthage, between 200 and 210, of a very wealthy and highly cultivated pagan family. His gift of eloquence, very evident in his writings, won him great fame in Carthage. Unless his treatise Patience is a sermon reworked into the form of a treatise, as some believe, we have no example of his preaching and oratory.
In his first writing as a Christian, Ad Donatum, he tells how, until the grace of God enlightened and strengthened him, it had seemed impossible to conquer sin. According to St. Jerome,1 he had gone to live with a priest Caecilius, whose name he adopted, and under his influence determined to become a Christian. He had ...
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About Saint Cyprian: TreatisesThis volume presents several treatises of St. Cyprian in translation. To Donatus (Ad Donatum) is a monologue written shortly after Cyprian’s baptism in 246 in which he extols his spiritual rebirth in the sacrament of baptism. Literary criticism has come to view this treatise as a model for St. Augustine’s Confessions. The Dress of Virgins (De habitu virginum) written in 249 is addressed to women (“flowers in the Church’s garden”) who have dedicated their lives to God’s service. In this treatise on virginity Cyprian warns these women against seeking finery and the pitfalls of worldliness. The Fallen (De lapsis), written in 251, deals with the problems encountered in reconciling with the Church those who had defected during the time of persecution. These problems were acute especially after the Decian persecution. The Unity of the Catholic Church (De unitate ecclesiae), written very likely in 251, is directed in the first place against the Novatian schism. This treatise contains the famous words: “He cannot have God for his father who does not have the Church for his mother.” The Lord’s Prayer (De oratione dominica) is as the title indicates a commentary on the Our Father. Many of its words and phrases remind one of Tertullian whom Cyprian admired greatly. To Demetrian (As Demetrianum) is a vigorous defense of Christianity against pagan calumnies. Mortality (De mortalitate) written perhaps in 252 or later has often been described as being a pastoral letter of a bishop to comfort and console his flock during a time of trial and tribulation. Work and Alms (De opere et eleemosynis) is a treatise that may have been written in 252 or even later. It is a warm and heartfelt exhortation of a bishop to his flock encouraging them to do good works. The Blessing of Patience (De bono patientiae), written sometime during the year 256, has frequently been described as a sermon delivered during the controversy over the validity of heretical baptism in northern Africa. Jealousy and Envy (De zelo et livore) like the preceding treatise greatly resembles a sermon delivered on the topic in the title. It was probably written between 251 and 257. To Fortunatus (Ad Fortunatum), a work replete with quotations from Scripture to encourage a Christian in time of persecution, was probably written between 253 and 257. In its original Latin this treatise is an important witness to the text of the Bible before St. Jerome’s revisions. That Idols are not Gods (Quod idola dii non sint) is a relatively unimportant work when judged on the basis of its content. Modern patristic scholars seriously doubt its authenticity. |
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