Daily Mass - memorial of the Holy Father Saint Cornelius and Saint Cyprian of Carthage

Mass was offered today for the repose of the soul of Ray Lloyd (+), may he be granted eternal rest in the embrace of the Almighty.

Today's is a significant memorial for the Roman church, because of the significance of these figures in our history. The Holy Father Cornelius was bishop of Rome in the third century and his position on the forgiveness and reconciliation of Christians who had apostatised under the pressure of a violent persecution (in this case, the Decian persecution). Both Cornelius and the bishop Saint Cyprian of Carthage agreed that reconciliation was possible, if those who had apostatised performed acts of penitence. Opposed to them were the followers of the north-African priest Novatian, who gathered a significant schismatic faction to challenge the authority of the pope; Novatian became one of the first anti-popes in history. Cornelius called a synod, excommunicated Novatian and named his position a heresy. In a later persecution in AD 253, Cornelius was exiled and then killed. Not much later, in AD 256, a renewed persecution of the Church led to the death of the Holy Father Sixtus II, and Cornelius' friend Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, prepared for the ultimate sacrifice. By September, AD 258, Cyprian was ready for heaven. Wikipedia presents the sentence from his trial:

"You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome; and the pious, most sacred and august Emperors ... have endeavoured in vain to bring you back to conformity with their religious observances; whereas therefore you have been apprehended as principal and ringleader in these infamous crimes, you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with you; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood."

Cornelius and Cyprian were important enough to be inserted by name into the oldest prayer of the Roman Church, the Roman Canon, which today we call Eucharistic Prayer I. Here is the relevant entry. May they pray for us, as we struggle to find reconciliation with God and his holy Church.

"In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude: Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your Saints: we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help. (Through Christ our Lord. Amen.)" - the Roman Canon [source]