Mercy and Discipline

Cyprianus fratribus in plebe consistentibus salutem.  Ingemiscere vos et dolere ruinas fratrum nostrorum ex me scio, fratres charissimi, qui et ipse vobiscum pro singulis ingemisco pariter et dolet, et patior ac sentio quod beatus Apostolus dixit : ' Quis infirmatur,' inquit, et ego non infirmor ? quis scandalizatur, et ego non uror? Et iterum posuit in Epistola sua dicens : Si patitur membrum unum,  compatiuntur et caetera membra; et si laetatur membrum unum, collaetantur et caetera membra. Compatior ergo et condoleo de fratribus nostris qui, lapsi et persecutionis infestione prostrati, partem nostrorum viscerum secum trahentes, parem dolorem nobis suis vulneribus intulerunt; quibus potens est divina misericordia medelam dare. Properandum tamen non puto, nec incaute aliquid et festinanter gerendum, ne, dum temere pax usurpatur, divinae indignationis offensa gravius provocetur. Fecerunt ad nos quibusdam beati martyes litteras, petentes examinari desideria sua. Cum, pace nobis omnibus a Domino prius data, ad Ecclesiam regredi coeperimus, tunc examinabuntur singula praesentibus et judicantibus vobis. Audio tamen quosdam de presbyteris nec, Evangelii memores, nec quid ad nos martyres scripserint cogitantes, nec episcopo honorem sacerdotii sui et cathedrae reservantes, jam cum lapsis communicare coepisse et offerre pro illis et Eucharistiam dare, quando oporteat ad haec per ordinem perveniri. Nam, cum in minoribus delictis quae non in Deum commituntur poenitentia, agatur justo tempore, et exomologesis fiat inspecta vita ejus qui agit poenitentiam, nec ad communicationem venire quis possit nisi prius illi ab episcopo et clero manus fuerit imposita, quanto magis in his gravissimis et extremis delictis caute omnia et moderate, secundum disciplinam Domini, observari oportet? Quod quidem nostri presbyteri et diaconi monere debuerant, ut commendatas sibi oves foverent et divino magisterio ad viam deprecandae salutis instruerent. Ego plebis nostrae et quietem novi pariter et timorem, qui satisfactione Dei et deprecatione vigilarent, nisi illos quidam de presbyteris gratificantes decepissent. Vel vos itaque singulos regite, et consilio ac moderatione vestra, secundum divina praecepta, lapsorum animos temperate. Nemo adhuc importuno tempore acerba poma decerpat. Nemo navem suam quassatam et perforatam fluctibus, priusquam diligenter refecerit, in altum denuo committat. Nemo tunicam scissam accipere et induere properet, nisi eam ab artifice perito sartam viderit et a fullone curatam receperit. Audiant, quaeso, patienter consilium nostrum; expectant regressionem nostram, ut, cum ad vos per Dei misericordiam venerimus, convocati coepiscopi plures, secundum Domini disciplinam et confessorum praesentiam et vestram quoque sententiam, beatorum martyrum litteras et desideria examinare possimus. De hoc et ad clerum et ad martyres et confessores litteras feci, quae utrasque legi vobis mandavi. Opto vos, fratres charissimi ac desiderantissimi, in Domino semper bene valere et nostri meminisse. Valete. Sanctus Cyprianus, Epistula XI, Ad Plebem

Cyprian to his steadfast brethren among the people, greeting. That you lament and grieve over the downfall of our brethren I know from myself, beloved brethren, who also lament with you and grieve for each one, and suffer and feel what the blessed Apostle said: 'Who is weak," said he, "and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?' 1 And again he has set it down in his letter, saying, 'If one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; and if one member rejoice, all the other members rejoice with it.' 2 Therefore I sympathize with you and feel your pain for our brethren, who, having fallen, lie prostrate under the hostility of the persecution, have drawn out a part of our insides with them, imposing on us a like pain by their wounds, to whom the Divine mercy is able to bring healing. However, I do not think that there must be any haste, nor that anything must be done incautiously and hurriedly, lest, while peace is wildly snatched at, the Divine indignation be more gravely incurred. The blessed martyrs have written to me about certain persons, seeking that their wishes may be examined. When, as soon as peace is given to us all by the Lord, we shall begin to return to the Church, then  each one shall be looked into in your presence and with your judgment. Yet I hear that certain presbyters, neither mindful of the Gospel nor thinking of what the martyrs have written to me, nor reserving to the bishop the honour of his priesthood and of his office, have already begun to communicate with the lapsed and to offer on their behalf, and to give them the Eucharist, when it was fitting that they should come to these things in due order. For as in lesser sins which are not committed against God penitence may be done in a set time, and confession may be made with investigation of the life of him who does penitence, and no one can come to communion unless the hands of the bishop and clergy be first imposed upon him, how much more should all  these things be observed in these gravest and extremest sins with caution and moderation, according to the discipline of the Lord? Certainly our presbyters and deacons should have warned you, that they might cherish the sheep committed to their care, and by the divine authority  instruct them in the way of prayer for salvation. I am aware of the peacefulness as well as the fear of our people, who would be vigilant in the satisfaction and the aversion of God's anger, unless some of the presbyters, gratifying them, had deceived them.  Even you, therefore, yourselves, watch over each one, and by counsel and by your own moderation, according to the divine precepts, restrain the minds of the lapsed.  Let no one pick the unripe fruit in an unseasonable time. Let no one commit his ship, shattered and broken with the waves, anew to the deep, before he has diligently repaired it. Let no one rush to accept and to put on a torn tunic, unless he has seen it mended by a skilful workman. and has received it treated by the fuller. Let them hear, I beg, our advice with patience. Let them look for my return, that when by God's mercy I come to you, with many of my co-bishops, called together according to the Lord's discipline, in the presence of the confessors and with your opinion also, we may be able to examine the letters and the wishes of the blessed martyrs. Concerning this I have written both to the clergy and to the martyrs and confessors, both of which letters I have ordered to be read to you. I wish, brethren, beloved and most desired, that you be ever well in the Lord, and that you be mindful of me. Farewell. Saint Cyprian, Letter 11, To the People 1 2 Cor 11:29 2 1 Cor 12:26