On the Unity of the Catholic Church · §13 · Cyprian of Carthage

Prayer, sacrifice, and peace with a brother

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Cyprian is arguing that those who break the Church's unity cannot have peace with God, and he now applies this to prayer and sacrifice.

So when he gave the rule for praying, he added these words: “And when you stand to pray, forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25). And he calls back from the altar the one who comes to sacrifice while at odds with a brother, and orders him first to be reconciled with his brother, and then to return in peace and offer his gift to God (Matthew 5:23-24). For God did not even look upon Cain’s gifts (Genesis 4:5), since no one who lacked peace with his brother through the discord of envy could have God at peace with him. What peace, then, do the enemies of brothers promise themselves? What sacrifices do rivals of priests believe they are celebrating? Do those who are gathered outside the Church of Christ imagine that Christ is with them when they assemble?

Latin

Ideo et cum orandi legem daret, addidit dicens: et cum steteritis ad orationem, remittite si quid habetis aduersus aliquem, ut et pater uester qui in caelis est remittat peccata uobis. et ad sacrificium cum dissensione uenientem reuocat ab altari et iubet prius concordare cum fratre, tunc cum pace redeuntem Deo munus offerre, quia nec ad Cain munera respexit Deus: neque enim habere pacatum Deum poterat qui cum fratre pacem per zeli discordiam non habebat. quam sibi igitur pacem promittunt inimici fratrum? quae sacrificia celebrare se credunt aemuli sacerdotum? secum esse Christum, cum collecti fuerint, opinantur qui extra Christi ecclesiam colliguntur?

About this text

Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, writes in 251 against the Novatian schism: the Church Christ founded is one and cannot be divided.

Cyprian of Carthage (c. 200–258) wrote this treatise as bishop of Carthage, addressing the faithful brethren and especially the bishops who preside in the Church. He composed it in 251 to warn Christians against schism and heresy, which he regarded as a subtler and more dangerous attack by the devil than open persecution, and to defend the unity of the Church against those who had broken away from it.

The immediate occasion was the schism of Novatian, which had been stirred up in part by Novatus and other presbyters of Cyprian's own church. Cyprian wrote to keep the Carthaginians from following the breakaway movement. He argues that the Church is one and indivisible, founded by Christ upon Peter as the single source of its unity, and that this unity is preserved through the one episcopate. Schismatics and heretics, even if they claim the name of Christian and suffer death, are cut off from the Church and cannot be saved.

A reader will meet Peter, the apostle upon whom Christ founded the Church, and Paul and John, whose letters and Gospel are quoted on unity, love, and those who went out from the Church. Old Testament figures such as Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Uzziah, Aaron, Ahijah, Rahab, Solomon, and Judas appear as examples of rebellion, division, or prefigurations of the Church. The Lord, Paul, John, the Holy Spirit, Ahijah the prophet, and Scripture all speak in the treatise.

New English from the Latin base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from CSEL 3.1 (1868) (Latin)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.