On the Unity of the Catholic Church · §27 · Cyprian of Carthage

Wakefulness for the Lord's sudden coming

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Cyprian, the bishop and author, is closing the treatise by exhorting his fellow believers to shake off spiritual sleep and live in constant readiness for Christ's return.

Let us rouse ourselves as much as we can, dearly beloved brothers, and break off the sleep of old sloth, so that we may keep watch to observe and do the Lord's commands. Let us be the kind of people he himself commanded us to be when he said: "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning, and be like men waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the Lord finds watching when he arrives" (Luke 12:35-37). We must be girded, so that when the day of departure comes, it does not find us hindered and entangled. Let our light shine and blaze in good works, so that it may lead us from this night of the world to the light of eternal glory. Let us wait, always anxious and careful, for the sudden coming of the Lord, so that when he knocks, our faith may wake up and receive from the Lord the reward of watchfulness. If these commands are kept, if these warnings and precepts are held fast, we cannot be overwhelmed while sleeping by the deceiving devil; as watchful servants, we shall reign with Christ as Lord.

Latin

Excitemus nos quantum possumus, dilectissimi fratres, et somno inertiae ueteris abrupto ad obseruanda et gerenda Domini praecepta uigilemus. simus tales quales esse nos ipse praecepit dicens: sint lumbi uestri adcincti et lucernae ardentes et uos similes hominibus expectantibus dominum suum, quando ueniat a nuptiis, ut cum uenerit et pulsauerit, aperiant ei. beati serui illi quos adueniens Dominus inuenerit uigilantes. adcinctos nos esse oportet, ne cum expeditionis dies uenerit, inpeditos et inplicitos adprehendat. luceat in bonis operibus nostrum lumen et fulgeat, ut ipsum nos ad lucem claritatis aeternae de hac saeculi nocte perducat. expectemus solliciti semper et cauti aduentum Domini repentinum, ut quando ille pulsauerit, euigilet fides nostra uigilantiae praemium de Domino receptura. si haec mandata seruentur, si haec monita et praecepta teneantur,. opprimi dormientes diabolo fallente non possumus, serui uigiles Christo dominante regnabimus.

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.