Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon on the feast of *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411). Sermon 313D, delivered in Latin, probably in Carthage (central North Africa), sometime between 391 and 430.
E03261
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 313D
[Tractatus de natale Cypriani
'Discourse on the feast of St Cyprian']
1. Sollemnitatem sanctam eius martyris hodie celebramus, qui multos ante se martyres misit eloquio, multos post se eduxit exemplo. Quid ergo tantae rei dignum tanto illi proferamus, nisi ut non expectet laudari a nobis, sed non cesset orare pro nobis? ...
'Today we are celebrating the holy festival of that martyr, who sent many martyrs ahead of himself by his eloquence, and brought many along after himself by his example. So what am I to offer so great a man as he was that is worthy of such a great matter, but to ask him not to expect to be praised by me, while not ceasing to pray for me? ...'
2. Magna est enim merces proposita, fratres dilectissimi|. Certe sollemnitate celebramus beatissimi martyris: ad hanc festiuitatem omnium fratrum sororum que multitudo conuenit, et gaudent celebrantes natalicia martyris.
'It's a great reward, after all, my dearest brothers, that has been set before us. Certainly, we are celebrating the feast of this most blessed martyr. All the brothers and sisters have gathered in a big crowd for the feast, and are rejoicing as they celebrate the martyr's birthday.'
In what follows Augustine emphasises that Cyprian, as all the martyrs, was born for heaven on the day of his martyrdom. Also, he refers to the dialogue between Cyprian and the judge, as it can be read in Cyprian's Martyrdom.
Text: Morin 1930, 531-532.
Translation: Hill 1994, 104-105.
Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
Service for the saint
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Non Liturgical ActivityTransmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - bishops
Crowds
Theorising on SanctityConsiderations about the veneration of saints
Source
Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 in the north African city of Thagaste. He received an education in rhetoric at Carthage, and after a period teaching there moved to Rome, and then in 384 to a public professorship of rhetoric in Milan. In these early years of adulthood Augustine was a Manichaean, but then got disillusioned with this religion, and in Milan in 386, largely under the influence of Ambrose, bishop of the city, he converted to Christianity, and was baptised by Ambrose in 387. Returning to Africa in 388, he was ordained a priest in 391 at Hippo Regius (in the province of Numidia), and rapidly acquired a reputation as a preacher. In 395 he became bishop of Hippo, which he remained until his death in 430. Details of his early life were recorded by Augustine himself in his Confessions, and shortly after his death a pupil and long-time friend, Possidius, wrote his Life, focused on Augustine as an effective Christian writer, polemicist and bishop (E00073).Amongst his many writings, the most informative on the cult of saints are his numerous Sermons, the City of God, and a treatise On the Care of the Dead. The Sermons tell us which saints (primarily African, but with some from abroad) received attention in Hippo, Carthage and elsewhere, and provide occasional details of miracles and cult practices. The City of God records the distribution, and subsequent miracles, of the relics of saint Stephen, after they arrived in Africa from Palestine in around 420. On the Care of the Dead, discusses the possible advantages of burial ad sanctos (in other words, close to a saint), and theorises on the link between the saints who dwell in heaven and their corporeal remains buried in their graves. In these works, and others, Augustine reveals his own particular beliefs about the saints, their relics and their miracles.
It is impossible to date this sermon with any certainty. Since Augustine claims that crowds gathered for this celebration, we may suppose that it was preached in Carthage, where Cyprian died and was buried.
Bibliography
Edition:Morin, G., Sancti Augustini Sermones post Maurinos reperti (Miscellanea Agostiniana, vol. 1; Rome: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, 1930).
Translation:
Hill, E., The Works of Saint Augustine. A Translation for the 21st Century, vol. III 9, Sermons 306-340A on the Saints (New York: New City Press, 1994).
Dating:
Kunzelmann, A., "Die Chronologie der sermones des hl. Augustinus," Miscellanea Agostiniana, vol. 2 (Rome: Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana, 1931), 417-452.
Robert Wiśniewski
01/06/2017
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00411 | Cyprian, bishop and martyr of Carthage | Cyprianus | Certain |
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