Cornelius succeeded Pope St. Fabian as the Bishop of Rome in 251. The greatest challenge that confronted the Church during the two-year Pontificate of the new successor of St. Peter was the sacrament of Reconciliation with regard to those Christians who had apostatized during the Roman persecution under Decius and wanted to return to the flock of the Good Shepherd. Cornelius, with the backing of the Synod of Rome and of St. Cyprian, Primate of Africa, taught that the relapsed Christians could return to the Church provided they repented sincerely of their apostasy. However, Novatus/Novatian, a priest who had a considerable following and who had installed himself as the rival Bishop of Rome (anti-Pope) insisted that the Church had no authority to reconcile the apostates. Within a short while the heresy called Novationism became a thing of the past. During a fresh outbreak of Roman persecution in 253 under Emperor Gallus, Cornelius went into hiding at Civita Vecchia (outside the city of Rome), where he breathed his last in 253. Though he did not die a martyr, still he is considered as one.
St. Cyprian, Bishop & Martyr (…. + 258) (Refer October 12)
Cyprian was a reputed lawyer and an orator of North Africa and embraced Christianity at the age of forty-six. Later he was ordained priest and consecrated Bishop of Carthage, modern Tunis. One of his greatest contributions to Christendom was his powerful written support to Pope Cornelius in the controversy against Novationism. During the Roman persecution under Emperor Valerian, Cyprian was arrested in 257. When the latter refused to sacrifice to the pagan gods, Proconsul Galerius Maximus had the holy Bishop beheaded on September 14, 258.
Reflection: The Church does not have ready-made solutions for every challenge that confronts it. As and when a particular need arises, it evaluates each issue in the light of wisdom and tradition, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit issues directives to steer the Boat of Peter safely to the port of heaven. It prudently avoids the two extremes – rigourism and laxity.
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you to the complete truth. (Jn. 16:12).
