E02978: A pseudepigraphic sermon, wrongly attributed to Peter Chrysologus, bishop of Ravenna, is preached for the feast of *Cyprian (bishop and martyr of Carthage, S00411), perhaps in Carthage (North Africa) during Late Antiquity.

(Pseudo-) Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 129, De natale sancti Cypriani (‘On the feast of saint Cyprian’)

§ 1: Quoniam hodie deo natale sancti martyris Cypriani convenimur, in qua miro certamine diabolum triumphavit, et quia nobis virtutum suarum gloriosum reliquit exemplum, ideo exultare nos convenit et laetari.

‘Today we have assembled in the sight of God on the birthday of St. Cyprian the Martyr. On this date he triumphed over the Devil in an admirable struggle. Moreover, he has left us a glorious example of his virtues. For these reasons it is proper for us to exult and rejoice.’

The sermon continues, explaining that when speaking of the birth of saints, it does not mean natural birth but birth into heaven. It then exhorts the audience not to think that the feasts of martyrs should be celebrated only by meals and banquets but rather by imitating them. It alludes to the great numbers present in church for the feast that day, contrasting it to the crowd that attacked Cyprian. The preacher continues noting that the birthday of martyrs should be celebrated every year in memory of them, so that everybody knows about them and nobody forgets. He ends by exhorting the audience to imitate the martyrs and focus on heavenly rewards.

Text: Olivar 1982, 793-795. Translation: Ganss 1953, 213-214.