Fabian offers us a model of courage
From a letter about the death of St. Fabian, pope and martyr (236-250) by Saint Cyprian, bishop and martyr (c. 210-258)
Fabian offers us a model of courage
Informed of the death of Pope Fabian, Saint Cyprian sent this letter to the priests and deacons of Rome:
“My dear brothers, while the news of the death of my good colleague was still uncertain, and opinions were divided, I received your letter delivered through the courtesy of the sub deacon Crementius, in which I was most fully informed of Fabian’s glorious death. I was quite happy that his virtuous demise corresponded with the integrity of his administration. Hence I too offer you congratulations that you honor his memory with so striking and praiseworthy a testimony. Through you we can see quite clearly what an honor for you is the glorious heritage of one who was your superior, and what an example of faith and courage it offers us. For just as the defection of a superior has such a harmful effect on the stability of those who follow him, so contrariwise it is helpful and encouraging when a bishop offers himself as a model for his brothers by the constancy of his faith.”
Apparently before Cyprian received this letter, the Church of Rome had given the community at Carthage testimony of its loyalty in time of persecution.
“Our church stands firmly in the faith, although somehave lapsed because they fear the loss of their outstanding positions or other personal sufferings. Although these have separated from us, we have not given them up; in the past we have urged them and now we continue to encourage them to do penance, in the hope that they may receive pardon from him who can give it; whereas if they were abandoned by us, they might become worse.
“And so you see, brothers, you should act in the same manner; in this way those who have lapsed, having changed their attitude because of your encouragement, might admit their Christianity if ever they are arrested again. Yet you do have other responsibilities, and we hereby make suggestions. If any of those who have fallen into this temptation should become ill and, after doing penance, should desire to receive communion, they should certainly be assisted. Widows, the destitute who cannot support themselves, and those who are in prison or who have been evicted from their homes should surely have someone to help them; likewise catechumens who are ill ought not to be disappointed in receiving assistance.
“Your brothers who are in chains send you their greetings, and also the priests, and the entire Church which lies awake in great anxiety to pray for all those who invoke the name of the Lord. And so we ask you in turn to remember us.”
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Fabian was elected bishop of the Church of Rome in 236. While the names of several illustrious and noble persons were being considered, a dove suddenly descended upon the head of Fabian, of whom no one had even thought. Recognizing this as a divinely inspired sign, they unanimously chose Fabian as the newly elected pope and placed him in the Chair of Peter. The Liber Pontificalis says that during his fourteen year reign, Fabian divided Rome into seven districts, each supervised by a deacon and appointed seven sub deacons to compile the “Acts of the Martyrs, from the actual reports of the court-proceedings of their trials. He directed extensive work in the catacombs. He arranged for the body of Pope St. Pontianus to be exhumed in Sardinia and transferred to the catacomb of St. Callistus at Rome. Fabian died a martyr on January 20, 250, at the beginning of the persecutions under the Roman Emperor Cecius and was buried in the Crypt of the Popes in the catacomb of St. Callistus, as Cyprian bears witness below. The stone that covered his grave is still in the catacombs of Saint Callistus, in Rome.
Saint Cyprian (c. 210-258) was born of pagan parents in Carthage around the year 210. He was converted to Christianity in 246 and became a profound scholar of the Bible and the great religious authors, especially Tertullian. He was ordained and in 248 and made bishop of Carthage.
Cyprian convened a council at Carthage in 251, which would settle serious pending matters including (the lapsi) the terms under which the faithful who had apostatized during the persecution of Decius could be received back into the Church; dealing with the excommunication of schismatic leaders, and asserting the supremacy of the Pope.
In 252-54 Carthage was stricken with a terrible plague. Christians were blamed for the plague, and hatred for Cyprian and the Christians intensified, paving the way for the terrible persecutions to follow under Valerian. During these difficult times, Cyprian wrote numerous theological treatises on the Church, ministry, the Bible, virginity, the lapsi, and other spiritual works making him a pioneer of Latin Christian literature.
In 258, an imperial decree from Valerian was issued forbidding any assemblage of Christians and requiring all bishops, priests, and deacons to participate in the official state religion ushered in the persecution of Christians. Cyprian was arrested, and when he refused to participate, he was exiled to a small town fifty miles from Carthage. But the following year another imperial decree ordered that all bishops, priests, and deacons were to be put to death. Cyprian was arraigned before a new proconsul, and when he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, he was beheaded on September 14, 258.