September 16 2026 - Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, martyrs - Courage and Humility

 

Around the year 250, there was a very intentional attempt on the part of the Roman Empire to root out Christians. The vehemently anti-Christian emperor Decius mandated that all citizens had to prove their loyalty to the empire by offering incense to the Roman Gods. The emperor was well aware that Christians could not commit this act because for us it was both an act of idolatry—worshipping a false God—and apostasy—publicly denying our belief in Jesus Christ.

Some Christians tried to skirt around the mandate by bribing authorities to obtain a document which stated that they offered the pagan sacrifice without actually having to offer it. But that document still marked them as apostates.  

There were several notable martyrs of this persecution, including the Pope, Pope Fabian. Others went into hiding to avoid both martyrdom and having to commit this act.

A new Pope was elected, Pope Cornelius, whom we honor today. And Pope Cornelius had a challenging question to answer: can those Christian who committed apostasy be returned to Holy Communion? After all, they denied Christ publicly, they publicly separated themselves from the Church.

So, in the year 251, Pope Cornelius called a synod in Rome to discuss this matter. After hearing from his bishops and theologians, he declared that, yes, the apostates could be restored to communion, as long as they underwent what he called “the usual medicines of repentance”.  He affirmed that through penance and firm purpose of amendment, a sinner could be readmitted to Communion again.

Pope Cornelius was supported in this pronouncement by many bishops, but especially St. Cyprian, whom we also honor today, the most important bishop in North Africa, and one of the most important theologians and writers of the time.

All these centuries later, we still have a letter St. Cyprian wrote to Pope Cornelius describing how they would likely undergo their own struggles, and prayed that they would keep the faith through them. And he was right, two years later, Pope Cornelius was martyred when Decius’ successor, the emperor Trebonianus Gallus fired upon the persecutions again. Eventually, the persecutions reached Carthage in North Africa, and Cyprian was martyred under the Emperor Valerian in 258.

I love this story because it is such a vivid picture of the Church trying to be faithful amidst the hostility of the world both to the seriousness of the Gospel and to the mercy of Christ—the Church at her best: uncompromising about the truth, but never despairing of the sinner.

We are all to seek to be faithful to God as we possibly can, knowing that our witness is powerful. And yet, we are also to repent and seek God’s mercy when we fail, knowing that God is full of love, kindness, and mercy for the sinner.

Through the intercession of the saints, may we be serious about avoiding sin, and serious about repentance, courageous in witnessing to the Gospel and humble in seeking mercy, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That the Pope and all the clergy may be effective instruments of mercy, and for the grace and strength to seek out the lost, last, and least.

That through the intercession of the martyrs Cornelius and Cyprian, lapsed Catholics will be moved to return to the Sacraments.

For an end to government corruption and politically motivated violence, and all forms of greed which breed hatred and war.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests, deacons and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord.

 

Homily: Jan 20 2017 - Sts. Sebastian & Fabian - Jesus the High Priest & His martyrs

One of the overarching themes of the letter to the Hebrews is the priesthood of Jesus Christ. In a Jewish context, “priest” meant something very specific: a descendant of Aaron who offered animal sacrifices in the Jerusalem temple in accord with the Mosaic law. So to call Jesus a priest is strange because Jesus fits none of those characteristics.

Yet, Hebrews shows how Jesus is indeed High Priest in a way that fulfills and infinitely surpasses the old priesthood of the Mosaic law. He is the priest who uniquely offers himself in sacrifice—he is both the offer-er and the offering, the priest and victim.

In today’s reading, Hebrews shows that this new priesthood was foretold in the Old Testament. And it does so by quoting the prophet Jeremiah, this quotation actually being the longest Old Testament quotation in the entire New Testament. This should tell us something about how important this concept is.

The reading began with explaining how Jesus the High Priest forms a new covenant. We speak of the “new and everlasting covenant” at every Mass. If a new covenant was needed, what was wrong with the first covenant? Hebrews clarifies that the problem was not in the covenant itself, but with the people who were unfaithful to it.

So the High Priest does for us, what we could not do for ourselves. We could not free ourselves from sin, we could not open the doors to heaven. Jesus the High Priest offers himself for us and for our salvation because we could not save ourselves.

Today, the Church honors two martyrs, Saint Sebastian the former soldier who called out the Emperor Diocletian for his persecution of the Church, and Pope Saint Fabian who suffered torture and death at the hands of Emperor Decius.

Two martyrs who offered themselves in union with Jesus the High Priest for the good of the Church. They suffered for the truth of the Gospel; they suffered that the Word of God would not be stifled, that the promise of salvation through Christ would be made known to the ends of the earth.

Today on this Inauguration Day, we certainly pray for the president-elect. Some of our citizens are overjoyed at his election, some are in deep despair. We recall today, that our salvation is not in an earthly prince, but in the High Priest. We recall that whoever takes the high office of earthly leader, does not change the job of each one of us, to witness faithfully to Christ, to offer our lives in service to Him. We render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s for the glory of God and salvation of souls.





Our petitions this morning are those composed for the inauguration of President George Washington by Archbishop John Carroll, First Roman Catholic bishop in our country whose brother Charles Carroll was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

We pray Thee, O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through Whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy holy spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of the United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. We pray to the Lord.

Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they maybe enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

And we pray especially for all of our countrymen who have gone before us in faith, for all those who have fought and died for our country’s freedom, for all the of the deceased members of our family and friends, and for N., for whom this Mass is offered.