St. Cyprian of Carthage Treatise on the Lord’s Supper

History

With our recent posts on the Church Fathers, you might have noticed that we have grown to appreciate reading the works of the saints about whom we talk and whose days we celebrate. Just look at our suggestions for ways to remember St. Augustine or St. Patrick, and you’ll see that today’s commemoration suggestion for St. Cyprian of Carthage is no different.

As mentioned in our introductory post on this third-century father, St. Cyprian was well known for his eloquent writing and speaking skills. Many of his works have stood the test of time, including On the Unity of the Catholic Church. Others, such as his Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer, have been remembered for how Cyprian articulates Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture.

Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer

This “Early Church Classic” was well regarded for centuries after Cyprian’s time. St. Ambrose cited it in his commentary on St. Luke’s Gospel, and it was even recognized by St. Augustine who quoted the work numerous times in his writings.

Many scholars agree that the treatise primarily emphasizes the prayer’s simultaneous brevity and perfection and excellently represents the relationship present between the persons of the Trinity as well as mankind’s relationship to God. Some scholars also consider the treatise to have been an important piece of inspiration for Martin Luther for the creation of his Small Catechism, which of course includes his explanations of the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.

In honor of St. Cyprian, we encourage you to read through the Bishop of Carthage’s short treatise on the Lord’s Prayer, found online here as a text from Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5. And of course, if you are interested in comparing Cyprian’s thoughts on the Paternoster to those of Martin Luther’s, take out your Small or Large Catechism and read through the explanations there, meditating on the words of our fathers in the faith and their explication of the prayer that the Lord taught us.

Resources:
1. Cyprian of Carthage. Treatise on the Lord’s Prayer. Translated by Robert Ernest Wallis. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 5. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1886.)