Source edition
Cyprian. Saint. S. Thasci Caecili Cypriani Opera omnia, Pars I (Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum, Volume 3.1). Hartel, Wilhelm von, editor. Vienna: Gerold, 1868.
Source data
Open Greek and Latin · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cloned and adapted by Humanitext, with ongoing edits.
Summary
In this letter addressed to his friend Donatus, Cyprian reflects on his own conversion to Christianity and contrasts the spiritual peace of a believer with the vanity and corruption of the secular world. The author begins by recounting his dramatic inner rebirth through baptism, a transformation that had once seemed impossible to him, and praises the boundless power of divine grace. He then urges Donatus to look down upon the world to witness its misery, denouncing war, brutal gladiatorial shows, moral decay in theaters, judicial corruption, and the deceptive nature of wealth and power, which only bring anxiety and bondage. Finally, Cyprian presents the spiritual tranquility enjoyed by Christians who have withdrawn from the worldly storm, encouraging Donatus to dedicate himself to prayer, study, and the shared joy of spiritual hymns.