St. Cyprian of Carthage

The Catholic Encyclopedia begins its discussion of St. Cyprian of Carthage with this synopsis:

Bishop and martyr. Of the date of the saint's birth and of his early life nothing is known. At the time of his conversion to Christianity he had, perhaps, passed middle life. He was famous as an orator and pleader, had considerable wealth, and held, no doubt, a great position in the metropolis of Africa. We learn from his deacon, St. Pontius, whose life of the saint is preserved, that his mien was dignified without severity, and cheerful without effusiveness. His gift of eloquence is evident in his writings. He was not a thinker, a philosopher, a theologian, but eminently a man of the world and an administrator, of vast energies, and of forcible and striking character.

Readings:

• Pope Benedict XVI's reflection on St. Cyprian
• Treatise IV: On the Lord's Prayer
• Treatise I: On the Unity of the Church (optional)
• Life and Passion of St. Cyprian, by Pontius the Deacon (optional)

Cyprian says:

Before all things, the Teacher of peace and the Master of unity would not have prayer to be made singly and individually, as for one who prays to pray for himself alone.  For we say not "My Father, which art in heaven," nor "Give me this day my daily bread"....  Our prayer is public and common; and when we pray, we pray not for one, but for the whole people, because we the whole people are one."