St. Cornelius, Pope (16 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

Discover the extraordinary life of Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, commemorated by the Catholic Church with Saint Cyprian on September 16. Following the martyrdom of Pope Saint Fabian during the persecution of Emperor Decius, the See of Rome remained vacant for more than sixteen months. When the Church was finally able to elect a new pontiff, Cornelius—a humble, virtuous and reluctant servant of God—was chosen to occupy the Chair of Saint Peter. His pontificate was soon threatened by Novatian, whose ambition produced both a schism and a heresy. Novatian denied that the Church possessed the authority to absolve Christians who had apostatized during persecution, regardless of how sincerely they repented. After arranging his own illicit consecration, he became history’s first antipope. Saint Cornelius defended both the unity of the Church and the mercy Christ entrusted to her. At a synod of sixty bishops in Rome, the Church affirmed that repentant Christians could return through sincere public penance. Cornelius welcomed those who abandoned the schism while remaining firm against Novatian’s errors. This account also describes the clergy and charitable works of the third-century Roman Church, Cornelius’s friendship with Saint Cyprian of Carthage, his courageous confession during renewed persecution, his exile and his death as a martyr in AD 252. The life of Saint Cornelius reminds us that authentic Catholic mercy never denies the seriousness of sin. It calls sinners to repentance, offers reconciliation through the Church and protects the unity of Christ’s Mystical Body. Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr, pray for us. Source: *The Lives of the Saints* by Father Alban Butler. 0:00 Saint Cornelius, Pope and Martyr 0:15 The Roman See During the Decian Persecution 0:46 Cornelius Is Chosen as Pope 0:55 His Humility, Purity and Virtue 1:58 Prepared Through Every Order of Ministry 2:06 The Election and Consecration of Cornelius 2:37 Novatian Disturbs the Church 2:44 The Early Life and Baptism of Novatian 3:41 His Failure During Persecution 4:03 Controversy Concerning the Lapsed 4:18 Novatus Encourages the Roman Schism 5:07 Apostates and Certificate Holders 5:32 The Church’s Discipline of Penance 5:57 Novatian Rejects Absolution for Apostates 6:31 Schism Becomes Heresy 6:48 Novatian’s Illicit Consecration 7:13 The First Antipope 7:35 The Roman Synod of Sixty Bishops 8:00 Former Schismatics Return to Communion 8:30 The Church of Rome Under Cornelius 8:53 Cornelius’s Courage During Persecution 9:48 The End of Emperor Decius 10:12 Persecution Under Emperor Gallus 10:36 The Arrest and Exile of Pope Cornelius 10:53 Saint Cyprian’s Letter of Encouragement 11:17 The Death of Saint Cornelius 11:26 His Feast With Saint Cyprian 11:42 Cornelius Returns to Rome and Dies a Martyr 12:06 The Relics of Saint Cornelius 13:08 Catholics and Heretics During Persecution 13:30 Why the Devil Attacks the Faithful 14:09 Suffering Outside the Unity of the Church https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/st-cornelius-pope/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #SaintCornelius #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #ButlersLives #CatholicChurchHistory #EarlyChurch #ChristianMartyrs #PopeCornelius #CatholicFaith #RomanMartyrology #SaintOfTheDay #ChurchHistory 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴