Fr. Bob’s Spiritual Reflection-9/16/2026
“Ya Gotta Forgive”
Today the church celebrates the feast of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian. Cornelius was the 21st Pope and served for two years until he was martyred. There is hardly any information about his early life. Cyprian was a late convert to Catholicism and pursued the priesthood when we was 46 yrs. old and became bishop in Africa.
Cyprian and Cornelius became good friends as they tried hard to get the church to welcome back people who deserted the church during persecutions of believers, especially Catholics.
Both were martyred for their effort to champion forgiveness. Welcoming back was the ultimate sign of forgiveness. Because of the prevalence of persecuting Christians, Pope Cornelius and Bishop Cyprian worked hard to welcome back many to the church and show the need for forgiveness.
These past few days the scriptures focused on the need for forgiveness as a sign of appreciation of God’s forgiveness. What’s the alternative? Not to love?
(Today is also our sister’s last day in Tucson, AZ. She’s moving back home to where we grew up…in the Illinois Valley. Pray for her safe journey and a new chapter in her life.)