CYPRIAN ON THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE IMAGE OF A DOVE

 

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On the Unity of the Church, 9

Latin from Migne PL, Vol. 4, Col. 506

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IX. Idcirco et in columba venit Spiritus sanctus: simplex animal et laetum, non felle amarum, non morsibus saevum, non unguium laceratione violentum, hospitia humana diligere, unius domus consortium nosse; cum generant, simul filios edere, cum commeant, volatibus invicem cohaerere, communi conversatione vitam suam degere, oris osculo concordiam pacis agnoscere, legem circa omnia unanimitatis implere. Haec est in Ecclesia noscenda simplicitas, haec charitas obtinenda, ut columbas dilectio fraternitatis imitetur, ut mansuetudo et lenitas agnis et ovibus aequetur. Quid facit in pectore christiano luporum feritas et canum rabies et venenum lethale serpentum et cruenta saevitia bestiarum? Gratulandum est cum tales de Ecclesia separantur, ne columbas, ne oves Christi saeva sua et venenata contagione praedentur. Cohaerere et conjungi non potest amaritudo cum dulcedine, caligo cum lumine, pluvia cum serenitate, pugna cum pace, cum foecunditate sterilitas, cum fontibus siccitas, cum tranquillitate tempestas. Nemo existimet bonos de Ecclesia posse discedere: triticum non rapit ventus, nec arborem solida radice fundatam procella subvertit; inanes paleae tempestate jactantur, invalidae arbores turbinis incursione evertuntur. Hos execratur et percutit Joannes apostolus dicens: Ex nobis exierunt, sed non fuerunt ex nobis: si enim fuissent ex nobis, mansissent utique nobiscum (I Joan. II, 19).