Saint Cyprian follower of The Lord Jesus Christ

Saint Cyprian was a Roman Church Father who was key in withstanding the persecutions of the Church in her early history.

From Father Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints.

September 16.— ST. CYPRIAN, Bishop, Martyr.

CYPRIAN was an African of noble birth, but of evil life, a pagan, and a teacher of rhetoric. In middle life he was converted to Christianity, and shortly after his baptism was ordained priest, and made Bishop of Carthage, notwithstanding his resistance. When the persecution of Decius broke out, he fled from his episcopal city, that he might be the better able to minister to the wants of his flock, but returned on occasion of a pestilence. Later on he was banished, and saw in a vision his future martyrdom. Being recalled from exile, sentence of death was pronounced against him, which he received with the words “Thanks be to God.” His great desire was to die whilst in the act of preaching the faith of Christ, and he had the consolation of being surrounded at his martyrdom by crowds of his faithful children. He was beheaded on the 14th of September, 258, and was buried with great solemnity. Even the pagans respected his memory.

Reflection — The duty of almsgiving is declared both by nature and revelation: by nature, because it flows from the principle imprinted within us of doing to others as we would they should do to us; by revelation, in many special commands of Scripture, and in the precept of divine charity which binds us to love God for His own sake, and our neighbor for the sake of God.

The Second Coming of The Lord Jesus Christ

It was in the Holy Land that Jesus Christ the God-man walked and taught and was crucified and was buried and rose again in the same flesh and ascended to heaven in at the right hand of the Father. It is the Holy Land that He will return to from heaven and gather all men unto Himself for judgement.

From Father Adrian Fortescue's collection of hymns.

AUTHOR of man’s salvation, Jesus, joy of hearts, maker of a world redeemed, pure light of them who love thee;
2. What pity moves thee to bear our sins, that thou guiltless shouldst bear death to save us from death!
3. Thou dost break through the darkness of hell, taking away chains from prisoners; thou conquering in glorious triumph dost sit at the Father’s right hand.
4. Let pity move thee to heal our woes, to grant us to see thy face in the blessed light.
5. Leader to heaven and way of life, be thou the end of our desire, thou our joy after tears, thou the reward of life for ever.

EASTERTIDE

Vesper hymn for Ascension Day (about the 8th century)

Let us walk in the blessed light until the return of Christ to meet Him joyfully.

Eph:5:

1 ¶ Be ye therefore followers of God, as most dear children:

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and hath delivered himself for us, an oblation and a sacrifice to God for an odour of sweetness.

9 For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and justice and truth:

10 Proving what is well pleasing to God.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness: but rather reprove them.

12 For the things that are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for all that is made manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith: Rise, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead: and Christ shall enlighten thee.

15 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise,

16 But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore, become not unwise: but understanding what is the will of God.

18 … be ye filled with the Holy Spirit,

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord:

20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father:

(DRV)

See this for scripture references from the Church Fathers

e-Catena: Compiled Allusions to the NT in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/e-catena/

2Thes:2:
1 ¶ And we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and of our gathering together unto him:
2 That you be not easily moved from your sense nor be terrified, neither by spirit nor by word nor by epistle. as sent from us, as if the day of the Lord were at hand.
3 ¶ Let no man deceive you by any means: for unless there come a revolt first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition
4 Who opposeth and is lifted up above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself as if he were God.
5 Remember you not that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now you know what withholdeth, that he may be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity already worketh: only that he who now holdeth do hold, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then that wicked one shall be revealed: whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: him
9 Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in all power and signs and lying wonders:
10 And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish: because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 (2:10) Therefore God shall send them the operation of error, to believe lying:
12 (2-11) That all may be judged who have not believed the truth but have consented to iniquity.
13 ¶ (2-12) But we ought to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved of God, for that God hath chosen you firstfruits unto salvation, in sanctification of the spirit and faith of the truth:
14 (2-13) Whereunto also he hath called you by our gospel, unto the purchasing of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 (2-14) Therefore, brethren, stand fast: and hold the traditions, which you have learned, whether by word or by our epistle.
16 ¶ (2-15) Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God and our Father, who hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope in grace,
17 (2-16) Exhort your hearts and confirm you in every good work and word.
(DRV)

Church Father references for the above passage of 2Thessalonians2 would be:

http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/e-catena/2thessalonians2.html