It is easy to misunderstand Cyprian’s teaching. He did not think that the eucharist was a fresh sacrifice for sins. His teaching was that through the eucharist, Christ presented Himself to God the Father as the One Who had made the once-for-all sacrifice for the sins of His people on the cross; and by eating the bread and drinking the wine, believers were united with that perfect self-offering of Christ, so that He presented both Himself and the congregation to the Father. Cyprian also taught that holy communion mysteriously benefitted the “faithful departed” – believers who have died. This
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