St. Cornelius succeeded St. Fabian as Pope in 251. He behaved with zeal and piety in his pastoral charge and adhered to his duty with courage and steadfastness. The holy Pope suffered martyrdom, September 14, 252.

St. Cyprian, Archbishop of Carthage and Primate of Africa, laid down his life for Christ, September 14, 258, six years later, to the day after his friend St. Cornelius. St. Cyprian is one of the most famous of the earlier Fathers of the Church.

(Source: The New Roman Missal, Rev. F. X. Lasance)