25. Learn what occurred when I myself was present and a witness.58    [What Cyprian testifies as of his own knowledge, we must accept as fact, however it be accounted for. For the rest, we may believe that the terrible excitements of the times led him to accept as real the exaggerated stories which became current. In our own days “the faith-cure” excites a like credulity.] Some parents who by chance were escaping, being little careful59    Some read, “of themselves;” others, “of their belongings.” on account of their terror, left a little daughter under the care of a wet-nurse. The nurse gave up the forsaken child to the magistrates. They gave it, in the presence of an idol whither the people flocked (because it was not yet able to eat flesh on account of its years), bread mingled with wine, which however itself was the remainder of what had been used in the immolation of those that had perished. Subsequently the mother recovered her child. But the girl was no more able to speak, or to indicate the crime that had been committed, than she had before been able to understand or to prevent it. Therefore it happened unawares in their ignorance, that when we were sacrificing, the mother brought it in with her. Moreover, the girl mingled with the saints, became impatient of our prayer and supplications, and was at one moment shaken with weeping, and at another tossed about like a wave of the sea by the violent excitement of her mind; as if by the compulsion of a torturer the soul of that still tender child confessed a consciousness of the fact with such signs as it could. When, however, the solemnities were finished, and the deacon began to offer the cup to those present, and when, as the rest received it, its turn approached, the little child, by the instinct of the divine majesty, turned away its face, compressed its mouth with resisting lips, and refused the cup.60    [Infant communion.] Still the deacon persisted, and, although against her efforts, forced on her some of the sacrament of the cup. Then there followed a sobbing and vomiting. In a profane body and mouth the Eucharist could not remain; the draught sanctified in the blood of the Lord burst forth from the polluted stomach. So great is the Lord’s power, so great is His majesty. The secrets of darkness were disclosed under His light, and not even hidden crimes deceived God’s priest.

XXV. Praesente ac teste me ipso accipite quid evenerit. Parentes forte fugientes, dum trepidi minus consulunt, sub nutricis alimento parvulam filiam reliquerunt; 0485A relictam nutrix detulit ad magistratus. Illi ei, apud idolum quo populus confluebat, quod carnem necdum posset edere per aetatem, panem mero mixtum, quod tamen et ipsum de immolatione pereuntium supererat, tradiderunt. Recepit filiam postmodum mater. Sed facinus puella commissum tam loqui et indicare non potuit, quam nec intelligere prius potuit nec arcere. Ignoratione igitur obreptum est ut sacrificantibus nobis eam secum mater inferret. Sed enim puella mixta cum sanctis, precis nostrae et orationis impatiens, nunc ploratu concuti, nunc mentis aestu coepit fluctuabunda jactari, et velut tortore cogente, quibus poterat indiciis conscientiam facti in simplicibus adhuc annis rudis anima fatebatur. Ubi vero solemnibus adimpletis calicem diaconus offerre praesentibus coepit, et accipientibus caeteris locus ejus 0485B advenit, faciem suam parvula instinctu divinae majestatis avertere, os labiis obturantibus premere, calicem recusare. Perstitit tamen diaconus, et reluctanti licet de sacramento calicis infudit. Tunc sequitur singultus et vomitus. In corpore atque ore violato Eucharistia permanere non potuit. Sanctificatus in 0486A Domini sanguine potus de pollutis visceribus erupit. Tanta est potestas Domini, tanta majestas! Secreta tenebrarum sub ejus luce detecta sunt, sacerdotem Dei nec occulta crimina fefellerunt.