Born James O’Reilly on February 21, 1857 in Ardagh, Ireland, he was the son of Michael O’Reilly and Rose O’Reilly. He came to the United States as a young man and for a time worked as a blacksmith. He entered the Passionist novitiate in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and professed his vows on May 6, 1875. Cyprian was his religious name. For his first eight years he was a cook and for the last fifteen years he was an invalid and assisted where he could in ministries among which was as a sandal maker and in his old trade as a blacksmith. He had cirrhosis of the liver and atheroma of the arteries. In his last days dropsy was an affliction as was a weak heart.
Birth Date:
February 21, 1857
Profession Date:
May 6, 1875
Death Date:
May 14, 1904
Religious Name:
Cyprian of the Heart of Mary O'Reilly