Subj : August 2nd - Saint Eusebius of Vercelli To : All From : rich Date : Wed Aug 01 2018 10:09:52 From: rich August 2nd - Saint Eusebius of Vercelli (283-371), by Jacob Saint Eusebius of Vercelli was the first bishop of northern Italy, confessor, and early Church father. Born to a noble family on the isle of Sardinia, Saint Eusebius learned what it meant to stand up for the Christian faith at an early age. His father was imprisoned and later died as a martyr for the faith. His mother, now a widow, brought he and his infant sister to Rome, where he was instructed in the practice of piety, and in the study of sacred learning, and ordained lector by Saint Sylvester. Having served as a lector for most of his childhood, Eusebius was naturally drawn to the priesthood. He studied in Vercelli (in Piedmont), where he was later ordained. Saint Eusebius served the Church of Vercelli with such zeal that when it came time to appoint a new bishop, he was unanimously chosen by both clergy and the congregation. Saint Eusebius approached religious life in a different manner than his peers. He is the first to link the monastic life with that of diocesan clergy, establishing a community of zealous priests under the principle that the best way to sanctify the people was to have them witness a clergy formed in solid virtue and living in community. Saint Eusebius had his clergy live like the desert monks of the East in that they shared a common life of prayer and penance, in a single residence, that of the bishop. Saint Eusebius was very careful to instruct his flock in the maxims of the Gospel. The force of the truth which he preached, together with his example, brought many sinners to a change of life. At that time, the Church was in danger from the heretical beliefs of the Arians=E2=80=94that Jesus Christ was not eternal, but created. Arius, t= he originator of these teachings, described the Arian beliefs as follows: =E2=80=9CBut we say and believe and have taught, and do teach, that the Son= is not unbegotten, nor in any way part of the unbegotten; and that he does not derive his subsistence from any matter; but that by his own will and counsel he has subsisted before time and before ages as perfect God, only begotten and unchangeable, and that before he was begotten, or created, or purposed, or established, he was not. For he was not unbegotten. We are persecuted, because we say that the Son has a beginning, but that God is without beginning.=E2=80=9D In response to the Arian threat, Pope Liberius dispatched Saint Eusebius on a mission to the Emperor Constantius to try to resolve the troubles between Arians and Catholics. Constantius was leaning toward accepting Arianism, due to political and military pressure. Under advisement from the Pope, however, the emperor convened a council in Milan in 355. The Arians attended, forcing their will on the others, and condemning Saint Athanasius=E2=80=94a friend of Saint Eusebius, and the chief opponent of Arianism. While most were afraid of the power of the Arians, Saint Eusebius courageously placed the Nicene Creed (written by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem years earlier, and adopted by the full Church), and demanded that everyone sign the Creed before condemning Athanasius. The Nicene Creed directly contradicts Arian teaching by proclaiming that Jesus is =E2=80=98one in being with the Father.' S= aint Eusebius' copy of the Creed was torn from his hands in anger, and h= is pen was broken. Emperor Constantius had grown tired of his arguments, and insisted that Saint Eusebius condemn his colleague. Under pain of imprisonment, torture, and death, the emperor demanded their participation. Along with Saint Dionysus of Milan and Lucifer of Cagliari, Saint Eusebius refused to condemn Athanasius as a heretic. Rather than death, the three were exiled to Palestine by the emperor. In Palestine, for the next several years, Eusebius suffered great humiliation, as he was immediately imprisoned by the Arians, who took to dragging him naked through the streets for others to mock him. He was subjected to torture and solitary confinement in prison. Through it all, he refused to compromise the true faith, and he continued to write letters of encouragement to his flock and to the other true Catholics. Saint Dionysus died in prison, causing him great sadness. Saint Eusebius was moved to Asia Minor, and then to Egypt, treated cruelly in each prison. However, he continued to confound his tormentors with unwavering faith and hope in the Lord. When Constantius died in the year 361, the new Emperor Julian allowed all the exiled Prelates to return to their sees. Saint Eusebius went to Alexandria to consult with Athanasius about convoking a synod, which in 362 was held there under their joint leadership. During that synod they extended leniency to all the Catholic bishops whose faith had wavered during the Arian heresy. Following the council in Alexandria, Saint Eusebius returned to Italy, where he continued his fight against Arianism in the west. He returned to Vercelli, advanced in age, where he peacefully died in approximately 371. Because of the sufferings for the Faith he endured during his life, the Church honors him with the title of martyr. His relics are in a shrine in the Cathedral of Vercelli. The early life of Saint Eusebius was one marked by accolades, respect, and great accomplishments by his faith and zeal. The latter part of his life found him imprisoned, hated, and tortured for his faith. Saint Eusebius, throughout all of these horrible sufferings, kept his eyes fixed on God. His faith never wavered, and at great peril to himself, defended the Church, the divinity of Christ, and the tenets of our faith without hesitation. His life reminds us that suffering has purpose-- that the moral suffering we are graced with in the world is linked to Christ. It is through this suffering that our blood can be mixed with the infinitely precious Blood of Our Lord to assist in the expiation of sin and the salvation of souls. -- by Jacob Here is one of the best means to acquire humility: fix well in mind this maxim: One is as much as he is in the sight of God, and no more. --Thomas a Kempis Bible Quote "Just as the sun shines simultaneously on the tall cedars and on each little flower as though it were alone on the earth, so Our Lord is occupied particularly with each soul as though there were no others like it." --St. Therese of the Child Jesus "Story of a Soul" (p. 14) <><><><> Lord God, St. Eusebius affirmed the divinity of Your Son. By keeping the faith he taught, may we come to share the eternal life of Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .