September 20th - Saint Eustachius and His Family, Martyrs
(d. ca. 118)
The remarkable story of Saint Eustachius, named Placidus before his
conversion, is a lesson given by God Himself on the marvels of His Divine
Providence. He was a distinguished and very wealthy officer of the Roman
army under the Emperor Trajan, in the beginning of the second century. He
practiced generous charity to the poor, although he had not yet perceived
the errors of idolatry.
One day, while this distinguished officer was vainly pursuing a deer, the
animal suddenly stood immobile before him in the light of a hilltop, and
he
perceived between its horns a luminous cross. On the cross was the image
of
the crucified Saviour, and a voice said to him, "I am the Christ whom you
honor without knowing it; the alms you give to the poor have reached Me."
Like Saint Paul, he fell from his horse and remained inert for a time.
Coming to himself, he said interiorly, "What is this voice I have heard?
You
who speak to me, who are you, that I may believe in you?" And the Lord
told
him interiorly that He was the Creator of the light, of the seasons, of
man
and all things visible, that he had suffered to save the human race, died
and been buried, but had risen the third day.
This was sufficient, and the officer went home to fulfill the prescription
he had received to be baptized with his wife and two young sons. His
spouse
had received a similar revelation at the same time as himself, and they
all
went to the Christian authority of the region in secret, to be baptized
the
same night.
In a short time he lost all his possessions through natural catastrophes
and
robbers. But he had been advised beforehand that the Lord wanted to make
of
him another Job, that already the ancient enemy had plotted against him,
and
that he was not to allow any thought of blasphemy to arise in his heart
amid
the sufferings that were awaiting him. He prayed for strength, and retired
from the region after the calamities, with his wife and children. When by
unforeseeable and extraordinary accidents, his wife and children were also
taken from him, and he believed the children dead, he was close to despair
and wished his life might end; but the warning of the Lord returned to his
mind, and he entered into the service of a land-owner of a village called
Badyssus, to tend the fields. He remained for fifteen years in this
occupation. During this time his loved ones were well and safe, all spared
in the perilous cir***stances which had removed them from his sight, but
separated, each one like himself, from the three others.
In those days the empire was suffering greatly from the ravages of
barbarians, and was sinking under the assaults. The emperor Trajan had
Eustachius sought out, and when he was found, had him clothed in splendid
garments to give him command over the troops he intended to send against
the
invaders. During the celebration that accompanied his return, he related
to
the emperor all that had occurred to him. When the troops were being
assembled, his own sons were conscripted. Seeing them, he noticed them as
young men taller than most and of great nobility of bearing and
countenance,
and kept them near him without yet recognizing them. One of the two, while
on bivouac near the very house of his own mother, who like Eustachius had
taken employment in the garden of a landowner, related the confused
memories
of his childhood to his companion. Suddenly, the two brothers recognized
one
another and embraced in an effusion of joy.
Their mother, by a delicate attention of Providence, had chanced to
overhear
them, and reflecting on what she heard, became certain they were her own
sons. She went to the captain of the campaign to inquire about them, and
immediately recognized him. Not wi****ng to startle him, she began to
relate
her story, identifying herself as the wife of a certain Placidus, and
saying
she believed she was now in the presence of her two sons from whom she had
been separated, and whom she had not seen for long years. One must imagine
the sentiments of the captain on hearing this narration, the reunion which
followed, and the prayers of thanksgiving sent up to God by the family and
also the troops, who joined them in their joy and prayers.
Returning to Rome victorious, Eustachius was received in triumph and
greatly
honored, but when commanded to sacrifice during the celebration to the
false
gods, refused. The infuriated emperor Hadrian - for Trajan had died -
ordered him with his wife and children to be exposed to a starved lion.
But
instead of harming these servants of God, the beast came up to them,
lowered
its head as if in homage, and left the arena. The emperor, more furious
still, caused the martyrs to be shut up inside a brazen bull, under which
a
fire was to be kindled that they might be roasted to death. Saint
Eustachius
prayed aloud and thanked God, asking Him who had reunited them to cause
that
their lives end at the same time, so they might be received together by
Him
into the happiness of His presence. They expired, but neither their bodies
nor even their hair was injured. They were found entire the next day, and
at
first it was believed they were still alive. Many believed in Christ
through
this final miracle, which to us today seems perhaps less miraculous than
the
story of their existence while alive. A church in honor of the martyrs
still
exists in Rome: Saint-Eustachius in Thermis.
Source: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin
(Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 11.
Saint Quote:
"Of how much greater faith and salutary fear are they who . . .
confess their sins to the priests of God in a straightforward manner
and in sorrow, making an open declaration of conscience. . . . I
beseech you, brethren, let everyone who has sinned confess his sin
while he is still in this world, while his confession is still
admissible, while the satisfaction and remission made through the
priests are still pleasing before the Lord" (ibid., 28).
-St Cyprian of Carthage.
Bible Quote:
We preach Christ crucified-to the Jews a stumbling-block and to the
Gentiles foolishness. I Cor. 1:23
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O Sacred Blood, that flowed so copiously seven times for my salvation,
I love Thee, I praise Thee, I adore Thee with the deepest feeling of
gratitude! The purest fountain from which Thou didst flow makes Thy memory
so sweet. O Precious Blood, with trumpet tones Thou speakest to me of the
love of my God and Redeemer. How I deplore my coldness and indifference
towards Thee! Now, at last, I wish to return love for love, blood for
blood, if necessary. As often as my pulse beats, it shall greet Thee,
Thou sweet Guest of my soul, and shall return to the arteries warmed and
purified by Thy love. As long as the blood courses through my veins,
it shall flow only for love of Thee; it shall circulate only for Thy
interests
and it shall turn cold and stand still only because I am about to love
Thee
in eternity. Oh, let this stream of Thy love flow through every heart and
inebriate it with holy joy!
My dearest Mother Mary, I beseech Thee with confidence, obtain for me,
although thy unworthy child, the blessing of God the Father, by covering
me
with the merits of thy Son Jesus, that I may regain my eternal birthright
in Heaven. Clothe me every evening, Sweet Lady of Mount Carmel, but
especially on the eve of my life, with the "Dyed Garments" of the Precious
Blood. Amen.
From the Lamb of God Prayerbook
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