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Of the Good, Peaceable Man (3)
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Aug 2, 2023, 3:48:51 AM8/2/23
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Of the Good, Peaceable Man (3)
It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for
such association is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful
life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able to live
at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and
those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly
thing.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 3
<<>><<>><<>>
2 August – Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
(c 283-371)
Bishop, Confessor, Founder of monasticism in his region – born in c
283 at Sardinia and died on 1 August 371 in Vercelli, Italy.
Patronages – Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Eusebius, Berzo
Demo, Italy, Piedmont, Italy, Vercelli, Italy.
Saint Eusebius was born of a noble family on the island of Sardinia,
where his father is said to have died in prison for the Faith. He was
brought up in Rome in the practice of piety and studied in Vercelli, a
city of Piedmont. Eusebius was ordained a priest there and served the
Church of Vercelli with such zeal that when the episcopal chair became
vacant he was unanimously chosen, by both clergy and people, to fill
it.
The holy bishop saw that the best and principal means to labour
effectually for the edification and sanctification of his people, was
to have a zealous clergy. Saint Ambrose assures us that he was the
first bishop who in the West, united the monastic life with the
clerical, living and having his clergy live almost like the monks of
the East in the deserts. They shared a common life of prayer and
penance, in a single residence, that of the bishop, as did the clergy
of Saint Augustine in his African see. For this reason, the Canons
Regular of St Augustine, honour him along with Augustine as their
founder.
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.
When a Council was held in Italy, under the influence of the Emperor
Constans and the Arian heretics, with the intention of condemning
Saint Athanasius (297-373), bishop of Alexandria and Doctor of the
Church, St Eusebius courageously resisted the heretics. He attempted
to have all present sign the Nicene Creed but the paper was torn out
of his hands and his pen was broken. With St Dionysus of Milan, he
refused to sign the condemnation of the bishop of Alexandria. The
Emperor therefore had him banished to Scythopolis in Palestine with St
Dionysus of Milan, then to Cappadocia, where St Dionysus died and
finally, he was taken to the Upper Thebaid in Egypt, where he suffered
grievously. The Arians of these places loaded him with outrages and
treated him cruelly and St Eusebius confounded them, wherever they
were.
At the death of Constans in 361, he was permitted to return to his
diocese, where he continued to combat Arianism, with St Hilary of
Poitiers (315-368) another Doctor of the Church. Two of his letters,
written from his dungeons, are still extant, as well as a part of the
Codex which is believed to be by him, have survived. One of the
letters is addressed to his church, the other to the bishop of Elvira
to encourage him to oppose a fallen heretic and not fear the power of
princes.
Although in the middle ages he was sometimes referred to as a martyr,
due primarily to two panegyrics appended to the works of Saint
Ambrose, this was more to honour the sufferings he endured in standing
up for his faith. Later legends of his martyrdom have no historical
basis.
In a General Audience in October 2007, Pope Benedict XVI observed:
Therefore, Pastors, Eusebius said, must urge the faithful not to
consider the cities of the world as their permanent dwelling place but
to seek the future city, the definitive heavenly Jerusalem. This
“eschatological reserve” enables Pastors and faithful, to preserve the
proper scale of values, without ever submitting to the fashions of the
moment and the unjust claims of the current political power. The
authentic scale of values – Eusebius’ whole life seems to say – does
not come from emperors of the past, or of today but from Jesus
Christ….
He died in 371. His relics are in a shrine in the Cathedral of
Vercelli which is dedicated to him. The Statue below is on the
Colonnade at St Peter’s, in the Vatican.
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/02/
Thought for the Day – 2 August – The Memorial of St Eusebius of
Vercelli (c 283-371)
Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI’s
Catechesis on St Eusebius, October 2007
Ambrose’s admiration for Eusebius was based, above all, on the fact
that the Bishop of Vercelli governed his Diocese with the witness of
his life: “With the austerity of fasting he governed his Church.”
Indeed, Ambrose was also fascinated, as he himself admits, by the
monastic ideal of the contemplation of God which, in the footsteps of
the Prophet Elijah, Eusebius had pursued. First of all, Ambrose
commented, the Bishop of Vercelli gathered his clergy in vita communis
and educated its members in “the observance of the monastic rule,
although they lived in the midst of the city.” The Bishop and his
clergy were to share the problems of their fellow citizens and did so
credibly, precisely by cultivating, at the same time, a different
citizenship, that of Heaven (cf. Heb 13: 14). And thus, they really
built true citizenship and true solidarity among all the citizens of
Vercelli.
While Eusebius was adopting the cause of the sancta plebs of Vercelli,
he lived a monk’s life in the heart of the city, opening the city to
God. This trait, though, in no way diminished his exemplary pastoral
dynamism. It seems among other things that he set up parishes in
Vercelli for an orderly and stable ecclesial service and promoted
Marian shrines for the conversion of the pagan populations in the
countryside. This “monastic feature,” however, conferred a special
dimension on the Bishop’s relationship with his hometown. Just like
the Apostles, for whom Jesus prayed at his Last Supper, the Pastors
and faithful of the Church “are of the world” (Jn 17: 11), but not “in
the world”. Therefore, Pastors, Eusebius said, must urge the faithful
not to consider the cities of the world as their permanent dwelling
place but to seek the future city, the definitive heavenly Jerusalem.
This “eschatological reserve” enables Pastors and faithful to preserve
the proper scale of values without ever submitting to the fashions of
the moment and the unjust claims of the current political power. The
authentic scale of values – Eusebius’ whole life seems to say – does
not come from emperors of the past or of today but from Jesus Christ,
the perfect Man, equal to the Father in divinity, yet a man like us.
In referring to this scale of values, Eusebius never tired of “warmly
recommending” his faithful “to jealously guard the faith, to preserve
harmony, to be assiduous in prayer” (Second Letter, op. cit.).
Dear friends, I too warmly recommend these perennial values to you, as
I greet and bless you, using the very words with which the holy Bishop
Eusebius concluded his Second Letter: “I address you all, my holy
brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, faithful of both sexes and
of every age group, so that you may… bring our greeting also to those
who are outside the Church, yet deign to nourish sentiments of love
for us.”
St Eusebius of Vercelli, Pray for Us!
Saint Quote:
Those who attend to the regulation of their own consciences are not
much given to form rash judgments; far from wasting their reflections
in dissecting the actions and intentions of their neighbors, whose
conduct may appear cloudy and obscure, they enter into themselves, and
use their utmost endeavors to reform and perfect their own lives, like
bees which, in misty and cloudy weather, return to their hive to
pursue their home labors. Rash judgment produces detraction, which is
the bane of conversation. Were detraction banished from the world,
numberless other sins would be banished together with it.
-- St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote:
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love. (John 15:10)
<><><><>
For this day, a reflection of Saint Eymard on Holy
Communion:
Having received Jesus into your heart at Holy Communion,
spend some time in simple reflection, without vocal prayers.
Adore Him in silence; sit like Magdalen in humble, adoring
love at His feet; gaze upon Him like Zaccheus, love Him in
mute worship, like Mary, His Mother.
Call Him your King, the Spouse of your soul. Say to Him;
"Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Offer yourself to Him
as His servant, ready to execute His will. Bind your heart to
His footstool, that it may wander no more, or rather, put it
under His feet, that He may crush out its self-love and pride.
While your soul remains in recollection, in the hushed calm of
His holy presence, do not seek to disturb it. It is the sleep of
the soul upon the breast of Jesus, and this grace, which
strengthens and unites it to Our Lord, will be more profitable
that any other exercise.
It is no great thing to associate with the good and gentle, for
such association is naturally pleasing. Everyone enjoys a peaceful
life and prefers persons of congenial habits. But to be able to live
at peace with harsh and perverse men, or with the undisciplined and
those who irritate us, is a great grace, a praiseworthy and manly
thing.
--Thomas à Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 3
<<>><<>><<>>
2 August – Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
(c 283-371)
Bishop, Confessor, Founder of monasticism in his region – born in c
283 at Sardinia and died on 1 August 371 in Vercelli, Italy.
Patronages – Congregation of the Daughters of Saint Eusebius, Berzo
Demo, Italy, Piedmont, Italy, Vercelli, Italy.
Saint Eusebius was born of a noble family on the island of Sardinia,
where his father is said to have died in prison for the Faith. He was
brought up in Rome in the practice of piety and studied in Vercelli, a
city of Piedmont. Eusebius was ordained a priest there and served the
Church of Vercelli with such zeal that when the episcopal chair became
vacant he was unanimously chosen, by both clergy and people, to fill
it.
The holy bishop saw that the best and principal means to labour
effectually for the edification and sanctification of his people, was
to have a zealous clergy. Saint Ambrose assures us that he was the
first bishop who in the West, united the monastic life with the
clerical, living and having his clergy live almost like the monks of
the East in the deserts. They shared a common life of prayer and
penance, in a single residence, that of the bishop, as did the clergy
of Saint Augustine in his African see. For this reason, the Canons
Regular of St Augustine, honour him along with Augustine as their
founder.
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.
When a Council was held in Italy, under the influence of the Emperor
Constans and the Arian heretics, with the intention of condemning
Saint Athanasius (297-373), bishop of Alexandria and Doctor of the
Church, St Eusebius courageously resisted the heretics. He attempted
to have all present sign the Nicene Creed but the paper was torn out
of his hands and his pen was broken. With St Dionysus of Milan, he
refused to sign the condemnation of the bishop of Alexandria. The
Emperor therefore had him banished to Scythopolis in Palestine with St
Dionysus of Milan, then to Cappadocia, where St Dionysus died and
finally, he was taken to the Upper Thebaid in Egypt, where he suffered
grievously. The Arians of these places loaded him with outrages and
treated him cruelly and St Eusebius confounded them, wherever they
were.
At the death of Constans in 361, he was permitted to return to his
diocese, where he continued to combat Arianism, with St Hilary of
Poitiers (315-368) another Doctor of the Church. Two of his letters,
written from his dungeons, are still extant, as well as a part of the
Codex which is believed to be by him, have survived. One of the
letters is addressed to his church, the other to the bishop of Elvira
to encourage him to oppose a fallen heretic and not fear the power of
princes.
Although in the middle ages he was sometimes referred to as a martyr,
due primarily to two panegyrics appended to the works of Saint
Ambrose, this was more to honour the sufferings he endured in standing
up for his faith. Later legends of his martyrdom have no historical
basis.
In a General Audience in October 2007, Pope Benedict XVI observed:
Therefore, Pastors, Eusebius said, must urge the faithful not to
consider the cities of the world as their permanent dwelling place but
to seek the future city, the definitive heavenly Jerusalem. This
“eschatological reserve” enables Pastors and faithful, to preserve the
proper scale of values, without ever submitting to the fashions of the
moment and the unjust claims of the current political power. The
authentic scale of values – Eusebius’ whole life seems to say – does
not come from emperors of the past, or of today but from Jesus
Christ….
He died in 371. His relics are in a shrine in the Cathedral of
Vercelli which is dedicated to him. The Statue below is on the
Colonnade at St Peter’s, in the Vatican.
https://anastpaul.com/2019/08/02/
Thought for the Day – 2 August – The Memorial of St Eusebius of
Vercelli (c 283-371)
Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI’s
Catechesis on St Eusebius, October 2007
Ambrose’s admiration for Eusebius was based, above all, on the fact
that the Bishop of Vercelli governed his Diocese with the witness of
his life: “With the austerity of fasting he governed his Church.”
Indeed, Ambrose was also fascinated, as he himself admits, by the
monastic ideal of the contemplation of God which, in the footsteps of
the Prophet Elijah, Eusebius had pursued. First of all, Ambrose
commented, the Bishop of Vercelli gathered his clergy in vita communis
and educated its members in “the observance of the monastic rule,
although they lived in the midst of the city.” The Bishop and his
clergy were to share the problems of their fellow citizens and did so
credibly, precisely by cultivating, at the same time, a different
citizenship, that of Heaven (cf. Heb 13: 14). And thus, they really
built true citizenship and true solidarity among all the citizens of
Vercelli.
While Eusebius was adopting the cause of the sancta plebs of Vercelli,
he lived a monk’s life in the heart of the city, opening the city to
God. This trait, though, in no way diminished his exemplary pastoral
dynamism. It seems among other things that he set up parishes in
Vercelli for an orderly and stable ecclesial service and promoted
Marian shrines for the conversion of the pagan populations in the
countryside. This “monastic feature,” however, conferred a special
dimension on the Bishop’s relationship with his hometown. Just like
the Apostles, for whom Jesus prayed at his Last Supper, the Pastors
and faithful of the Church “are of the world” (Jn 17: 11), but not “in
the world”. Therefore, Pastors, Eusebius said, must urge the faithful
not to consider the cities of the world as their permanent dwelling
place but to seek the future city, the definitive heavenly Jerusalem.
This “eschatological reserve” enables Pastors and faithful to preserve
the proper scale of values without ever submitting to the fashions of
the moment and the unjust claims of the current political power. The
authentic scale of values – Eusebius’ whole life seems to say – does
not come from emperors of the past or of today but from Jesus Christ,
the perfect Man, equal to the Father in divinity, yet a man like us.
In referring to this scale of values, Eusebius never tired of “warmly
recommending” his faithful “to jealously guard the faith, to preserve
harmony, to be assiduous in prayer” (Second Letter, op. cit.).
Dear friends, I too warmly recommend these perennial values to you, as
I greet and bless you, using the very words with which the holy Bishop
Eusebius concluded his Second Letter: “I address you all, my holy
brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, faithful of both sexes and
of every age group, so that you may… bring our greeting also to those
who are outside the Church, yet deign to nourish sentiments of love
for us.”
St Eusebius of Vercelli, Pray for Us!
Saint Quote:
Those who attend to the regulation of their own consciences are not
much given to form rash judgments; far from wasting their reflections
in dissecting the actions and intentions of their neighbors, whose
conduct may appear cloudy and obscure, they enter into themselves, and
use their utmost endeavors to reform and perfect their own lives, like
bees which, in misty and cloudy weather, return to their hive to
pursue their home labors. Rash judgment produces detraction, which is
the bane of conversation. Were detraction banished from the world,
numberless other sins would be banished together with it.
-- St. Francis de Sales
Bible Quote:
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love. (John 15:10)
<><><><>
For this day, a reflection of Saint Eymard on Holy
Communion:
Having received Jesus into your heart at Holy Communion,
spend some time in simple reflection, without vocal prayers.
Adore Him in silence; sit like Magdalen in humble, adoring
love at His feet; gaze upon Him like Zaccheus, love Him in
mute worship, like Mary, His Mother.
Call Him your King, the Spouse of your soul. Say to Him;
"Speak, Lord, for Thy servant heareth." Offer yourself to Him
as His servant, ready to execute His will. Bind your heart to
His footstool, that it may wander no more, or rather, put it
under His feet, that He may crush out its self-love and pride.
While your soul remains in recollection, in the hushed calm of
His holy presence, do not seek to disturb it. It is the sleep of
the soul upon the breast of Jesus, and this grace, which
strengthens and unites it to Our Lord, will be more profitable
that any other exercise.
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