Saint Eusebius, Bishop of Vercelli[370a.d.]

Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources | 1894 | John Gilmary Shea

[Lady In Blue]

From a letter by Saint Eusebius of Vercelli,bishop

I have run the race; I have kept the faith

Dearly beloved, I know now that you are safe,as I was hoping, and I felt that I had paid you a visit, by being suddenly transported over the face of the earth like Habakkuk, when the angel brought him to Daniel. When I receive a letter from one of you and see in your writings your goodness and love, joy mingles with tears, and my desire to continue reading is checked by my weeping.Both emotions are inescapable, as they vie with each other in discharging their duty of affections,when such a ltter satisfies my longing for you.

Days pass in this way as I imagine myself in conversation with you, and so I forget my past sufferings.Consolations surround me on all sides:your firm faith,your love,your good works. In the midst of so many great blessings I soon imagine myself in your company, in exile no longer.

Dearly beloved, I rejoice in your faith, in the salvation that comes from faith, in your good works,which are not confined to your own surroundings byt spread far and wide. Like a farmer tending a sound tree, untouched by ax or fire because of its fruit, I want not only to serve you in the body, good people that you are, but also to give my life for your well-being.

Somehow or other I have managed with difficulty to complete this letter. I asked God constantly to keep the guards away hour by hour, and to allow the deacon to bring you some kind of greeting in writing, not simply news of my suffering.So I beg you to keep the faith with all vigilance, to preserve harmony, to be earnest in prayer, to remember me always, so that the Lord may grant freedom to his Church which is suffering throughout the world, and that I may be set free from the sufferings that weigh upon me, and so be able to rejoice with you.

I also ask and beseech you in God's mercy, that each one of you should add his own name to the greeting in this letter. Of necessity I cannot write to each of you as was my custom.So in this letter I ask you all-brothers and holy sisters, sons and daughters, men and women, old and young-to be content with this greeting and to be good enough to give my respectful good wishes to those who are outside the community and are kind enough to be my friends.

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[Lady In Blue]

ping

[JMJ333]

Ah hah! Now I have it right! Thanks for both threads. I love reading about the saints and love your graphics and hard work. Bless you!

[JMJ333]

Mwahahahah...I get my own special ping! thphphphphphp! LOL

[JMJ333]

Post 5 was meant for you, but in my excitement at teasing you forgot to type in your name. LOL

[Lady In Blue]

You're welcome,JMJ333!

[Lady In Blue]

Mwahahahah...I get my own special ping! thphphphphphp! LOL

hehehehe!

[JMJ333]

=)))

[Salvation]

I was so impressed with St. Eusebius in the narrative about him that I posted in the Daily Readings Thread.

Pope Liberius also noticed his abilities and sent him on a mission to the Emperor Constantius to try to resolve the troubles between Arians and Catholics. Seeming to agree, Constantius convened a council in Milan in 355. The powerful Arians however weren't there to talk but to force their own will on the others. A horrified Eusebius watched as his worst fears were confirmed and the Arians made this peace council into a condemnation of Saint Athanasius, their chief opponent. Eusebius, unafraid of their power, slapped the Nicene Creed down on the table and demanded that everyone sign that before condemning Athanasius. The Nicene Creed, adopted by a council of the full Church, proclaims that Jesus is one in being with the Father -- directly contradicting the Arian teaching.

[Salvation]

Saint Eusebius, help us to have a desire to learn more about our faith, the wisdom to discern the truth, and the strength to defend it. Amen

[JMJ333]

Bump for #11. Awesome prayer!

[Lady In Blue]

Wow! Wasn't he something?! We could sure use a Eusebius today that's for sure!

[nickcarraway]

We have to remember the courage of the early Christians. They put their life on the line all the time. And they didn't lose faith, when everyone around them fell into error. Especially important to remember.

[EODGUY]

And you deserve it.

EODGUY

[Salvation]

Bumping for today, 8-02-03

[Lady In Blue]

Thanks for bumping this thread and the one on St Peter along! I'm pretty sure I didn't bookmark either one and I was thinking about putting new threads on them in but I was on the main political threads so long my eyes were tired. Thanks again.

[nickcarraway]

BUMP

[Salvation]

Saint of the Day Ping!

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[Salvation]

BTTT on 08-02-05, Optional Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli.