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Profile
Priest. Martyred in
the persecutions of Maximian
Herculeus.
late 3rd
century Palestine
Additional Information
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
books
Book of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
MLA Citation
“Saint Eusebius of
Palestine“. CatholicSaints.Info. 22 July 2020. Web. 8 April 2021.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-eusebius-of-palestine/>
Eusebius of Palestine M
(RM)
Died 3rd century.
Eusebius, a priest of Palestine, was denounced as a zealous evangelist to
Emperor Maximian, arrested and brought before him. Because the local populace
complained about Eusebius' Maximian and his governor Maxentius insisted that he
should sacrifice to the gods, although no new edict against the Christians had
been published. The acta are still extant:
Maxentius:
"Sacrifice to the gods freely, or you shall be made to do it against your
will."
Eusebius: "There is
a greater law which says, You shall adore the Lord your God, and him alone shall
you serve."
Maxentius: "Choose
either to offer sacrifice, or to suffer the most rigorous torments."
Eusebius: "It is not
consistent with reason for a person to adore stones, nothing is viler or more
brittle."
Maxentius: "These
Christians are a hardened race of men, to whom it seems desirable rather to die
than to live."
Eusebius: "It is
impious to despise the light for the sake of darkness."
Maxentius: "You grow
more obstinate by leniency and entreaties. Therefore I will lay them aside, and
frankly tell you, that, unless you sacrifice, you shall be burnt alive."
Eusebius: "As to
that, I am in no pain. The more severe or cruel the torments are, the greater
the crown will be." At this point Eusebius was stretched on the rack and
his sides torn with iron hooks. Throughout this torture Eusebius repeated,
"Lord Jesus, preserve me. Whether we live or die, we are yours."
Amazed at his resistance, Maxentius finally ordered that he should be released
from the rack.
Maxentius: "Do you
know the decree of the senate, which commands all to sacrifice to the
gods?"
Eusebius: "The
command of God is to take place before that of man." The irate judge
ordered Eusebius to be burnt alive. As the saint walked out with joy painted
upon his face, onlookers were amazed.
Maxentius: "You run
to an unnecessary death; your obstinacy astonishes me. Change your mind."
Eusebius: "If the
emperor commands me to adore dumb metal, in contempt of the true God, let me
appear before him."
He said this because the
current emperors (Maximian and Diocletian) had not yet issued new laws against
the Christians. So, Maxentius had Eusebius confined until Maximian could pass
judgment the following day.
Maxentius: "Great
emperor, I have found a seditious man who is disobedient to the laws, and even
denies to my face that the gods have any power, and refuses to sacrifice or to
adore your name."
Maximian: "Let him
he brought before me."
A witness advised against
it because he believed that the emperor would be moved by compassion or
persuasion.
Maximian: "Is he
such a man that he can even change me?"
Maxentius: "He will
change not only you, but the minds of all the people. If you once behold his
looks, you will feel yourself strangely moved to follow his inclinations."
Eusebius was brought into
the audience chamber. His joy revealed itself in his dazzling visage. Courage
shone in every glance and movement of this venerable, old priest.
Maximian: "Old man,
why are you come before me? Speak, and be not afraid."
Eusebius remained silent.
Maximian: "Speak
freely; answer my questions. I desire that you be saved."
Eusebius: "If I hope
to be saved by man, I can no longer expect salvation from God. If you excel in
dignity and power, we are, nevertheless, all mortal alike. Neither will I be
afraid to repeat before you what I have already declared. I am a Christian; nor
can I adore wood and stones; but I most readily obey the true God whom I know,
and whose goodness I have experienced."
Maximian: "What harm
is it if this man adores the God of whom he speaks, as above all others?"
Maxentius: "Be not
deceived, most invincible emperor; he does not call what you imagine, God, but
I know not what Jesus, whom our nation or ancestors never knew."
Maximian: "Go you
forth and judge him according to justice and the laws. I will not be judge in
such an affair."
Maximian, a rough and
generally brutish man, was moved by the modest virtue of this stranger. Like
Pilate before him, he would have preferred to save the man who so impressed
him, but would not trouble himself to do something that might not be
politically expedient. When Maximian left, Maxentius ascended his tribunal, and
sternly commanded Eusebius to sacrifice to the gods.
Eusebius: "I will
never sacrifice so those which can neither see nor hear."
Maxentius:
"Sacrifice, or torments and flames must be your portion. He whom you fear,
is not able to deliver you from them."
Eusebius: "Neither
fire nor the sword will work any change in me. Tear this weak body to pieces
with the utmost cruelty; treat it in what manner you please. My soul, which is
God's, cannot be hurt by your torments. I persevere firm in the holy law to
which I have adhered from my cradle." Thereupon Maxentius ordered that
Eusebius be beheaded. As the sentence was pronounced, the saint offered
thanksgiving.
Eusebius: "I thank
you for Your goodness, and praise Your power, O Lord Jesus Christ, that by
calling me to the trial of my fidelity, You allowed me to be treated as one of
Your own."
It is said that Eusebius
heard a from heaven say to him: "If you had not been found worthy to
suffer, you could not be admitted into the court of Christ, or to the seats of
the just." Shortly thereafter, he knelt down and was decapitated
(Husenbeth).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0814.shtml
St. Eusebius, Priest and
Martyr
From his genuine Acts,
published by Dom. Martenne, Thesaur. Anecdotarum, t. 3, p. 1649.
About the End of the
Third Century.
IN the reign of
Dioclesian and Maximian, before they had published any new edicts against the
Christians, Eusebius, a holy priest, a man eminently endowed with the spirit of
prayer, and all apostolical virtues, suffered death for the faith, probably in
Palestine. The emperor Maximian happening to be in that country, an information
was lodged with Maxentius, president of the province, against Eusebius, that he
distinguished himself by his zeal in invoking and preaching Christ, and the
holy man was apprehended, and brought before him. Maxentius, whom the people
stirred up by furious clamours against the servant of Christ, said to him:
“Sacrifice to the gods freely, or you shall be made to do it against your
will.” The martyr replied: “There is a greater law which says, Thou shalt
adore the Lord thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.” Maxentius urged:
“Choose either to offer sacrifice, or to suffer the most rigorous torments.”
Eusebius answered: “It is not consistent with reason for a person to adore
stones, than which nothing is viler or more brittle.” MAXENTIUS: “These
Christians are a hardened race of men, to whom it seems desirable rather to die
than to live.” EUSEBIUS: “It is impious to despise the light for the sake of
darkness.” MAXENTIUS: “You grow more obstinate by lenity and entreaties. I
therefore lay them aside, and frankly tell you, that, unless you sacrifice, you
shall be burnt alive.” EUSEBIUS: “As to that I am in no pain. The more severe
or cruel the torments are, the greater will the crown be.” Upon this, Maxentius
ordered that he should be stretched on the rack, and his sides rent with iron
hooks. Eusebius repeated whilst he was tormenting: “Lord Jesus preserve me.
Whether we live or die, we are yours.” The president was amazed at his
constancy and fortitude, and after some time, commanded that he should be taken
off the rack. Then he said to him: “Do you know the decree of the senate, which
commands all to sacrifice to the gods?” These words show that the saint was
indicted upon former laws, and that this happened before the general edicts of
Dioclesian. Eusebius answered: “The command of God is to take place before that
of man.” The judge, flushed with rage, commanded that he should be led to the
fire as if it were to be burnt alive.
Eusebius walked out with
a constancy and joy painted in his countenance which struck the prefect and the
by-standers with amazement, and the prefect called after him: “You run to an
unnecessary death; your obstinacy astonishes me. Change your mind.” The martyr
said: “If the emperor commands me to adore dumb metal in contempt of the true
God, let me appear before him.” This he said because he was impeached upon old
laws, the present emperors not having yet made any new ones against the
Christians. Maxentius therefore said to his guards and keepers: “Let him be
confined till tomorrow;” and forthwith going in to the prince, he said: “Great
emperor, I have found a seditious man who is disobedient to the laws, and even
denies to my face that the gods have any power, and refuses to sacrifice, or to
adore your name.” The emperor answered: “Let him be brought before me.” A
person present, who had seen him at the prefect’s tribunal, said: “If you see
him, you will be moved by his speech.” The emperor replied: “Is he such a man
that he can even change me?” The prefect then spoke: “He will change not only
you, but the minds of all the people. If you once behold his looks, you will
feel yourself strangely moved to follow his inclinations.” 1 The
emperor, however, ordered that he should be brought in. As he entered, every
one was struck in beholding the dazzling brightness which appeared in his
countenance, the joy and the affecting composure, sweetness and undaunted
courage which shone in his looks and eye, and the gracefulness of his air, and
whole mien, which in his venerable old age seemed to breathe an air of virtue
above what is human. The emperor fixed his eyes steadfastly upon him, as if he
beheld in him something divine, and spoke thus: “Old man, why are you come
before me? speak, and be not afraid.” Seeing him still silent, he said: “Speak
freely; answer my questions. I desire that you be saved.” Eusebius answered:
“If I hope to be saved by man, I can no longer expect salvation from God. If
you excel in dignity and power, we are, nevertheless, all mortal alike. Neither
will I be afraid to repeat before you what I have already declared. I am a
Christian; nor can I adore wood and stones; but I most readily obey the true
God whom I know, and whose goodness I have experienced.” The emperor said to
the president, “What harm is it if this man adores the God of whom he speaks,
as above all others.” Maxentius made answer: “Be not deceived, most invincible
emperor; he does not call what you imagine God, but I know not what Jesus, whom
our nation or ancestors never knew.” The emperor said: “Go you forth, and judge
him according to justice and the laws. I will not be judge in such an affair.”
This Maximian was by
birth a barbarian, one of the roughest, most brutish and savage of all men. Yet
the undaunted and modest virtue of this stranger set off by a heavenly grace,
struck him with awe. He desired to save the servant of Christ, but, like
Pilate, would not give himself any trouble, or hazard incurring the displeasure
of those whom on all other occasions he despised. So unaccountably cowardly are
worldly and wicked men in the practice of virtue, who in vice are unbridled and
daring. Maxentius going out ascended his tribunal, and sternly commanded Eusebius
to sacrifice to the gods. He answered: “I will never sacrifice to those who can
neither see nor hear.” Maxentius said: “Sacrifice, or torments and flames must
be your portion. He whom you fear is not able to deliver you from them.”
Eusebius replied: “Neither fire nor the sword will work any change in me. Tear
this weak body to pieces with the utmost cruelty; treat it in what manner you
please. My soul, which is God’s, cannot be hurt by your torments. I persevere
firm in the holy law to which I have adhered from my cradle.” The president,
upon this, condemned him to be beheaded. Eusebius, hearing the sentence
pronounced, said aloud: “I thank your goodness, and praise your power, O Lord
Jesus Christ, that by calling me to the trial of my fidelity, you have treated
me as one of yours.” He, at that instant, heard a voice from heaven saying to
him: “If you had not been found worthy to suffer, you could not be admitted
into the court of Christ, or to the seats of the just.” Being come to the place
of execution, he knelt down, and his head was struck off. His soul flew to
Christ; but Maxentius, afflicted with numberless pains, would not please
Christ, and never was able to please the world, which he so much dreaded and
courted. This is the martyr Eusebius, who is mentioned on this day in some
ancient Martyrologies which bear the name of St. Jerom, and others, which place
his death in Palestine.
The martyrs, by their
meek constancy, vanquished the fiercest tyrants, and haughty lords of the
world; they struck with a secret awe those who tormented them, whose obstinacy,
malice, and love of the world, still shut their heart to the truth.
Note 1. Si ejus
aspexeris vultum, sequêris et votum. Acta. [back]
Rev. Alban
Butler (1711–73). Volume VIII: August. The Lives of the
Saints. 1866.
SOURCE : http://www.bartleby.com/210/8/141.html
Short
Lives of the Saints – Saint Eusebius, Martyr
Entry
Eusebius was a Christian
priest of Syria, of an extremely gentle but firm disposition. Having been
summoned for the faith before the governor of Palestine, the latter was so
moved with the meek but courageous speech of his prisoner that he did not
venture to condemn him, but sent him to the emperor Maximian, who was then in
Palestine. Maximian, in his turn, although he was of a brutal nature and had
already been warned against the fascination exercised by Eusebius, was so
subdued by the sight of that venerable face radiant with peace and happiness,
and so overcome by the gentle tones of the confessor, that he found himself,
also, unable to pass sentence, but sent Eusebius back again to the governor
with the astounding injunction to judge the accused according to the rules of
equity! The governor, thereupon, like Pilate, sought to release him, but
Eusebius desired too ardently the crown of martyrdom, and he was finally
beheaded.
The soul wherein God dwells (what church can holier be?)
Becomes a walking-tent of heavenly majesty.
– from the German of Father J. Scheffler
Favorite Practice – To
disarm persecution by a meek and gentle deportment.
MLA
Citation
Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly.
“Saint Eusebius, Martyr”. Short
Lives of the Saints, 1910. CatholicSaints.Info.
18 April 2021. Web. 14 June 2026. <https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-eusebius-martyr/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/short-lives-of-the-saints-saint-eusebius-martyr/
