Aug 2 – Memorial for St. Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop; St Peter Julian Eymard, bishop
Eusebius (283-371) was a priest and lector in Rome, Italy. He was consecrated bishop of Vercelli, Italy in 340, but was exiled to Palestine and Cappadocia due to his struggle against Arianism. He was a friend of St. Athanasius of Alexandria. He was a prolific writer, according to his contemporaries, but none of his works have survived. He was the first bishop to live with and follow the same rule as his priests. He may be been martyred by Arians, but reports vary. Many consider him a martyr as he may have died as a result of his sufferings in exile.
- Patron Saint Index
Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) had a strong Marian devotion, and travelled to the assorted Marian shrines and apparition sites in France. He organised lay societies under the direction of the Marists, preached and taught, and worked for Eucharistic devotion. He felt a call to found a new religious society, and founded the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament and the lay Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. His work encountered a series of setbacks, including having to close his nascent houses and move twice, and the houses not being able to support themselves financially. However, his vision of priests, deacons, sisters, and lay people dedicated to the spiritual values celebrated in the Mass and prayer before the Blessed Sacrament anticipated many of the renewals brought about by Vatican Councils I and II.
- Patron Saint Index
Lev 25:1,8-17
Mt 14:1-12
“It is against the Law for you to have her.”
Today’s Gospel talks about the shocking story of St John the Baptist’s martyrdom. He was imprisoned and beheaded, simply because he dared to speak the truth to King Herod.
We also commemorate the feast day of St Eusebius of Vercelli, who also lived out the same fearless faith. He faced fierce opposition when he stood against the Arian heresy, which denied that Jesus is truly God. Even when pressured by the emperor to compromise, St Eusebius insisted on Jesus’s divinity and the Nicene Creed to be signed. For this, he was sent to exile in Palestine, dragged through the streets by the Arians, and shut in a small room for four days. Yet, he never gave up, and when he returned from exile, he worked tirelessly to unite and strengthen the Church.
Like St John the Baptist, St Eusebius shows us that faithful witness demands courage and perseverance.
We may not face exile or death for our faith, but we may have encountered moments when speaking the truth or standing up for what is right could have cost us relationships, reputation, comfort, or even our jobs. In those moments, may we hold fast to Christ and trust that His truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32) As a Franciscan media site says, “The Church cannot be a prophet if it’s in someone’s pocket.”
(Today’s OXYGEN by Brenda Khoo)
Prayer: Dear Lord, through the example of Saints Eusebius and John the Baptist, give us courage to speak Your truth with love, even when it is difficult. May we never be afraid to stand for what is right, knowing You are our strength and our hope. Amen.
Thanksgiving: We thank You, Lord, for the witness of St. Eusebius, who defended the truth of Your Son with unwavering faith. Thank You for the freedom to live our faith today, and for the people who inspire us to love You more deeply. May our hearts be filled with gratitude for Your presence in every trial, and may we use our lives to bear witness to Your glory. Amen.
Franciscan media site: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-eusebius-of-vercelli/
OXYGEN 
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