Sant'Eusebio di Vercelli, Saint of the day for August 2nd

(c. 300 - August 1, 371)

The story of Sant'Eusebio di Vercelli
Someone said that if there had not been an Aryan heresy that denied the divinity of Christ, it would be very difficult to write the lives of many early saints. Eusebius is another of the Church's defenders during one of its most difficult times.

Born on the island of Sardinia, he became a member of the Roman clergy and is the first registered bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont in northwestern Italy. Eusebius was also the first to link monastic life with that of the clergy, establishing a community of his diocesan clergy based on the principle that the best way to sanctify his people was to show them a clergy formed in solid virtues and live in community. .

He was sent by Pope Liberius to persuade the emperor to convene a council to solve the Catholic-Arian problems. When called to Milan, Eusebius went reluctantly, warning that the Arian bloc would go its way, although Catholics were more numerous. He refused to follow the condemnation of St. Athanasius; instead, he placed the Nicene Creed on the table and insisted that everyone sign it before addressing any other matters. The emperor pressed him, but Eusebius insisted on Athanasius' innocence and reminded the emperor that secular force should not be used to influence Church decisions. At first the emperor threatened to kill him, but later sent him into exile in Palestine. There the Aryans dragged him through the streets and silenced him in a small room, only releasing him after a four-day hunger strike.

His exile continued in Asia Minor and Egypt, until the new emperor allowed him to be welcomed back to his seat in Vercelli. Eusebius attended the Council of Alexandria with Athanasius and approved the clemency shown to the bishops who had wavered. He also worked with St Hilary of Poitiers against the Aryans.

Eusebius died peacefully in his diocese in old age.

Reflection
Catholics in the United States have at times felt penalized by an unjustified interpretation of the principle of separation of church and state, especially in matters of Catholic schools. Be that as it may, the Church today is happily free from the enormous pressure exerted on it after it became an "established" church under Constantine. We are happy to get rid of things like a pope asking an emperor to call a church council, which Pope John I is sent by the emperor to negotiate in the East, or the pressure of kings on papal elections. The Church cannot be a prophet if it is in someone's pocket.