Apostleship of Prayer - Saints
August 2 - St Eusebius of Vercelli
Eusebius was born on the island of Sardinia where he became a priest. He was them consecrated to be the Bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont. He established his diocesan clergy as a religious community. He reasoned that the best way to lead his people into holiness was for them to see their clergy formed in solid virtue and living in a community.
Pope Liberius sent him to persuade the Emperor to call a Council to settle the Arian Heresy. This the Emperor did but Eusebius was reluctant to attend as felt that the Arians would have their own way even though there were more Catholics. When the Arians wanted to condemn Athanasius he refused to go along with that. Instead he placed the Nicene creed on the table and demanded that all the Bishops sign that doctrine before they embarked on any other matter. The Emperor tried to put pressure on him but he still pointed out the innocence of Athanasius. He also reminded the Emperor that he should not use secular pressure to influence the decisions of the Council. The Emperor counted this by, firstly threatening to kill Eusebius, but at last sending him into exile to Palestine. The Arians rejoiced greatly and then dragged him through the streets. They shut him up in a very small room from which they only released him when his hunger strike went on for four days.
At the death of the Emperor, the new Emperor welcomed him back to his see of Vercelli. With Athanasius, he attended the Council of Alexandria where he approved the leniency given out to the bishops who had repented.
He died in his diocese in 371.
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