TODAY'S SAINT (Eusebius)

EUSEBIUS

(d. 309 or 310)

Pope and martyr

Perhaps a physician of Greek descent, Eusebius was elected successor to Pope St. Marcellus on April 18, 309 or 3. He reigned for only four months, until August 17 of the same year. His brief rule was marked by the rigorist controversy, which concerned the return of apostates to the church.

During the four years of persecuton under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305) many Christians had deserted their faith. They now wanted to return to the Church, which Eusebius, follow ing Marcellus and longstanding Church policy, ruled they could do, so long as they performed proper penance. In this he charted a middle course between Anaclitus, who believed that the lapsed were outside the Church and could not be reconciled to it, and Heraclius, himself an apostate, who insisted that they be allowed to return without penance. The controversy caused such an ujproar in Rome that Emnperor Maxintiius charged both Eusebius and Heraclius witth disurbing the peace and exiled them to Sicily. Eusebius died there soon after.

The relics of Eusebius were translated back to Rome, probably in 310, and placed in their own cubiculum in the Catacomb of St. Callistus on the Appian Way. Although Eusebius did not die a violent death, he is venerated as a martyr.

Feast: September 26

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