ON SS. EUSANIUS AND HIS COMPANION MARTYRS
AT FORCONIUM AMONG THE VESTINI.
UNDER Maximian.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
The cult and Acts of the Saints.
Eusanius, at Forconium among the Vestini (S.)
Companion Martyrs, at Forconium among the Vestini.
BY THE AUTHOR J. P.
Forconium, Furconium, or Furconia, as it were the forum of Cona, says Ferrarius, a city of the Samnites among the Vestini, once episcopal, but now destroyed, whose ruins, called Furconio, are seen in Further Abruzzo near the city of Aquila, distant hence three miles; Forconium, I say, is noted in the manuscript which we here give, as the chief spectatress of virtues and the arena of the combat, or at least a neighboring part of the territory, in which the Saints of whom we here treat shone forth more gloriously. The Saints unknown to the Martyrologists, In vain I sought them, nowhere did I find them among the Martyrologists, if thou except Ferrarius alone; who reports them in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy on two different days and in different ways, namely on the 7th of this month St. Eusanius the presbyter, his companions and the title of Martyr being omitted; although he mentions his companions in the Acts which he there produces; but on the 9th he exhibits St. Eusanius and his companion Martyrs. But he does the contrary in the general Catalogue, on the 9th making mention only of Eusanius the presbyter; but on the 7th of the holy Martyrs Eusanius the presbyter and his companions under Maximian, the same place of announcement, Forconium or Furconium, being everywhere added. See the things which, concerning these Saints, reported by Ferrarius on different days and in different ways, have been said among the Passed-Over on the 7th of this month, from which we have transferred them into this.
[2] This diverse manner of writing the said Author somewhat elucidates, they have not equal certainty of cult. thus writing in the Notes to the general Catalogue: From the tablets of the church of Aquila, which celebrates the birthday of St. Eusanius on this day (9 July) and calls him confessor; although his manuscript Acts rather show him a martyr: for although he rested in peace; yet he suffered very many torments under Maximian together with others, of whom, however, nothing is treated at Aquila. His body rests in a village of his own name, distant five miles from Aquila. Thus he, alleging scarcely anything by which to establish the cult of St. Eusanius, except the Aquilan tablets; and, to prove the place of deposition, nothing more than perhaps the opinion of the common folk, wishing the body to rest in the village bearing his name. However it be, concerning the honors of sacred cult, bestowed on our Saint from ancient times, it most certainly appears from the charter of donation, in Ughellus, volume 1 of Italia Sacra, from column 417, by which the Emperor Otto in the year 956 gave the whole county of Furconium in honor of St. Maximus to the Bishop and the church of Furconium, and handed over other goods and granted rights, in which instrument among other things it thus has: Likewise I grant to the same episcopate three thousand measures of land, which begin in that place where the body of St. Eusanius rests. Hence, as is plain, we learn two things, namely the ancient cult, and that the place in which the body of the Saint has now for so many centuries rested was situated in the diocese of Forconium. Besides these two, thou wilt assert nothing at all from a monument truly ancient and solidly historical, which could make certain faith; as will be said at greater length in the discussion of the Acts, now to be undertaken.
[3] The source of the Acts which Ferrarius printed is assigned by him to be a certain ancient manuscript of the church of Aquila; What is to be thought concerning the Acts and they are a compendium of those which, from a printed exemplar not seen by us, were transcribed and sent hither by Father Peter Possinus, in the year 1674, from a printed copy, as it is ascribed, then rare. They are noted with this title: The Life of the holy Martyrs Eusanius and his companion Martyrs, Marcellus de Auria, Doctor of both Laws, Apostolic Protonotary, Canon and Vicar General of Aquila, to the Clergy and citizens of Siponto. What Ferrarius thought of the Acts which he edited, he expressed not obscurely, saying that some things need censure, and that he had omitted some things as it were improbable. Certainly our Acts, much fuller, have very many things for which they displease, and inject the suspicion that they are among the number of those Acts which seem devised rather to exercise the style of the writer than to inform the mind of the reader; adorned with episodes representing some pious drama, but not collected from genuine monuments. Learn from the few things which I subjoin their value, as the lion from its claw.
[4] From the very beginning, very few things being narrated of the Saint's life and virtues, concerning the Acts soon there is a digression to miracles, recurring again and again, if not multiplied beyond belief; so that the whole series of the narration can scarcely be esteemed anything else than a patched-together heap of miracles
heap. What shall I say of the conversations, prayers, sacred sentences, journeys, apparitions, too frequently repeated to have probably happened? What of the nuns, in the time of the Emperor Maximian and Maximus his son, of whom it is treated there in number 12? What of the punishment of Priscus the petty king, by four devils, who, having wings in the likeness of birds, and in the sight of all the people, raised Priscus into the air and carried him to a high mountain, and there cast him down headlong, as is narrated in number 16? What of this clause, uttered by the Saint when near to death? I beg thee, Lord, that after my death, whoever shall come to venerate my body and shall build my church and offer vows in my church, thou grant him mercy. If the sick shall come, let them be freed; let the demoniacs be cured, and to the deaf deign to grant hearing, and those who from the whole heart shall cry to thee for any petition, hear them, O Lord God, who with thy Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest unto the ages of ages. Amen. Which prayer is soon followed by a new apparition of an Angel, for the completion of the whole pious drama, who said: All things, whatsoever thou hast asked, are granted thee by the Lord, and know that on the third day thou shalt pass from this world. All which things, and things like these, are wont to be far removed from the genuine and authentic Acts of the Saints. What more? This universally I seem able to affirm of them, saving the truth, that in many places there plays its part, if not the vein of the Metaphrast, at least the style and composition of some writer who did not much shrink from it.
[5] Ferrarius indeed cites for his Acts a certain ancient manuscript of the church of Aquila, which are here given. which are, as we have said, a compendium of those which we here give; but he not a little diminishes their authority, and weakens their sincerity and faith, when he notes that they need censure, and affirms that he has omitted some things as it were improbable; which two things do not savor of great antiquity. And indeed anyone even moderately versed in matters of this kind will be able to learn, experience being his teacher, that it happens not rarely that manuscripts are said to be ancient, and are vaunted as such by their Authors, although they bear no marks of antiquity. These few things it seemed good to premise concerning the present Acts, which I now exhibit.
SUSPECT ACTS.
Eusanius, at Forconium among the Vestini (S.)
Companion Martyrs, at Forconium among the Vestini. BHL Number: 2734
FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
CHAPTER I.
The virtues of St. Eusanius illustrated by miracles
[1] In the Province of Apulia, in the city of Siponto, the glorious Confessor of Christ St. Eusanius, born of Christian parents, [The origin of St. Eusanius; his virtues exercised, and raised to the working of miracles.] brought up in the faith of Christ and learned in letters, when he had begun to excel in good morals, deserved also, God protecting, to attain the grade of the priesthood; and, being acceptable and dear to all, he was too greatly loved by all with the highest honor and reverence. But he himself often meditated in his mind that saying of the Gospel: He who renounces not all that he possesses cannot be my disciple. And so, for the love of God counting the glory of the world as nothing, having left the aforesaid city, in which he lived nobly, and his parents also, and all which he seemed to possess, he sought the desert on Gargano, and continually persisted in hymns and divine praises. Afflicting himself also with fasts and vigils, he remained shut up seven years continuously in a certain cave: but the pious Lord, willing to disclose this lamp, kindled with His holy fire, more fully to the sight of the peoples, began to make him famous there by great miracles.
[2] A woman warned in sleep by an Angel, For there was in the aforesaid city a certain woman of noble birth, and fearing God, very full of good works and alms, and often frequenting the thresholds of holy Mother Church, whose only son, when on a certain day he had been touched by a grave infirmity, and had died, the woman, as we said, noble, surrounded by a great multitude of citizens, was performing the mournful obsequies; and, being deprived of her husband, having lost her only offspring and hoping to have no other, she was afflicted with excessive griefs and irremediable weeping. But night coming on, when, wearied by excessive grief, she had slept a little, the Angel of the Lord stood by her in her sleep, saying: O Woman, take the lifeless little body of thy son, and go to the man of God, St. Eusanius the Presbyter, and beg him to raise him. The woman, awakened from sleep, rising at daybreak, took the little body of her son, and, too credulous of the vision of the Angel, hastened to him, a great throng of people accompanying her. When she had come to him, she cast the dead little body of her son before his feet and began to cry out with tears: O Eusanius, priest of the most high God, I adjure thee by the power of Jesus Christ whom thou preachest, to raise up my son. The blessed Eusanius answered with tears, and said: Do not, O woman, speak such things; for I am not of such merit that I should dare to work so great a miracle. And the woman answering said: The Angel of God sent me to thee, that thou mayest raise him. But the blessed Eusanius, hearing these things, prostrates himself prone on the earth, where the dead boy lay, and prayed to the Lord, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, moved by pity, didst deign to raise up the only son of a widow, already carried outside the gate of the city, the throngs of the people beholding, I beseech thee with humble prayer, that thou deign propitiously to regard the faith of this widow woman also, and restore to her her only son alive, whom, at thy bidding, she brought me dead, that all may know that thou art a mighty God unto the ages of ages.
[3] she brings the dead boy to the Saint, who raises him. And when it had been said by the bystanders, Amen, in the same hour the boy arose, named Diocletianus, glorifying and praising God, and, prostrate at the feet of the blessed Eusanius, kissed them, saying: Most holy Father, from now on I will be with thee, that I may be thy servant and disciple until the day of my departure. But all those who saw that the blessed Eusanius had done such a miracle, greatly glorified God, and, coming to the city of Siponto, related to all what they had seen. And all the people of the aforesaid city, hearing all these things, came all together, and, falling at his knees, begged him, saying: Most blessed Eusanius, priest of God, return to our city, that thou mayest be our lord and pontiff, and our father. But the blessed Eusanius began to weep, and to say to all: Little sons, I am not worthy to enjoy such honor; because I am a sinner, and unwise, and exceedingly foolish. But the people, hearing these things, lifted him up unwilling, and carried him into the city, to ordain him Bishop; for at that time the Bishop of the aforesaid city had passed to the Lord. Then the blessed Eusanius said to them: I beseech you, most beloved brethren, give me a respite of eight days, and then I will do your wills. These things being heard, the people acquiesced. Meanwhile Eusanius came to his parents, and spoke to them, saying: Hear me, lords and brethren, and what I shall say to you, of the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ, fulfill and observe as far as you can: for we have heard God saying in the Gospel; He who shall lose his soul for me shall find it. And again: What does it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, but suffer the loss of his own soul? And elsewhere: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, and moreover his own soul also, he cannot be my disciple. For we have heard and seen that these our fathers, Justinus the presbyter, and Florentius, and Felix, and Justa, daughter of Florentius, despised all things: and let us, brethren, doing this same thing, follow their footsteps, and, God assenting, visit the bodies of the holy Apostles, that, they interceding for us, we may deserve to attain eternal life.
[4] These things being heard, Theodorus his brother, and his sister Gratia, and his disciple whom he had raised from the dead, [Going with his brother and sister into the territory of Rieti, he enlightens a blind woman.] together with him left all their goods, and, going out of the city of Siponto, journeyed abroad, singing this psalm: Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. And when they had come into the territory of Rieti, into the place which is called [*] Monticulus, where now is a church dedicated in honor of the blessed Eusanius, they rested there. Now there was there a certain woman, named Theodorica, who had lost her sight twelve years before; she, when she had heard the fame of the Saints who had lately come thither, had herself led to them by the hand, and came to the servants of God, and cried out, saying: Most holy fathers, I adjure you by the name of our God Jesus Christ, to lay your hands upon my eyes: for I trust in the Lord that through your prayers I shall see the light. Then the Saints, praying with one accord, said: Lord Jesus Christ, who didst enlighten the eyes of two blind men crying to thee, enlighten, we beseech thee, this thy handmaid also; and, the sign of the Cross of Christ being made over her eyes, they said: Theodorica, may our God Jesus Christ enlighten thee. In that same hour her eyes were opened, and she saw the light: and she straightway, falling at the feet of the Saints, with great joy gave thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, and all who stood by were praising and blessing the Lord.
[5] But the holy men of God, setting out thence, came into the Valvian land a, They are repulsed by the Valvenses, who are punished with a tempest, into the place which is called Superactio, into the field where now is situated the church in honor of St. Eusanius, and there they rested, and sought lodging from the men dwelling there. But those iniquitous men did not receive them with them. Then the blessed Eusanius and Theodorus said: Lord Jesus Christ, God of God, help us, thy servants, because these men would not receive us into their houses. But that same night came a great tempest, and a strong wind, and scattered the greatest part of the harvests which it found on the threshing-floors, and also the heaps of wheat, cleansed from the chaff. But when morning came, those men, going out of their houses, when they had learned what the wind had done, and had seen the servants of God lying on the ground, began with excessive grief and groaning to say to one another: Woe to us wretches, on account of these servants of God the wrath of God has come upon us, because we would not receive them into our houses. And the men together with the women and children being gathered, all fell at the feet of the servants of God, and raised their voice, saying: We have sinned against the Lord, and against you: we ask indulgence.
[6] Then the blessed Eusanius said to his companions; Brethren and fellow-soldiers of mine, tranquility restored at the prayers of the Saints; let us render praises to the God of heaven, and let us pray the Lord for them; and they said: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the omnipotent God, who didst appear to thy disciples in the little boat, when a contrary wind came upon them, and didst calm the swelling sea and make the wind be silent. Thou, Lord, deliver these men from this strong tempest which has come upon them. Immediately God heard their prayers, and suddenly there was a great calm, and the wind ceased. But those men, seeing these things, prostrated themselves again at the feet of the Saints, and glorified the Lord, saying: Blessed be God, who has chosen for Himself such servants, and besought them, saying: We beg you suppliantly, O most holy fathers, that for some days you remain with us, so that, strengthened by your sacred admonitions and instructed by your prayers, we may be able to find eternal salvation. But the Saints, being greatly entreated by them, remained there three days.
[7] a sheep snatched by a wolf, restored to the countrywoman, But while there was in the same place a certain rustic near the church, who was pasturing his little sheep, a wolf came and snatched one of them. And that rustic began to say: St. Eusanius, I beg thee, entreat God against this same wild beast. But the blessed Eusanius, lifting up his eyes, when he had seen the wolf carrying the little sheep, said: I command thee in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, O wolf, that thou have no license to move it: and straightway, the sheep being left, the wolf stood like the hardest rock. But neither dogs nor men could inflict any harm on it. Then the blessed Eusanius said, O wolf, I command thee in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that thou come hither no more, but go where thou canst live. And all who stood by beholding, by night the wolf withdrew thence, and, his little sheep recovered, the rustic, glad and exulting, went glorifying and praising God.
[8] But after these things there came thither a certain barren woman, together with her husband, a barren woman made fruitful; who had never borne a son. They began to vow all their goods in the church; and that woman said to the blessed Eusanius: Lord, I beseech thee, pray the Lord for me, that He grant me offspring; and this I vow, that if from my womb I bring forth a male child, he shall never depart from this house, but shall serve there all the days of his life. But the Saints praying, He heard their voices, and, returned home, that woman conceived in her womb, and, the fit time coming, brought forth a son, and gave him the name Adeodatus, and after the infant grew up, she offered him with offerings to the church, as she had vowed, and with the priests he served in that same church all the days of his life. These things being thus done, the Saints departed thence singing this psalm: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity. And they came into the territory of Furconium, into the place which is called the field of Familiarius, where there were two nuns, of whom one was called Gratula, the other Theodosia, who both had a little cell near the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the place which is called the Five Little Villas, which is also commonly called Grati, and they had workmen in their field.
[9] But it happened that the servants of God passed by there, and greeted them: The workmen who mocked the Saints, punished and healed. but they, foolish and full of malignant depravity, not only did not return their greeting, but, too greatly mocking, despised them. All which things, the Lord permitting, were turned to their evil; for that night they were made mute and rigid, the reapers and those binding the sheaves, except one, who announced to the nuns what had befallen them, in these words: We have been struck by God on account of our sins: because when the servants of God passed by us, they greeted and blessed us: but we mocked them; therefore the wrath of God has come upon us. But the handmaids of God, hearing these things, began to weep and to say: Woe to us wretches, woe to us; for on account of our sins is this tribulation upon us. And they interrogated him, saying: Which way now can they take their journey? He said, I know not. But the servants of God, when they saw the workmen thus affected, rested, that they might see what the Lord would do concerning them. But the nuns, running after them, overtook them, at whose feet they prostrated themselves with tears, saying: O most holy fathers, since our workmen have mocked you, a great tribulation has come upon them; but you, friends of God, do not attend to their depravity, but, moved by charity and mercy, return, I pray, to them, and pray God for them, that they may be loosed from their sins. But the Saints, rising, found them, and, praying, said; God, who art pious, pour forth thy blessing upon those thy servants, and by thy holy piety and mercy deign to restore them to their former soundness, that, seeing, they may glorify thy holy name, which is blessed unto the ages of ages. And when all who were present had answered, Amen, straightway they were made whole, and, prostrating themselves at the feet of the Saints, rendered praises to God, and all who were present said: Glory to thee, Lord God, who hast not forsaken the prayers of the just. But the nuns prostrated themselves at the feet of the Saints, saying: Blessed Eusanius, the Lord through you deigned to work such a miracle, which He permitted us unworthy to see. Rising thence, they said to the Saints, come to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we greatly beseech you to remain here today. And so the Saints of God, coming, suppliantly requested, and on that same day remained there. But on the following day the Saints hastened their journey: the nuns, desiring, said to them; We beg you, most holy fathers, and greatly beseech, that when it happens to you to return this way, you deign to come to us. Departing hence, the holy Men came to the church of the Blessed Virgin Justa and Felix and Florentius. For at that time that church was being built. Now it was seven years before that these Saints had come into this province.
[10] An only son, mute and deaf, healed; But the Saints of God, passing through, came into the land which is called Amiternum b, where many bodies of saints rest near the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Now there was there a certain woman standing outside and weeping, who had an only son, already seven years old, mute alike and deaf. But the blessed Eusanius, hearing this, moved by pity, said to his disciple, take that infant from his mother, and bring him to us, and so he did. But the blessed Eusanius, taking the boy in his hands, and drawing long sighs, signed him, and said: God, who fashioned thee, may He Himself lead thee back sound, son; and the infant was healed in that hour, and began to speak, and called his mother. And the blessed Eusanius set him down on the ground, and, approaching, restored him to his mother, saying to her; Receive thy son sound, and go in peace, and the Lord be with you. And she, receiving her son, went glorifying God.
ANNOTATIONS.
* who
CHAPTER II.
Other miracles wrought by St. Eusanius; the vision of SS. Peter and Paul; separation from his brother; the conversion of many; his death.
[11] A woman freed from a demon; Going away thence they came into the city of Rieti, and, entering the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, they found a woman whom an unclean spirit possessed, and her feet and hands were bound with iron chains: and so with foaming mouth she vociferated, that all who heard were affected with fear: for a long time the devil had vexed her, nor had she ever been able to be healed by anyone. But when the blessed Eusanius and Theodorus saw her so cruelly wearied by the demon, taking hold of her, they said to her: May our God Jesus Christ heal thee, who fashioned thee: and straightway signing her forehead with the sign of the Cross, they said; God, who by the wood of the Cross didst restore the world, and bind Satan in hell, and loose all the saints who were there held, and recall them to the upper world, do thou, Lord, loose this woman, whom the malignant spirit has invaded. The demon immediately cried out with a great voice, saying; Alas me! alas me! so many years I have dwelt with this woman, and no one could cast me out, and these so violently cast me out. And the Saints said: We do not cast thee out, but Christ our Lord, whose servants we are. The demon answered; How can I go out from her or be removed? The Saints said; Unclean spirit, may our God Jesus Christ rebuke thee. The demon cried; I cannot go out from her; why dost thou persecute me: if I go out hence, whither shall I go? The Saints said: Into the outer darkness, and into the eternal punishment which awaits thee, and thy father the devil, and all who do your wills. But the demon himself would not go out. Then the Saints prayed to the Lord, and said: Lord Jesus Christ, hear us in this hour, that the devil may not conquer us. But immediately the demon, foaming and gnashing his teeth, cried out with a great voice, going out from her, and the woman was healed from that hour. And all the people assembling, with a great voice glorified the Lord, who deigned to work such a miracle through His servants.
[12] But the Saints of God, passing on from the city of Rieti, went to the city of Rome. Peter and Paul appearing to him bid him separate from his brother. And there God did many marvels on their account. For there they healed the sick, cured paralytics, enlightened the blind; and by their preaching many of the pagans were converted to the Lord. And, that the holy men might know what they should do, that same night the holy Apostles Peter and Paul said to them by a vision: Separate from one another, and let the priest of God Eusanius return with his disciple to Furconium, but let Theodorus the Presbyter go to Gaeta. Therefore, rising in the morning, the Saints entered the city of Tivoli, where they remained eight days. Which being done, the blessed Eusanius said to his brother Theodorus: Most beloved brother, let us divide our bodies: for it is the Lord's precept. For I will return to Furconium, that I may there announce the word of the Lord. But do thou go to Gaeta, to Maximian the Emperor and his son Maximus, that thou mayest admonish those who are there concerning the law of God. But may the omnipotent God, as He was with us on the journey, so be with thee. And, kissing one another and pouring forth tears amid embraces, they were separated from one another. And St. Theodorus went into the town of Gaeta: but the blessed Eusanius with his Disciple returned
to Furconium. And when he had come to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where the nuns were, and had found there his own Gratula, he indicated to her all the things which had happened to him. But on the third day Gratia his sister fell sick: and about the eighth day she departed from this world to holy rest, and he buried her there.
[13] But a certain woman, named Agia, from the Furconian region, very rich, A blind woman healed who had been blind for two years and three months, made a vow to the blessed Eusanius, saying: Holy Eusanius, if by thy prayers and those of thy holy sister Gratia the Lord shall deign to restore to me the light which I have lost, I will give all my goods to the church, and will never depart from its service. To whom the blessed Eusanius: Approach, we beseech, to her tomb and pray the Lord and believe: for He will give thee what thou faithfully askest. And so the woman approached and prayed, and touched the tomb, and then her eyes: and straightway, the light being received, she rose, praising and blessing God: and, as she had vowed, she immediately bestowed all her goods on the church of St. Mary, where, as long as she lived, she served the Lord. But the blessed Eusanius, continually persevering there, served the Lord and converted many of the pagans to the Lord Jesus Christ.
[14] The holy Martyr is beaten, and freed from prison by an Angel. But at that same time a certain most wicked petty king, named Priscus, who dwelt in the city of Havia a, hearing what the blessed Eusanius was doing, sent to him his prefect, named Sisinnius, ordering that he should bring him to him bound. Who, when he had come, said to him: Eusanius, our King Priscus has sent me, to bring thee to him bound. The blessed Eusanius answered, and said to him; Let us go, for glory is prepared for me and for thee. But the disciple of the blessed Eusanius said to him. O my Father, why dost thou forsake me? The blessed Eusanius said; Do not weep, but rather rejoice, because I go to glory. And he was led before the sight of King Priscus, whom, without interrogation, he ordered to be beaten with cudgels. But he, while he was being beaten, said rejoicing to the King. O wretch! thou dost order me to be tortured in thy madness and in thy fury. Then Priscus, indignant, ordered him to be shut up in prison, and diligently guarded by keepers. And when the blessed Eusanius had entered the prison, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him: O Eusanius, servant of God, peace be with thee, do not fear, for I am thy guardian, whence know that Christ has sent me, to cast thee out of this prison. And straightway he sent him forth. The blessed Eusanius returned to the dwelling of the Blessed Virgin Mary; and to the little cell of his oratory. But when morning came, the jailer, rising, entered the prison and did not find the blessed Eusanius: for the iron gates of the prison were broken, and the chains which he had had on his neck and feet were melted. And running quickly, he announced these things to the most impious Priscus, who straightway had him sought with all diligence, and the officers, coming, found him preaching to the people, and having no mark upon him, and, returning more quickly, announced what they had seen to the most impious Priscus. Then Priscus, indignant, said: Alas me! I am conquered by Eusanius. Then the King's Prefect Sisinnius came with two hundred men to the blessed Eusanius, and, without interrogating, they seized him and, bound with iron chains, led him to the city of Havia before the most unworthy Priscus.
[15] Captured again and ordered to adore an idol, he shatters it, Then Priscus ordered him to be beaten so long with fists and heels, until he should adore the idol of Jove; and straightway he ordered it to be brought before all. And when it had been brought before the sight of all, the King said to the blessed Eusanius: Behold the god, now adore him, and thou shalt be saved, and receive many gifts, and return to thy oratory, and thou shalt be our friend. The blessed Eusanius answered: I do not desire thy friendships, nor do I sacrifice to your demons; because they can profit neither me nor thee. Then the enraged Priscus ordered that his mouth be beaten with stones. But when he was being beaten, rejoicing he was strengthened, and said: I give thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, who hast deigned to lead me to this crown of justice. And when the idol of Jove stood in the midst, the blessed Eusanius said to Priscus. Is this your god? Priscus said: This is he. St. Eusanius said: Suffer me to do with it what I will, and now thou shalt see its power. Priscus answered, and said; If thou darest to do it, do. Then St. Eusanius armed himself with the sign of the holy Cross, and said: Lord Jesus Christ, who by the sign of thy holy Cross didst restore the world, and free the human race from the power of the devil, and drew all thy elect out of hell, do thou, my God, deign to hear me, that I may be able to shatter this most abominable idol of Jove, which the most impious King worships, and this iniquitous people. And the blessed Eusanius, lifting the idol in his hands, threw it on the pavement, and straightway it was shattered. But when Priscus had seen these things, he struck his face, and straightway ordered him to be thrust into prison.
[16] But when the blessed Eusanius had entered the prison, glad he began to praise and beseech God, [Shut up again in prison, he is visited by an Angel; Priscus the petty king is punished.] saying: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, God, who didst send thy Angel to thy Apostle Peter, when he was shut in prison by Herod the King, who snatched him from the hand of Herod, do thou send me thy Angel, who may show me what I ought to do. Then came the Angel of the Lord, and said to him. Eusanius, beloved of God, peace be with thee: do not fear. And straightway all his chains were destroyed, and the brightness of God shone round about him, and again the Angel said to him: Be constant, knowing that tomorrow the most impious Priscus shall be struck by the devil, and free and safe thou shalt go out of this prison. But when morning came, there came four devils, having wings in the likeness of birds, and in the sight of all the people raised Priscus into the air, and carried him to a high mountain, and there cast him down headlong, and he was found by no man. Whence there was great mourning in the city. Then the Prefect Sisinnius, and the King's wife, named Trifonia, and his son Quirillus, and his daughter, named Eleutheria, ordered the blessed Eusanius to be drawn out of prison, and all coming together prostrated themselves at his feet, begging that he would baptize them, and within three days he baptized them in the name of the holy Trinity with all their household: for they were a hundred and three in number. But after these things, within a year and six months, he baptized all the people of the city of Havia, and cleansed it from all the filth of idols.
[18] When therefore the blessed Eusanius was to be called from this world, Again visited by an Angel, and he passes to heaven. the Angel of the Lord came to him, and said: Most blessed Eusanius, come to the heavenly kingdoms, that thou mayest feast with thy companions in the rest of the Saints, and the blessed Eusanius answered: I give thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, who hast invited me to thy feasts. For I desire with my whole heart to come to thee, and now I beg thee, Lord, that after my death, whoever shall come to venerate my body, and shall build my church, and offer vows in my church, thou grant him mercy. If the sick shall come, let them be freed; let the demoniacs be cured, and to the deaf deign to grant hearing, and those who from the whole heart shall cry to thee for any petition, hear them, O Lord God, who with thy Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest unto the ages of ages. Amen. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, all things whatsoever thou hast asked are granted thee by the Lord, and know that on the third day thou shalt pass from this world, and these things said, the Angel of the Lord returned to heaven. But on the third day the blessed Eusanius saw the heavens opened, and the choirs of Angels standing before the sight of God, and singing: Glory in the highest to God, and his parents and his sister standing there in glory, and singing a hymn to God in the midst of the Saints. And so in that same hour, giving thanks to God, and commending his soul, he fell asleep in peace on the 7th of the Ides of July. Then came the presbyters and the peoples, who by his teaching had believed in God, and his disciples, the nuns, and, singing, they wept until evening, and the priests offered the sacrifice of praise to the Lord: then they buried him in the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is situated in the estate of the nuns, in peace, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor, glory, and power unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
TRANSLATION OF THE BODY.
Eusanius, at Forconium among the Vestini (S.)
Companion Martyrs, at Forconium among the Vestini. BHL Number: 2735
FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
[1] After the passing of St. Eusanius it happened that God rather increased in him by miracles that prophetic saying, St. Eusanius appearing indicates: The God of Israel Himself will give power and strength to His people: blessed be God; for God gave power to the blessed Eusanius in his life, He gave it also after death: for at his tomb many sick, the Lord being invoked, were healed, and many and various infirmities were cured. But after eleven months and fifteen days, the people went out from the city of Siponto and from the Valvian and from other cities and castles, and the citizens who had seen and heard the blessed Eusanius working marvels, and, coming together with Bishops, Presbyters, and Deacons, they brought gold and silver, and very many garments, to redeem the body of St. Eusanius, and came to the church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where his body had been buried. But a great altercation arose between them and the Furconian peoples. They said, that the Lord had given him to us, and there were together Bishops, [and] Presbyters with clerics and laymen, and women. Those uncovered, and these filled in again: and so it was done for three days: but on the third night the blessed Eusanius appeared by a vision to the Bishops who were there, and said to them: Brethren, my heirs, and partakers of the kingdom of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ sent me to this land of Furconium, that I might preach to an impious and unbelieving people: therefore know, that it is not pleasing to Him that you lead back my body to your land, but see the place
which I show you, and lift up my body together with these, and there enclose it, and give the gold and silver, and all your goods, which you have brought hither to redeem my body, and, dedicating my church, consecrate it, and return with joy to your homeland. But when morning came, the Bishops narrated to all the peoples who were there all the things which the blessed Eusanius had said to them by a vision.
[2] By these revelations therefore all being terrified, they came together to the sepulcher, to what place he wishes his body transferred; where his body lay, and then straightway the stone with which it was covered was lifted of itself, and his sepulcher was opened. Then all, filled with a great fragrance, falling to the earth, praised the Lord together, and the Bishops and Presbyters approaching with all the people, with great joy and exultation translated his body into that place where the blessed Eusanius had commanded, and there they buried him with peace and great glory, where also the Lord did many marvels and does not cease to do them unto the present day. But so great is the space from that place where the body of the blessed Eusanius first lay, to that where on this day it was laid up, as a stone can be thrown by the hand. Now this translation and the action of the construction of the church of St. Eusanius was made on the 7th of the Ides of July. But the people gave all the things which they had there into that church, and stood there, praising God, for fifteen days, and returned each one with joy to his own house.
[3] a basilica built there and afterward destroyed. But afterward the nuns, and the disciple of St. Eusanius, and the great multitude of people who through him had been converted to the Lord, made a great basilica over him. But the nuns gave all their goods to that same church, and many others of the people did likewise, and enriched it. But in the tenth year the basilica was completed. But after ten years, a certain impious and most cruel man, named Cerson, who had been a friend * servant of King Priscus, and dwelt in the castle which was called Cerre, to whom his friends said: This Eusanius killed and destroyed thy friend Priscus. But that most impious man, hearing these things, came to the church of the blessed Eusanius, and destroyed it, and ordered the nuns and the disciple of the blessed Eusanius to be seized; and had them carried into the aforesaid castle, and commanded that, a stone being bound to their necks, they should cast them down from the rocks. And the cruel people, coming, fulfilled the commands of the impious Cerson. After no long time, the adversary being destroyed, the people of Christ rebuilt the church of St. Eusanius with more precious work, and gathered the bodies of the Saints, and diligently buried them within that same aforesaid church with great gladness and exultation, giving glory to God, who lives and reigns unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Annotation* elsewhere, servant