Saint Eustace

Under the empire of Trajan (98-117), while the worship of demons still prevailed, there was a master of the militia named Placidu Placide Roman general who converted to Christianity after a vision. s, of illustrious birth, invested with honors, and who possessed immense riches in gold, silver, slaves, and goods of every kind; but he was plunged into the errors of idolatry. However, he devoted himself to good works and applied himself to the practice of all virtues: he loved to give clothing or food to those in need; he came to the aid of those who were oppressed; he acted as an advocate for the accused, and through his generosity, he consoled those who had been unjustly condemned. He had made himself famous by his great deeds. His name alone inspired terror in the barbarians, and he had the reputation of a valiant captain who knew how to use prosperity with moderation. Passionate about hunting, his greatest recreation was to attack and pursue wild animals.

He had a wife engaged like him in the darkness of idolatry, but whose life corresponded perfectly with his own. She bore him two sons, to whom they provided, as if in competition, an excellent education. But God, who in his goodness always and everywhere calls those who are worthy of him, did not reject the good works of this virtuous man; he did not want such a beneficent soul to lose its reward by remaining buried in the darkness of polytheism; but, according to what is written, that "in every nation he who practices justice is acceptable to him," he made Placidus experience the effects of his paternal mercy, and he resolved to save him in the manner we are about to relate.

Having gone out one day, with men of war, in great state, according to his custom, to hunt in the mountains, Placidus perceived a herd of stags grazing. Immediately he assigned a post to each of his companions, and they began to pursue the stags. At the height of the hunt, one of these animals, the largest and most beautiful of all, detached itself from the herd and rushed into a thicket of the nearby forest. Placidus, having noticed it, dashed in pursuit with some of his men. But soon they fell from weariness and could not accompany him further. As for him, by a particular disposition of divine Providence, he felt no fatigue, nor did the horse he was riding; and without being stopped by the steep roughness of the terrain, nor by the thickets or the branches of the trees of the forest, he ran for a long time in pursuit of the stag, which finally stopped on the summit of a rock.

While Placidus stopped to contemplate it, to admire its great height, and sought in vain some means to master it, God made him perceive, in the middle of the stag's antlers, the figure of the holy cross more resplendent than the light of the sun, and upon which was the image of our Savior Jesus Christ. He gave at the same time to the stag a human voice, which called Placidus and said to him: "O Placidus, why do you pursue me? It is for you that I have come to appear on this animal. I am the Christ whom you honor without knowing it: the alms that you give to the needy have ascended to me."

The captain, hearing these words, was seized with great fear and fell from his horse. After an hour he came to himself and rose, then, seeking to understand this apparition, he said to himself: "What is this voice that I have just heard? You who speak to me, make yourself known to me, so that I may believe in you?" And the Lord said to him: "Listen, Placidus, I am Jesus Christ who created heaven and earth from nothing, who separated and fashioned the confused matter; it is I who created the light and separated it from the darkness; it is I who made the sun to illuminate the earth during the day, and the moon with the stars to light it during the night; it is I who regulated the seasons, the days, and the years; it is I who formed man from the slime of the earth; it is I who, to save the human race, appeared in the flesh on earth, who was crucified and buried, and who rose again on the third day." At these words, Placidus fell to the ground again, crying out: "I believe, Lord, that it is you who have made all these things, who bring back those who stray, raise up those who have fallen, and restore life to the dead." The Lord said to him: "If you believe, go to the city, find the priest of the Christians, and ask him for the baptism of grace." Placidus replied: "Lord, if you would order me to share what I have just learned with my wife and my children, so that they too may believe in you?" The Lord said to him: "Go and announce it to them; receive all of you baptism, purify yourselves from the defilements of idolatry; then return here, I will appear to you again, and I will reveal to you what must happen to you, and will manifest to you the mysteries of salvation."

Placidus descended from the mountain, when it was already night, and told his wife everything that had happened to him; and when he had made known to her the vision he had had and the words he had heard, she cried out: "My lord, have you seen my Lord crucified whom the Christians adore? Yes, certainly, he is the only true God, he who by such wonders calls to himself those who believe." Then raising her voice, she said: "Lord Jesus Christ, have pity on me and my two children." She then said to her husband: "Last night, I saw him too, and he said to me: Tomorrow, you, your husband, and your children, you will come to me, and you will know that I am Jesus Christ. He undoubtedly wanted to appear to you in this stag in such a miraculous form, so that, admiring his power, you might have faith in him. Come then this very night, let us go together, and let us try to obtain the holy baptism of the Christians; for it is by this bath that those who believe in Jesus Christ truly belong to him." Placidus replied to her: "That is also what he who appeared to me said." Therefore, in the middle of the night, they secretly took with them their two children and some servants, and went to find the high priest of the Christians.

Arriving at his dwelling, having left their servants outside, they entered alone and told him everything that had happened and the words they had heard. Adding immediately that they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, they begged him to confer upon them the sacrament of baptism. The priest, filled with the liveliest joy, and glorifying the Lord God, who wills that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, catechized them; and after having explained to them the mysteries of the faith, he baptized them in the name of the most holy Trinity. And he gave to Placidus the name of Eustace, to his wife that of Theopista; as for the children, he named the elder Agapitus and the other Theopistus. He then administered to them the holy s acrament Eustache Roman general who converted to Christianity after a vision. of Our Lord Jesus Chr ist, and Théopista Wife of Saint Eustace, martyred with him. dismissed them, saying: "May the Lord Jesus Agapit Eldest son of Saint Eustace. Christ, Son of God, b Théopiste Younger son of Saint Eustace. e with you, and may he give you his eternal kingdom; for I see that the hand of the Lord is with you. And when you enjoy the paradise of delights, remember my soul; I, John, conjure you to do so."

Morning having come, Eustace took with him some horsemen and went to the mountain, and upon approaching the place where he had had the vision, he dismissed the soldiers who accompanied him, as if inviting them to look for game. Approaching the rock alone, he saw again the same human form that had already appeared to him; and prostrating himself face to the ground, he cried out: "I adore you, Lord, for you are Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, and I believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit; and now I have come, beseeching your spotless divinity to make known to me what you have announced to me."

The Lord said to him: "You are blessed, Eustace, to have received the bath of my grace, and to have been clothed with immortality. You have just conquered the demon, to have trampled underfoot the one who had deceived you; you have stripped off the corruptible man, to put on the incorruptible, which remains for ages of ages. But here is the time when the works of your faith will be manifested: for the envy of the demon will declare a fierce war against you, because you have abandoned him; already he is setting up all his batteries to destroy you. You will therefore have much to suffer before receiving the crown of victory. You possess great temporal riches, and until now you have enjoyed the highest dignities of this world. It is now necessary that you be humbled for all these vanities, and that you be enriched with spiritual goods. Let your courage not fail you, then, and think no more of this glory which you enjoyed: but, just as in fighting men, you desired the honors of victory, and you sought eagerly to please a mortal emperor; so, think henceforth of fighting valiantly against the demon, and of keeping for me the faith that you have given me, the immortal emperor. For it is necessary for me that in these times you be another Job through the trials that you will have to undergo, and that your patience make you victorious over the demon. Watch therefore that no thought of blasphemy rises in your heart; for, when you have been humbled, I will return to you, and I will restore your first glory." The Lord having thus spoken, ascended to the heavens, saying to Eustace: "Do you wish to suffer from now on the trials that await you, or do you prefer to reserve them for your final days?" Eustace replied: "If it is not possible to avoid the tribulations that you destine for us, I beseech you, Lord Jesus, to order that they happen to us presently: only, give us the strength to endure what you announce to me, for fear that the enemy, finding in us some word of iniquity, might make us fall from our faith." And the Lord said to him: "Fight courageously, Eustace; my grace is with you, which will guard your souls." Eustace, having descended from the mountain, returned to his house, and told his wife everything that the Lord had said to him. They immediately threw themselves on their knees, and prayed to the Lord, saying: "Lord Jesus Christ, may your will be done."

A few days having passed, the plague ravaged the house and took away all the menservants and maidservants. Eustace, seeing by this scourge that the trial which had been predicted to him was beginning, received it with gratitude, while at the same time praying his wife not to lose heart in these sorrows. A short time later, his horses and all his cattle were invaded by deadly exhalations, which caused them all to perish. He received this new trial with thanksgiving. But he left that house quietly, and, accompanied by his wife and children, they withdrew to a place not far away, taking with them only the clothes they were wearing. Some greedy men, noticing that they had left, entered their house at night, plundered everything they found there in gold, silver, and clothing, and left absolutely nothing. Thus, by the malice of demons, all their wealth and all their possessions were annihilated.

In those days, the people were celebrating with the emperor a great feast for a victory won over the Persians; and Placidus was expected to be there in the front rank; for he was head of the militia and one of the prince's counselors. He was therefore sought for; but he could not be found. Everyone was in stupor when it was learned that, as in the blink of an eye, everything he possessed had been plundered and devastated, so that nothing remained of it. The emperor and all the courtiers were overwhelmed with sadness; and everyone could not wonder enough at such a great disaster. Eustace's wife then said to him: "What are we waiting for here? Come, let us take our two children, for that is all that remains to us, and let us abandon this country: we have become the reproach of all those who know us." And at nightfall, they took the road to Egypt with their children.

Having walked thus for two days, as they approached the se Égypte The place where the legendary meeting between Dismas and the Holy Family takes place. a, they saw a ship tied to the shore, and resolved to embark on it. Now, the master of the vessel was a barbaric and coarse man. After they had set sail, this man, seeing the great beauty of Eustace's wife, conceived criminal desires for her. When they had disembarked, he asked them for the price of the passage; and, as they had nothing to give him, he kept Eustace's wife as a pledge for the sum that was owed to him. He had formed this evil design as soon as he had seen her, at the moment of embarkation. Eustace opposed this violence with all his might, but in vain; the master of the vessel even ordered his sailors to throw him into the sea.

He thus saw himself violently separated from his wife, and went away with his two children, groaning and saying: "Woe to me and to you, poor children! Your mother is delivered to a foreign husband." And continuing his journey in sighs and tears, he arrived near a river. As the waters were overflowing, he did not dare to cross it with both his children at once; but, leaving one on the shore, he took the other on his shoulders and carried him to the opposite bank; then he went back into the water to go get his other son. When he was in the middle of the river, looking toward the other bank, he saw a lion that seized the child and carried him into the forest. Despairing then of recovering him, but without losing patience, he was returning toward the other bank, with the hope of finding some consolation with the child who remained to him, when, before his eyes, a wolf snatched him away without him being able to pursue it. And as he was still in the middle of the river, he tore his hair, lamented, let out howls, and was tempted to end his life by drowning in the river; but divine Providence, which reserved other destinies for him, restored his constancy and firmness, and after this first assault of his grief, he came out of the water.

Now, the same Providence permitted that the lion did no harm to the child; for shepherds seeing him carrying off this innocent creature, set out in pursuit of him with their dogs and forced him to let him go. The Lord also came to the aid of the other child: for laborers seeing him between the teeth of the wolf, also pursued the animal, which dropped its prey and fled. The shepherds and the laborers, who were from the same village, admiring how divine Providence had helped these children, took them into their homes and raised them.

Eustace, who was ignorant of these things, resumed his journey, groaning, weeping; sometimes he addressed bitter complaints to God; sometimes he submitted to his holy will; he always hoped in his providence and prayed to him. He thus arrived at a village named Badyssus, where he stayed for some time, working with his hands to procure what he needed to live. Some time later, he addresse d himsel Badyssus Village where Eustace lived for fifteen years as a mercenary. f to the inhabitants of the village who entrusted him with the guarding of their fields, and he lived in this way for fifteen years as a mercenary.

As for his children, they were raised, as we have said, in another village, but without being able to recognize one another. The master of the ship they had boarded took Eustace's wife to his own country; but the grace of the Lord protected her, so that during all that time no stranger approached her. And this is also what she had asked of God, praying Him to preserve her from all defilement. The captain of the ship having died, she regained her freedom. A few days later, the country where she was staying was invaded by enemy armies, who from there spread over the lands of the Romans. In the midst of this tumult of soldiers, the emperor, resisting with all his might the invasion of the enemy troops, remembered Placidus, who had won several victories over these same enemies. He spoke of him often, and never ceased to grieve over the misfortunes he had suffered. Having gathered his army, he reviewed the soldiers and asked them if they knew what had become of the former master of the soldiers, whether he was dead or still living; and, upon their negative response, he gave orders to search for him. He therefore sent into every city and all the lands of his empire to discover the place of his retreat, promising great largesse and great honors to whoever would find him and bring him to him.

Two soldiers, who had formerly been under the command of Placidus, named Antiochus and Achacius, set out in search of him. After having traveled throu gh the wh Antiochus Prefect of the East, a cruel judge responsible for the execution of saints. ole country Achacius Soldier sent in search of Placidus. under Roman rule, they arrived at the village where Eustace lived. While passing near the place where he was performing his duties as a guardian, it occurred to them to question him. Eustace, observing them from afar, recognized them by their gait, and remembering his former life, he was troubled. But he immediately resorted to prayer. "Lord our God," he cried out, "who know how to deliver from all tribulation those who hope in You, just as, against all hope, I have seen those who were formerly with me, grant that I may also see Your servant, my spouse; for as for my children, I know that, because of my iniquities, they have been devoured by beasts. Grant then, O Lord Jesus Christ, merciful God, who are the only true God, grant that I may see at least my sons on the day of the resurrection." As he was speaking thus, he heard a voice coming from heaven which said to him: "Take heart, Eustace, the time is here when you will return to your former state; you will see your wife and children again. After the resurrection you will see much greater things, for you will enter into the enjoyment of eternal goods: your name will be glorified from generation to generation." These words struck him with terror.

Seeing then the soldiers who were coming toward him, he descended from the place where he was sitting and went to meet them on the side of the road. As he approached them, he recognized them even better, but they did not recognize him. Approaching him, they said: "Greetings, brother." He answered them: "Peace be with you, brothers." They added immediately: "Tell us if you do not know here a stranger named Placidus, who has a wife and two children. If you make him known to us, we will give you money." He said to them: "For what reason do you seek him?" They replied: "He is an old friend; we would be very glad to see him after so many years that we have been separated." Eustace said to them: "I do not know any man here such as you describe to me. However, come into the place where I live; for I too am a stranger in this country." And he led them into his house, then he went to buy wine, which he gave them, for the heat was overwhelming them. And he said to the master of the house where he was staying: "These men are perfectly known to me, and it is for me that they have come here; serve them therefore wine and food, so that they may have good cheer; I will pay you in time with my wages." The host provided them with everything they needed.

While they were taking their meal, Eustace, remembering the life he had led formerly, had difficulty containing himself; and when he felt tears flooding his face, he would go out, then after washing his eyes, he would return and serve his guests. The latter, observing him more closely, began little by little and confusedly to recognize him, and they said among themselves: "How he resembles the man we are looking for!" One of them added: "Yes, certainly, he resembles him. Moreover, I know that Placidus bears on his head the scar of a wound he received in war: let us observe this man; if he has this mark on his head, surely it is the one we are looking for." Having then looked at his head, they immediately perceived the scar. And rising from the table, they threw themselves on his neck weeping, and asking him if he was not their former master of the soldiers. Eustace, weeping in his turn, answered them: "No, it is not I." But they showed him the scar on his head, and declared to him that he was himself Placidus, former master of the soldiers. They asked him at the same time for news of his wife and children, and reminded him of several events of the past. In the end, he confessed to them who he was, adding that his wife and sons were dead.

While they were talking in this way, all the inhabitants of the village ran up as if to a spectacle. The soldiers, having commanded silence, spoke to them of the virtue of Eustace and the honors he formerly enjoyed; hearing which, these men shed tears and cried out: "Such a great man! He who served us as a mercenary!" The soldiers then informed him of the emperor's orders; and after having clothed him in sumptuous garments, they took him away. All the inhabitants wanted to follow him; but, after embracing them, he dismissed them. During the journey, he explained to the soldiers how Christ had appeared to him, and how at baptism he had been given the name Eustace, then he told them everything that had happened to him.

After fifteen days of travel, they arrived before the emperor, and explained to him how they had found Placidus. The monarch, at this news, went out to meet him, embraced him while shedding tears, and asked him for what reasons he had left his service. Eustace recounted in detail to the emperor and the great men of his court the whole story of his life since he had left the command of the troops; he told them how his wife had been detained on a ship, how his sons had become the prey of wild beasts, and what deep sorrow he had felt because of it. The return of Eustace caused great joy to the whole army. The emperor consoled him and restored his dignity as master of the soldiers. Eustace, having examined the army rolls, recognized that it was not numerous enough to face the incursions of the enemy. He ordered new levies of soldiers to be made, and he sent tribunes into the cities and villages of the Roman empire to register them.

Now, it happened that the town where Eustace's sons had been raised had to provide two soldiers. The inhabitants delivered them to the tribunes as being strangers to the land. These young men were of advantageous height and great beauty. The new recruits having been gathered and presented to the master of the militia, he examined them all and assigned each his rank in the army. However, these two young men caught his attention because of their tall stature and beauty, which distinguished them from all the others; he therefore gave them the highest ranks near his person. And as he noticed in them much nobility and integrity, he loved them with a very special affection and admitted them to his table.

After having arranged his army according to the rules of military art, he set out on a campaign and in a short time delivered the provinces that the Barbarians had occupied. He then crossed the Hydaspes River with his army; and advancing by the direct route into the interior of their country, he won a great victory over the enemies, ravaged their lands, and formed the plan to annihilate these peoples. In the meantime, by a singular disposition of Providence, he arrived at the very place where his wife lived, who, as we have said, had been preserved by the protection of God from the tyranny of the ship's captain. After the latter's death, she had retired alone to a small house situated in a small garden belonging to an inhabitant of the village, which she took care of. The master of the militia having arrived at this place, he set up his camp there and remained for three days to let his army rest, as he found there all the comforts of life. Now, the soldiers, while arranging the tents, placed that of their leader near the small garden entrusted to the care of this woman; the two young men lodged in the small house, without suspecting that it was the home of their mother. Around noon, having sat down, they began to speak of their childhood, for they still had a confused memory of what had happened to them. Their mother, who was sitting in front of them, followed their conversation very attentively.

The elder said to the younger: "For the moment, I do not remember anything else of my childhood, except that my father was master of the militia and that my mother was of great beauty; they had two sons, me and another younger one, with blond hair and endowed with rare beauty. One night, they took us both and embarked on a ship; but I do not know where they wanted to go. When we had disembarked, our mother was no longer with us, and I do not know how she remained at sea. Our father took us both and walked while weeping. Arrived at the edge of a river, he crossed it with my younger brother and left me on the shore. As he was returning to take me in my turn, a wolf appeared and carried off my brother, and, before my father could approach me, a lion, suddenly coming out of a thicket, took me between its teeth and dragged me into the forest. Fortunately, shepherds ran to my rescue and tore me from the lion's jaws. I was then raised in their house, as you know; but I have not been able to know what became of my father or his other child." The younger one, hearing this, suddenly rises and says while shedding tears: "By the God of the Christians, from what I see, you are my brother! for those who raised me told me that they had delivered me from the jaws of a wolf." And falling into each other's arms, they embraced tenderly. Their mother, reflecting on what she had just heard, particularly on the story of their childhood until their departure from the ship, and not doubting in the least the truth of their account since that time, felt moved, agitated to the depths of her soul, and these feelings redoubled upon seeing them clinging to one another and giving each other brotherly kisses, mixed with sweet tears. However, she wanted to consider the matter more maturely within herself and ensure if they were indeed her sons; but constantly returned to her mind what they had said, that their father was master of the militia and that their mother had been left on the sea.

The next day she goes to find the leader of the army and says to him: "Pardon, my lord, if I dare to present myself before you; I was born on the lands of the Roman Empire, and I was brought here as a captive; oh! if you would only take me back to my homeland!" And while saying this, as she looked at this man, she noticed the scar that her husband bore; she recognized him immediately, but she feared to question him. Nevertheless, she could not contain herself any longer, and throwing herself at his feet, she said to him: "I pray you, my lord, do not be angry with your servant, but deign to listen to me with kindness, and be good enough to tell me what you were formerly, for it seems to me that you are the master of the militia named Placidus, who received at baptism the name Eustace and whom the Lord deigned to call to Himself by means of a stag, so that he would believe in Him. He then experienced several tribulations; and one day, taking with him his wife, that is to say myself, and his two sons Agapitus and Theopistus, he took the road to Egypt. But as we were at sea, he lost me, because the master of the ship, who was a barbarian, kept me against my will; and it is he who brought me to this country. Christ is my witness that neither this man nor any other has approached me; for the Lord has saved my honor until this day. These are the motives that lead me to believe that you are my husband: tell me if I am mistaken?" Eustace, hearing her speak thus, and considering her great beauty, recognized her; and bursting into tears, he said to her with the liveliest joy: "Yes, I am he whom you believe." And rising incontinently, he threw himself on her neck and lavished the most tender caresses upon her. And they gave glory to the Savior Jesus Christ, who uses all means to help his servants, who delivers them from their tribulations and knows how to reward them superabundantly.

Theopista then said to him: "My lord, where are our sons?" — "They were devoured by ferocious beasts," he replied to her; then he told her how he had lost them. And his wife said to him: "Let us give thanks to Christ, for I believe that, as God has granted us the grace to meet, He has procured for us at the same time the joy of seeing our children safe and sound." — "But I told you," replied Eustace, "that they became the prey of wild beasts." Theopista replied to him: "Yesterday, being seated in the garden, I heard two young men who were speaking together and talking about the memories of their childhood, and I know that they are our children; as for them, they were unaware that they are brothers, and it is only yesterday that they discovered it, after the elder had told his own story. Now therefore, you who are still ignorant of these things until now, recognize how great is the goodness of Christ, who has procured for us the happiness of finding each other after such a long absence." The master of the militia therefore had the two young men called, asked them who they were, and what had happened to them. After they had given him the account, as we have reported above, he recognized immediately that they were truly his own sons, and he embraced them, as well as their mother: then, throwing themselves both together on the necks of their children, they flooded them with their tears, blessing the very good God for having reunited them after such a cruel separation.

From the second hour until the sixth, the whole camp resounded with the news of what had just happened, and the soldiers having assembled gave themselves over to the joy that such a happy meeting caused them, much more than they had done after having triumphed over the barbarians. Eustace had the happiness he had had in recovering all his own in this way celebrated with great rejoicings at the same time. The next day, he addressed prayers of thanksgiving to God, and he did not cease to bless the Lord Jesus Christ for His ineffable goodness and His boundless clemency. After he had subdued the whole country of the barbarians, he returned with his army, glorious from such a great victory, bringing back numerous captives with immense booty.

While Eustace was occupied with this war, the Emperor Trajan died, and was succeeded by a pagan named Hadrian, who surpassed in impiet Adrien Abbot sent to England to restore monastic discipline. y all those who had preceded him on the imperial throne. As Eustace approached the city, the emperor went to meet him, according to the custom of the Romans, and celebrated this victory with great solemnity. He questioned Eustace on the success of his arms, and on the circumstances that had led him to recognize his wife and sons, and he prolonged the feast well into the night. The following day, he went to the temple to offer a sacrifice to the idols in thanksgiving for the victory. And as he entered the temple of Apollo, Eustace, instead of following him, left and remained outside.

The emperor, noticing this, called him and asked why he did not sacrifice to the gods for the victory he had just won: "You should," he added, "offer victims to our gods for such brilliant successes, and especially for having recovered your wife and children." Eustace replied to the emperor: "I address my vows to Christ our Lord, and I offer Him my prayers unceasingly, He who had pity on my lowliness, who delivered me from captivity and who made me see my wife and children again; I know no other God but Him, I adore only the God of heaven, who has worked so many wonders." At these words, the emperor, transported with rage, ordered his military belt to be taken from him, and had him appear before his tribunal as a breaker of the laws, along with his wife and children. But, after questioning him for a long time, seeing that his faith in Christ was unshakable, he had him led into the arena with his wife and sons, and gave the order to release a lion against them. The beast, running up immediately and stopping before the blessed ones, lowered its head as if to pay them honor, then withdrew and left the arena. The emperor, at the sight of such a new spectacle, was not moved; but he commanded that a brazen bull be made red-hot, and that the Saints be thrown into it. At this news, the whole multitude of the people , faithful and p taureau d'airain Instrument of the martyrdom of Eustace and his family. agans, gathered to see how they would be introduced into this horrible machine.

When the martyrs arrived near it, they asked the executioners to leave them a moment to pray, and holding their hands raised toward heaven, they addressed this prayer to God: "Lord, God of hosts, who, being invisible to mortals, have deigned to appear to us, hear our humble supplication: we are finally at the height of our desires; you deign to receive us all together, and we are about to merit entering into the sharing of the inheritance of the Saints. Just as the three children, having been tested by the fire of the furnace of Babylon, did not deny you, grant also that by this fire we may finish our career holily, and that, all consumed by this brazier, we may become in your eyes a sacrifice of sweet odor. Deign also, Lord, to communicate a virtue to our remains, so that whoever remembers us may have a share with us in the kingdom of heaven, and that, in the meantime, he may enjoy the goods of this life; likewise, if someone runs into dangers on the sea or on a river, and invokes you in our name, may he be delivered from the peril. If others fall into sin and have recourse to you through the intercession of our weakness, grant them the pardon of their offenses; finally, help and protect all those who will have a memory of us and who will glorify you in us. This fire that threatens us, make it change for us into a sweet dew, and may it put an end to our life. We ask you finally that our bodies not be separated, but that they be buried in the same tomb." As they spoke thus, a voice from heaven was heard and said: "It shall be as you have asked; and I will even do more than you desire. Since you have fought well by living holily, and you have courageously endured great and numerous trials, come to the abode of peace, come to receive the crown of the victors, and in reward for the temporal evils you have endured, come to enjoy for ages of ages the happiness prepared for the Saints." The blessed ones, hearing these words, joyfully surrendered themselves to the hands of the executioners, who immediately threw them into the bronze machine, and closed the entrance to activate the heat of the fire. And the martyrs, glorifying the most holy and ineffable Trinity, and singing hymns in its honor, peacefully rendered their souls to their Creator. But the fire respected their bodies, and not a hair of their head felt the flame.

Three days later, the impious Hadrian came to the place of the execution and had the brazen machine opened, in order to see for himself what remained of their bodies. They were found entirely whole; one even believed they were still alive; then they were pulled from the bull and laid on the ground. All the assistants could not recover from their admiration in seeing that the fire had not in any way damaged their hair and that their bodies were whiter than snow. The emperor returned to his palace seized with terror. The crowd of spectators then cried out: "Great is the God of the Christians, Jesus Christ, the one and only true God; there is no other, for He has preserved His Saints, to the point that not one of their hairs was consumed." The Christians then secretly took the bodies of the Saints and deposited them in a place that became very famous. And after the persecution had calmed, they built an oratory there where they interred them: they celebrated the memory of their relics on the Kalends of November.

Such is the life of these holy and illustrious Martyrs, and this is how they ended their glorious combats. All those who have the devotion to celebrate their memory and to claim their protection obtain the effect of the promises made to these Saints, by the grace of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Saint Eustace is represented: 1° in the middle of a stream and between two wild beasts, each carrying one of the Saint's children in its mouth, while he was busy transporting them across the river; 2° covered in the armor of Roman generals; 3° standing, and sunk to his waist in the bronze bull that was the instrument of his martyrdom; 4° in hunter's attire; 5° kneeling at the foot of a mountain, at the top of which is a stag with a cross between its two horns: from the cross comes a ray of light containing the words that Christ addresses to the Saint and those that the Saint answers Him; near the Saint, on the ground, is placed the plan of a church that St. Eustace had built in memory of this miracle which earned him his conversion.

## CULT AND RELICS.

The bodies of the holy martyrs were religiously collected and transported to the place where, in the time of Constantine, a church was built over their tombs, with the title of diaconia. It is still today a cardinal's title, Saint-Eustache in Thermis. It is of an elegant and noble style.

Pope Celestine III had it repaired and placed their relics in a magnificent porphyry urn placed in the open under the high altar, along with those of several other Saints who had also given their lives for Jesus Christ. This is what he declared by an inscription that Kirker published. It is stated in a charter of Philip Augustus, from the year 1194, that the body of Saint Eustace is at Saint-Denis in France, in a chapel of his name, which should onl Saint-Denis Location where a portion of the relics are preserved in France. y be understood as a portion of his relics. Some bones were taken from it and deposited in Paris, in the parish church of Saint Agnes, known today as Sai nt-Eu Paris Place of birth, ministry, and death of the saint. stache. The reliquary of the Saint, which was at Saint-Denis, was looted by the Huguenots in 1567; but the portion of his relics that was in Paris is still kept there with veneration.

Taken from the Acta Sanctorum, translated by the Benedictines of France; from Godescard.