A native of Lombardy and former physician, Eusebius succeeded Marcellus I on the See of Saint Peter in 310. His short pontificate was marked by the defense of penitential discipline against the lapsi and the Manichaeans led by Heraclius. Exiled to Sicily by Emperor Maxentius, he died there after having reorganized the Roman clergy.
Guided reading
4 reading sections
SAINT EUSEBIUS OF CASSANO, POPE AND CONFESSOR (310).
SAINT ISARN OF TOULOUSE,
Origins and accession to the pontificate
Eusebius, a physician originally from Lombardy, succeeded Pope Marcellus I on the seat of Saint Peter in 310.
Eusebi Eusèbe Pope and confessor, successor to Marcellus I. us, a nativ e of Ca Cassano Birthplace of the saint in Lombardy. ssano on the Adda (Lombardy), son, as it is said, of a physician, and initially a physician himself, succeeded Pope Saint Marcellus I on the seat of Saint pape saint Marcel Ier Pope whose shroud fragment is preserved in Nolay. Peter (310).
Roman ministry and education
The Pope reconciles heretics in Rome and oversees the Christian education of the future Eusebius of Vercelli.
He found heretics in the city of Rome and reconciled them to the Church by the laying on of hands alone. Once restored, a noble lady from the island of Sardinia entrusted him with the education of her son; the pontiff instructed the young man in the Christian faith, baptized him, and gave him h is own Eusèbe Future bishop of Vercelli, baptized and instructed by Pope Eusebius. name: this Eusebius later became Bishop of Vercelli.
The controversy of the lapsi and exile
Faced with the question of the lapsi and the opposition of Heraclius, Eusebius maintained the necessity of penance before being exiled to Sicily by Maxentius.
At the beginning of Eusebius's episcopate, several traitors were pointed out to him who had handed over sacred vessels and books to the tax officials: these fallen ones wished to be reconciled with the Church; but they wanted to be Christians in name, without venerating its mysteries. The ancient question of the lapsi, already agitated during the pontificate of Saint Cornelius (251-252), was renewed with some acrimony. Heraclius, the leader of the Manichaeans, maintained the uselessness of pen ance for the lapsi; the le saint pontife Eusèbe Pope and confessor, successor to Marcellus I. holy pontiff Eusebius, on the contrary, reminded these unfortunate people of the necessity of weeping for their crimes. The people were divided into two opposing parties; sedition, murders, discord, and intestine war, highly e ncourag Maxence Roman tyrant who encouraged unrest and proscribed Eusebius. ed by the cruel tyrant Maxentius, once again devastated the Church. A faithful defender of the rights of truth, Eusebius was proscribed by the judges; he d ied in Sicile Italian island where the saint exercised his ministry. exile on the shores of Sicily on September 26, 310.
Chronological data and burial
After a short pontificate marked by several ordinations, the pope was buried in the cemetery of Callixtus.
Saint Eusebius sat for four months and sixteen days (the Proper of Rome, contrary to the Liber pontificalis and all other authors, says "two years, eight months and sixteen days"). In one ordination, he had laid hands on thirteen priests, three deacons, and fourteen bishops destined for various Churches. He was buried in the cem etery of Callixtus, o cimetière de Callixte Papal burial site on the Appian Way. n the Appian Way.
Proper of Rome; Liber Pontificalis; Pontificate of Saint Eusebius, according to Chantrel; Darras; Artand de Mauter.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Succession to Pope Saint Marcellus I
- Reconciliation of heretics by the laying on of hands
- Education and baptism of the future Eusebius of Vercelli
- Conflict with Heraclius over the question of the lapsi
- Exile to Sicily by the tyrant Maxentius