Saint Eusebia

Upon the death of Saint Gertrude, which occurred a few years later, the young Eusebia was entrusted with the government of the community of Hamage. Thus had the holy Abbess ordained before drawing her last breath; but all the precautions that had been taken could not reassure Saint Rictrude, who hastened to recall her beloved daughter to her side. She feared that the devil, so skillful at seducing and casting into illusion persons of mature age, might more easily deceive her dear Eusebia, and stifle in her heart the precious seeds of virtue that she saw germinating there.

After some delays, motivated no doubt by the tender attachment she bore to this house where her childhood had passed, and where the venerable remains of her grandmother rested, Eusebia, upon the express order of her mother, went with the entire community of Hamage to the monastery of Marchiennes. She was received there, as were her companions, with all the testimonies of the most sincere joy. Lit candles and smoking censers surrounded the bodies of the Saints they had brought with them, among which was that of Saint Gertrude. From that moment, the two communities merged into one, and all the nuns, united in heart and spirit, followed in the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit the same rules and the same exercises.

However, the thought of the monastery of Hamage and the final recommendations of Saint Gertrude constantly presented themselves to the mind of young Eusebia. It always seemed to her that it was in this place that she should live with her companions, and continue, as she had promised, the holy work that had been begun there. Soon she was no longer able to master the feeling that dominated her, and, taking advantage of the calm and darkness of the night, she would hasten to these abandoned buildings to pay her homage to God, and to protest to Him the sincere desire she had to accomplish His will. Saint Rictrude was informed of this, reproached her daughter, and even inflicted upon her a punishment that she deemed deserved, for what she regarded as stubbornness. But soon believing she recognized in the persistence of Eusebia, and in the docile obedience she granted her in all other things, a hidden design of Heaven, she resolved to consult men of God, who came to indicate to her what she had to do. All were of the opinion that Eusebia should be allowed the faculty to return with her companions to the monastery of Hamage, with the body of Saint Gertrude, to continue there the holy and edifying life they had led before.

Eusebia, having thus received her mother's blessing, returned full of joy to her former dwelling, where she promptly had order and religious observance re-established, as under the government of her grandmother, whom she strove to imitate in all things. The gentleness of her command, the affability of her manners, and the perfect regularity of her conduct attracted to her the respect and affection of all her companions. Nothing seemed arduous to them in the fulfillment of the duties of religious life, because she always took the most difficult offices for herself, and the sight of her examples alone was capable of inspiring courage and devotion in the most lukewarm. Thus, piety was held in honor in this house, and, in a short time, one saw the number of holy maidens who came to consecrate themselves to the service of God multiply considerably.

Such was the admirable life led by the virgin Eusebia when God gave her a premonition of her approaching end, although she was still only in her fortieth year. She did not hide it from her pious companions who, at this news, were all filled with the deepest sorrow. As for her, submissive to the holy will of heaven, she awaited, with calm and confidence, this supreme hour which was to fulfill her happiness by reuniting her with her divine Spouse. Soon feeling the first onset of the illness that was to take her from this world, she set about calling to her deathbed the holy daughters who had placed themselves under her guidance. She addressed to them all the most touching and pious words, recommending to them particularly obedience, which is the sinew of religious life, charity, which makes it sweet and charming, and the spirit of self-denial and sacrifice, which gives it merit before God. Then, as her death might give rise in their minds to certain anxieties about the future of a house that owed almost everything to her liberality and that of her family, she urged her sisters to put all their trust in God, who never abandons those who hope in Him. As the illness finished these words, a great light spread in the place where she was, and almost at the same instant her soul flew to the heavens. "Thus did the glorious Eusebia, daughter of admiration, journey to the wedding of the Spouse, like the beautiful rainbow, which, rich in the colors of the divine livery and touching the earth only with the tips of its feet, enters with an open heart into the finery of glory. Wise and prudent virgin, noble lamp of the cloisters, full of the oil of grace, consumed slowly by the most vivid flame of a perfect holocaust: sweet exhalation that perfumes the heavens."

The pious Virgin was buried in the church of the holy apostles. A few years later, at the invitation of the new abbess, also called Gertrude, Saint Vindici en, bishop of C saint Vindicien Bishop of Cambrai and Arras who oversaw the translation of relics. ambrai and Arras, accompanied by Hatta, first abbot of Saint-Vaast, came to dedicate a new church into which the body of the Saint was transported, which began, especially at that time (691), to receive the homage of the faithful. It is seen in very ancient acts that the body of Saint Eusebia was later placed in the monastery of Marchiennes, without it being well known for what reasons. Since then, the custom had also been established of transporting it to the priory of Hamage on the eve of the dedication of that church. The religious, who had accompanied the reliquary of the Saint, celebrated the night offices there with pomp; then, the next day, the rest of the community, accompanied by the abbot, came to complete the pious solemnity. After the mass, which was sung with pomp, all took the road back to the monastery of Marchiennes, repeating the praises of God.

There were several translations of the relics of Saint Eusebia. The last one that the authors have mentioned is that which was made on May 17, 1138, by Amand, abbot of Marchiennes. Previously, it is seen that Abbot Adalard stripped the reliquary of the Saint of all the riches that covered it, to come to the aid of the inhabitants of a neighboring village, whom a fire had reduced to the most extreme necessity.

The reliquary, which contained the relics of this Saint, was sent in 1793 to the Paris Mint. The body, which was intact, was saved from profanation through the care of an estimable man named M. Desrotours, and was later M. Desrotours Man who saved the saint's body from desecration in 1793. deposited at the Archbishopric of Paris; it was kept there until the time of the looting of that palace on July 29, 1830. The relics of Saint Eusèbie were at that moment profaned and scattered, and have not been recovered since. Only a fragment remains, which had previously been placed in a reliquary at the church of Notre-Dame de Paris.

About half a league from Marchiennes, one discovers in the countryside, on a well-traveled path, a chapel dedicated to Saint Eusebia. Situated on a small hill and surrounded by a belt of tall poplars, which overlook the entire surrounding country, it seems to invite the inhabitants and laborers scattered in the fields to invoke in heaven the one who once edified these places by the example of her virtues and the benefits of her charity.

Saint Eusebia, who is known in various places and particularly in the territory of Beauvais under the name of Saint Ysoie or Eusoye, h as often per sainte Ysoie Granddaughter and successor of Gertrude at Hamage. formed miraculous healings in favor of those who have invoked her. Her acts bear witness to these benefits, which have contributed to making her cult famous in the places where she lived. She is named on this day in the Martyrologies of France, the Netherlands, and that of the Benedictines.

The diocese of Beauvais holds her, as we have said, in particular veneration. The cult of Saint Eusoye in this diocese dates back to a very remote antiquity. Here is its origin: as the community of Marchiennes possessed land not far from Breteuil, a chapel was built there in honor of the blessed Abbess; from then on, the people of Beauvais took her in great affection. Several times, in calamitous times, they turned to her and received powerful help from her. They often went to invoke her, and especially on November 18, the anniversary of her first translation. Enriched by their pious liberalities, having become the meeting place for a crowd of pilgrims, the chapel of Sainte-Eusoye did not take long to see itself surrounded by dwellings Sainte-Eusoye Village in the Beauvaisis region named in honor of the saint. , and became a parish church. The village that formed there took and retained the name of the Saint: it chose her as its patron and celebrates her feast every year on this day.

In a manuscript that is today in the Library of Douai, Saint Ysoie is represented with Saints Glossinde and Adalaïnde carrying a palm and a lamp, the lamp indicating the vigilance necessary for virgins and the palm announcing final success. More learned men than us have said: undoubtedly the palm given to Saints who are not martyrs is a peculiarity that belongs to certain countries, Flanders, for example, in the case that concerns us; so be it.

It was a fine idea to bring together in the same painting the holy personages provided by the same family: nothing more edifying, nothing more convincing, nothing more triumphant. The family from which Saint Ysoie emerged was a true nursery of the elect. Thus it is not rare to encounter Saint Adalbaud, the Martyr, reunited with Saint Rictrud saint Adalbaud Father of Saint Eusebia, martyr in Gascony. e, his wife, and his four children: sainte Rictrude Stepdaughter of Gertrude, widow of Adalbaud. Saint Eusèbie, Saint Adalaïnde, Saint Glossinde, and Saint Maurout.

Vies des Saints de Cambrai et d'Arras, by M. l'abbé Destombes.