St. Eustace and His Companions, Martyrs (20 September) ~ Dom Prosper Guéranger

About this sermon

On September 20, the Church honors St. Eustace—also called Placidus—together with his wife, Theopista, and their sons, Agapitus and Theopistus. In this reading from *The Liturgical Year* by Dom Prosper Guéranger, we hear the moving account of a renowned Roman general whose life was transformed during a hunt. A magnificent stag suddenly stopped before him, revealing between its antlers a radiant image of Jesus Christ upon the Cross. Christ called Placidus to pursue eternal life, and the general entered the Christian Faith with his entire family. The newly baptized Eustace was warned that he would suffer greatly for God’s glory. He lost his possessions and was separated from his wife and sons, yet endured his trials with remarkable patience. After years of poverty and exile, Divine Providence reunited the family, and Eustace was restored to command of the Roman army. Following a victorious campaign, Eustace refused to sacrifice to the false gods. Neither threats nor persuasion could make the family deny Christ. Lions refused to harm them, so the emperor ordered them enclosed within a heated brazen bull. Singing God’s praises, the four martyrs completed their sacrifice together. 0:00 St. Eustace and His Companions 0:22 France and the patrimony of St. Peter 0:47 A family beneath the Cross 0:55 Questions concerning St. Eustace 1:44 The traditional site of the vision 2:00 Placidus, the Roman general 2:16 The stag and radiant Cross 2:31 The family becomes Christian 2:46 Christ foretells coming trials 3:01 Loss, separation, and poverty 3:18 Years of exile and labor 3:27 Restored to military command 3:36 The family is reunited 3:43 Refusal to worship false gods 4:00 The lions refuse to attack 4:07 Martyrdom in the brazen bull 4:24 Their bodies remain intact 4:32 Prayer for courage in suffering 4:48 The Cross is our standard 4:57 The Church amid calamity 5:13 Prayer for the Holy City St. Eustace and his holy family, obtain for us courage beneath the Cross. https://sensusfidelium.com/the-liturgical-year-dom-prosper-gueranger/september/september-20-st-eustace-and-his-companions-martyrs/ #StEustace #CatholicSaints #CatholicMartyrs #LivesOfTheSaints #FeastDay #ChristianMartyrs #CatholicFaith #September20 #SaintStories #ChurchHistory 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ SUPPORT THE MISSION 🙏 Donate https://sensusfidelium.com/donate-support/ 📬 Free Catholic Newsletter https://sensusfidelium.com/newsletter/ 📰 Read on Substack https://sensusfidelium.substack.com/ ──────────────────── 📺 WATCH & READ 📺 Sensus Fidelium App https://sensusfidelium.tv/ 📚 Sensus Fidelium Press https://sensusfideliumpress.com/ 👕 Official Merchandise https://sensusfidelium.com/merchandise/ ──────────────────── 🤝 PARTNER WITH US 📣 Advertise on Sensus Fidelium https://sensusfidelium.com/advertise-with-sensus-fidelium/ 🎤 Invite Steve Cunningham to Speak https://sensusfidelium.com/speaking/ ⛪ Parish Formation & Consultation https://sensusfidelium.com/for-parishes/ ──────────────────── 🌎 CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ✝️ Trusted Catholic Businesses https://sensusfidelium.com/catholic-businesses/ 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴

Topics

• Suffering & Trials