St. Eustachius & Companions, Martyrs (20 September): Butler's Lives of the Saints

About this sermon

On September 20, the Church honors St. Eustace—called Eustathius in the East—together with his wife, Theopista, and their sons, Agapius and Theopistus. Venerated in both East and West, Eustace is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and a patron of hunters. According to his traditional legend, Eustace was originally named Placidus, a Roman general serving under Emperor Trajan. While hunting in the mountains, he saw a great stag bearing an image of Christ crucified between its antlers. A heavenly voice called him by name, leading Placidus and his entire family to Baptism. Soon afterward, Eustace lost his property and was separated from his family through a series of calamities. Called back to command the imperial armies, he achieved victory and was finally reunited with his wife and sons. With prosperity restored, Eustace faced his greatest test. During a victory celebration in Rome, he refused to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods. He, his wife, and their children were consequently condemned to death inside a heated bronze bull. Butler concludes with a powerful meditation upon true courage. Christian fortitude does not arise from pride, ambition, anger, or worldly applause. It comes from religion, a clear conscience, confidence in God’s will, forgiveness of enemies, and steadfast resistance to both danger and sinful pleasure. St. Eustace, St. Theopista, St. Agapius, and St. Theopistus, pray for us! Source: Butler’s Lives of the Saints by Fr. Alban Butler. 00:00 Introduction 00:16 St. Eustace and his martyred family 00:36 Venerated throughout East and West 00:42 Patron of hunters and Holy Helper 00:49 Placidus, the Roman general 00:58 The miraculous stag and crucifix 01:15 A heavenly voice calls him by name 01:23 The conversion of Placidus 01:32 His entire family is baptized 01:40 Property lost and family separated 01:49 Military victory and family reunion 01:58 Refusing sacrifice to the pagan gods 02:05 The family’s terrible martyrdom 02:22 His charity toward the poor 02:39 His church and relics 02:55 Relics desecrated by the Huguenots 03:02 Virtue triumphs over worldly interest 03:17 Obeying conscience rather than princes 03:24 Forgiving persecutors 03:40 False courage and slavery to passion 03:54 Religion as the foundation of courage 04:10 Peace and joy amid suffering 04:25 Does religion transform our conduct? 04:39 The meaning of true fortitude https://sensusfidelium.com/the-lives-of-the-fathers-martyrs-and-other-principal-saints/september/st-eustachius-and-companions/ Get Butler's Lives of the Saints here: https://loretopublications.idevaffiliate.com/idevaffiliate.php?id=102&url=1 #StEustace #CatholicSaints #LivesOfTheSaints #ChristianMartyrs #FaithAndCourage #CatholicFaith #SaintStories #PatronSaintOfHunters #EarlyChurchMartyrs #ChristianInspiration 🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴🔴 ✝️ 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