ZEPHYRINUS.: Saint Eusebius. Bishop. Martyr. Whose Feast Day Is, Today, 16 December.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Eusebius.
Bishop.
Martyr.
Feast Day 16 December.

Semi-Double.

Red Vestments.

English: The Virgin Mary in Glory, with Archangel Gabriel,
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli (seated), Saint Sebastian, and Saint Roch.
Deutsch: Maria in Gloria mit Erzengel Gabriel
und Hl. Eusebius, Hl. Sebastian und Hl. Rochus.
Artist: Sebastiano Ricci (1659–1734).
Date: 1724.
Current location: Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy.
Source: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.
DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202.
Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.
Author: Sebastiano Ricci (1659–1734).
(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Eusebius was born in Sardinia in the 4th-Century A.D., at a time when Arianism was bent on undermining The Dogma of The Divinity of Christ. Having become Bishop of Vercelli, in Italy, he seconded the efforts of Pope Liberius and of his successor, Saint Damasus, whose Feast was Celebrated a few days ago. The Arians, in their irritation, obtained his exile after making him suffer much ill-treatment. He died in 371 A.D.

The Mass describes the numerous Persecutions he underwent at the hands of these heretics. Constant in the midst of trials, as the Epistle relates, he encouraged The Clergy and people of Vercelli by the Letters he wrote to them.

The Church confers on him the Title of Martyr, although he did not have to shed his blood, on account of his sufferings generously undergone and his intrepidity before death (Gospel).

Let us confess, with Saint Eusebius, The Divinity of The Messias, Whose advent we are awaiting.

Mass: Sacerdótes Dei.
Commemoration: Of The Feria.