SAINT EUSEBIUS
Bishop
(† 371)
St. Eusebius was born of a noble family in Sardinia, where his father is said to have died in prison for the Faith. The Saint's mother carried him and his sister, both infants, to Rome.
Eusebius, having been ordained, served the Church of Vercelli with such zeal that on the episcopal chair becoming vacant, he was unanimously chosen by clergy and people to fill it. St. Eusebius saw that the best and first means to labor effectually for the edification and sanctification of his people was to have a zealous clergy.
He very careful to instruct his flock, and inspire them with the maxims of the Gospel. The force of the truth which he preached, together with his example, brought many sinners to a change of life. He courageously fought against the heretics who had him banished to Scythopolis, and thence to Upper Thebais in Egypt, where he suffered so grievously as to win, in some of the panegyrics in his praise, the title of martyr.
He passed away in the latter part of the year 371.