Saint of the Day – 16 November – Saint Eucherius of Lyons (c380-c449) Bishop and Confessor, a learned Scholar and renowned Poet and Writer, Married but later he and his wife separated to lead ermetical lives of prayer and fasting, father of 2 sons and a daughter, both sons became Bishops.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Lyons, the birthday of St Eucherius, Bishop and Confessor, a man of extraordinary faith and learning. He renounced the Senatorial dignity to embrace the Religious life and, for a long time voluntarily shut himself up in a cavern where he served Christ in prayer and fasting. Afterwards, through the revelationm of an Angel, he was solemnly installed in the Episcopal Chair of the City of Lyons.”
Next to St Ireaneus, no name has done so great honour to the Church of Lyons, as that of the great Eucherius. By birth he was most illustrious in the world but the Saint by despising the empty honours and riches of the world, became far more illustrious in the school of Christ.
Having become a Senator and married Galla, he had two sons, Veranus, who would become the Bishop of Vence and Salonius, later the Bishop of Geneva. Both were educated in the Monastery of Lérins by Hilary, the future Archbishop of Arles. A daughter, Consortia, is also attributed to him.
Around 422 Eucherius, with the consent of his wife, himself retired to the Monastery of Lérins, then, to the nearby Island of Sainte-Marguerite, where he led a Hermit’s life. St Cassian dedicated the prologue of his last seven conferences to him and he himself then showed some literary activity.
Many works are attributed to him. In addition to the letters, the homilies on the Martyrs of Lyon , Sts Epipodius and Alexander and the Passio Acaunensium Martyrum can be considered authentic.
Around 435 he was elected to the Episcopal see of Lyons, where he carried out a great pastoral activity. In 441 he attended the 1st Council of Orange. In 449 Poleminus Silvius dedicated his Laterculus to him. He died that year. He is registered on 16 November in the Martyrology of Hieronymus and in the Roman.
AnaStpaul 