February 20th - St Eleutherius of Tournai

February 20th - St Eleutherius of Tournai
(Also known as: Eleuthere)

Bishop of Tournai at the beginning of the sixth century. Historically there
is
very little known about St. Eleutherius, but he was without doubt the first
Bishop of Tournai. Theodore, whom some give as his immediate predecessor,
was
either a bishop of Tours, whose name was placed by mistake on the episcopal
list of Tournai, or simply a missionary who ministered to the Christians
scattered throughout the small Frankish Kingdom of Tournai. Before he
became
bishop, Eleutherius lived at court with his friend Medardus, who predicted
that
he would attain the dignity of a count and also be elevated to the
episcopate.
After Clovis, King of the Franks, had been converted to Christianity, in
496,
with more than 3000 of his subjects, bishops took part in the royal
councils.
St. Remigius, Bishop of Reims, organized the Catholic hierarchy in Northern
Gaul, and it is more than likely that St. Eleutherius was named Bishop of
Tournai at this time.

The saint's biography in its present form was really an invention of Henri
of
Tournai in the twelfth century. According to this, Eleutherius was born at
Tournai towards the end of the reign of Childeric, the father of Clovis, of
a
Christian family descended from Irenaeus, who had been baptized by St.
Piatus.
His father's name was Terenus, and his mother's Blanda. Persecution by the
tribune of the Scheldt obliged the Christians to flee from Tournai and take
refuge in the village of Blandinium. The conversion of Clovis, however,
enabled
the small community to reassemble and build at Blandinium a church, which
was
dedicated to St. Peter. Theodore was made bishop of Tournai, and
Eleutherius
succeeded him. Consulted by Pope Hormisdas as to the best means of
eradicating
the heresy which threatened nascent Christianity, Eleutherius convened a
synod
and publicly confounded the heretics. They vowed vengeance, and as he was
on
his way to the church, one day, they fell on him and, after beating him
unmercifully, left him for dead. He recovered, however, but his days were
numbered. On his death-bed (529) he confided his flock to his lifelong
friend,
St. Medardus.

The motive underlying this biography invented by Canon Henri (1141), was to
prove the antiquity of the Church of Tournai, which from the end of the
eleventh century had been trying to free itself from the jurisdiction of the
bishops of Noyon. The sermons on the Trinity, Nativity, and the feast of the
Annunciation (Bibliotheca Patrum, vol. XV), sometimes attributed to St.
Eleutherius, are also of a more than doubtful authenticity. His cult,
however,
is well established; there is record of a recovery of his relics during the
episcopate of Hedilo in 897 or 898, and a translation of them by Bishop
Baudoin
in 1064 or 1065, and another in 1247. Relics of this saint were also
preserved
in the monastery of St. Martin at Tournai, and in the cathedral at Bruges.
His
feast is given in martyrologies on 20 or 21 July, but is usually celebrated
on
the former date. The translation of his relics is commemorated 25 August.

L. VAN DER ESSEN


Another Source

St. Eleutherius of Tournai B (RM)

Born in Tournai, France; died July 1, 532. Eleutherius, born of parents who
had
been converted to the Christian faith by Saint Platon, became bishop of
Tournai
in 486, ten years before the baptism of Clovis at Rheims. Many Frankish
pagans
and heretics were converted to the faith by his preaching. Once, a young
girl
fell in love with him. The bishop would have nothing to do with her. In
response
she fell ill, and then passed into a coma. Eleutherius told her father that
he
could restore her to health, but would do so only if the father promised to
become a Christian. Once the girl was cured, her father reneged on his vow.
At
this Eleutherius is said to have brought a plague on the land--an action
which
soon forced the recalcitrant father to repent and believe. He died from
wounds
inflicted by the Arian heretics of the district. Most of the early evidence
of
Eleutherius, including his relics, perished in a great fire which consumed
his
church in 1092. Of the sermons ascribed to St. Eleutherius, in the Library
of
the Fathers, none seem sufficiently warranted genuine, except three on the
Incarnation and Birth of Christ, and the Annunciation (Benedictines,
Bentley,
Encyclopedia, Husenbeth).

Saint Eleutherius is portrayed in art as a bishop with a monstrance.
Sometimes
he is shown (1) being blessed by Christ as he carries the monstrance among
poor
and wounded soldiers; or (2) as an angel frees him from stripes (Roeder).

From
http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0220.shtml

Saint Quote:
Resist your impatience faithfully, practicing, not only with reason, but
even
against reason, holy courtesy and sweetness to all, but especially to those
who
weary you the most.
-St. Francis de Sales

Bible Quote
14 Now when the apostles, who were in Jerusalem, had heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John. 15 Who, when
they
were come, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost. 16 For
he
was not as yet come upon any of them; but they were only baptized in the
name
of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands upon them, and they
received
the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14-17)


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Ask Our LORD'S BLESSING

Taken from JESUS, MARY, JOSEPH NOVENA MANUAL:
Father Stedman

Before leaving the Blessed Sacrament.

BLESS ME, O God of bounty! Bless me, Thou Who art holy and good! Bless me as
Thou didst bless the patriarchs and prophets; as Thou didst bless Thy
beloved Mother; as Thou didst bless Thy disciples before ascending into
Heaven.

BLESS MY EYES. Never permit them to behold vanity.

BLESS MY EARS. Set around them a hedge of thorns to guard them from hearing
unChristian words.

BLESS MY MOUTH. Surround it with a guard of truth and kindness.

BLESS MY BODY. Grant that chastity may clothe it as with a garment of glory.

BLESS MY MIND. Grant that my thoughts may be like Thine.

BLESS MY HEART. Kindle in it the fire of love which Thou didst bring on
earth. Make it the sanctuary of every virtue.




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