This calendar of saints is drawn from several denominations, sects, and traditions. Although it will no longer be updated daily, the index on the right will guide visitors to a saint celebrated on any day they choose. Additional saints will be added as they present themselves to Major.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

December 8 - St. Eucharius of Trier

If you thought I was going to write about someone else, you were wrong. That guy was was not a saint. I don't care how many people liked him, nor do I care how many other people took his observation as blasphemy. He was neither a saint nor a martyr; martyrs have choices. He was just plain murdered. But enough about him.

St. Eucharius of Trier was said to be one of the original seventy-two disciples of Christ. He was sent to Gaul as its first bishop, and while there, was aggrieved at the death of his friend Maternus. He returned to Rome to borrow the pastoral staff of St. Peter. Upon being touched by the staff, Maternus was returned to life. Presumably, St. Eucharius then brought Peter's staff back to him.

That resurrection would indeed have been miraculous. The trip from Gaul to Rome and back must have taken a couple of weeks, at least. I imagine that he was not only resurrected, but also restored to a pre-decayed state, unless his body remained incorrupt. To the best of my knowledge, Maternus is not a saint, so I don't see why he should not have turned green and black while he was waiting for St Eucharius to bring Peter's stick.

December 8 is also the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Please remember that this does not refer to the insemination of Mary, but rather to Mary's creation without original sin. It has nothing to do with the sexual act of reproduction. Rather, it is a unique grace of God that her soul entered her body without this stain which all other humans have suffered. This particular grace qualified her to be the Theotokos, the Mother of God. Or so I've heard it said.

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