St. Eleutherius of Spoleto

Saint Eleutherius of Spoleto

Abbot & Confessor

Eleutherius was a holy monk who was chosen as abbot of St. Mark’s Abbey in Spoleto, Italy. Once a boy was freed from possession at the monastery, and from then on he was educated there. Eleutherius proclaimed, with perhaps some pride in their efforts, that since the child was among the servants of God at the monastery, the devil would not dare approach him. The boy was almost immediately possessed once more. The abbot quickly confessed his error, and through fervent prayer and fasting the boy was again delivered. On another occasion, the holy abbot raised a man from the dead, as attested by Pope St. Gregory the Great. This holy pontiff and Eleutherius were good friends. On one Easter Vigil, the pope was suffering from a great physical weakness and was unable to fast. Gregory asked Eleutherius to pray with him for healing, so that the pope could fast like the rest of the faithful. The abbot offered prayers and many tears on behalf of his friend, and when the two left the church where they had prayed, the pope found himself so invigorated that he was able to make the full Holy Saturday fast. Eleutherius eventually resigned his position as abbot, and died at St. Andrew’s monastery in Rome around the year of Our Lord 585.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for September 6th

THE prophet Zachary, who returned in his old age from Chaldea to his own country, and lies buried near the prophet Aggeus.

In Hellespont, St. Onesiphorus, disciple of the Apostles, of whom St. Paul speaks in his letter to Timothy. He was severely scourged with St. Porphyry, by order of the proconsul Adrian, and being dragged by wild horses, gave up his soul to God.

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Faustus, priest, Macarius, and ten companions, who received the martyr’s crown by being beheaded for the name of Christ, in the time of the emperor Decius and the governor Valerius.

In Cappadocia, the holy martyrs Cottidus, deacon, Eugenius, and their companions.

In Africa, in the persecution of the Vandals, the holy bishops Donatian, Praesidius, Mansuetus, Germanus, and Fusculus, who were most cruelly scourged and sent into exile, by order of the Arian king Hunneric, because they proclaimed the Catholic truth. Among them was one named Laetus, also a bishop, a courageous and most learned man, who was burned alive after a long imprisonment in a loathsome dungeon.

At Verona, St. Petronius, bishop and confessor.

At Rome, the holy abbot Eleutherius, a servant of God, who, according to the testimony of Pope St. Gregory, raised a dead man to life by his prayers and tears.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.