Eustace of Luxeuil

Eustace of Luxeuil (c. 560 – c. 626), also known as Eustasius, was the second abbot of Luxeuil from 611. He succeeded his teacher Columbanus, to whom he had been a favorite disciple and monk. He had been the head of the monastic school.

Saint

Eustace of Luxeuil
Died626[1]
Venerated inRoman Catholic Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
FeastMarch 29

Life

Eustace was born in Burgundy and became a monk at Luxeuil. When Columbanus, the founder of Luxeuil, was banished from the Kingdom of Burgundy, on account of his reproving the morals of King Theuderic II, he recommended his community choose Eustace as his successor. Subsequently, Columbanus settled at Bobbio in Italy.[2] After the death of Theuderic, Clothaire II sent Eustace to Bobbio to ask Columbanus to return, but the exiled abbot declined.[3][4]

Under the administration of Eustace, the monastery acquired renown as a seat of learning and sanctity. Through the royal patronage, its benefices and lands were increased, King Clotaire II devoting a yearly sum, from his own revenues, towards its support. Eustace and his monks devoted themselves to preaching in remote districts, not yet evangelized, chiefly in the north-eastern extremities of Gaul. Their missionary work extended even to Bavaria. Between the monasteries of Luxeuil in France and that of Bobbio in Italy (both founded by Columbanus), connection and intercourse seem to have long been kept up.[2]

During his abbacy, the monastery contained about 600 monks and produced both bishops and saints, including Acarius, Amatus, Audomar, and Romaric.[4] Eustace was noted for his humility, continual prayer, and fasting.[1] Eustasius undertook missionary journeys to the Variscans on the river Doubs and as far as Bavaria. Around 625 he founded a monastery on the island of Herrenchiemsee.[5] He was succeeded as abbott by Waldebert.

A tradition states that he cured Sadalberga of blindness. Upon returning from Bavaria, her father, Gundoin, Duke of Alsace provided hospitality to the abbot on his travels. Duke Gundoin and his wife brought two of their sons for the abbot's blessing but were hesitant to present the blind child. Through the prayers of Eustace the child was cured of her blindness.[6] He is said to have also procured a cure for St. Burgundofara.[4]

His feast day is March 29.

References
  1. Monks of Ramsgate. “Eustasius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 January 2013Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Cullen, John. "St. Eustace." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 6 Dec. 2014
  3. Munro, Dana C. "The Life of St. Columban, by the Monk Jonas, (7th Century)". Internet History Sourcebooks. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  4. Englebert, Omer. The Lives of the Saints, Barnes & Noble Publishing, 1951 ISBN 9781566195164
  5. Schäfer, Joachim. "Eustasius von Luxeuil", Ökumenisches Heiligenlexikon, August 8, 2021
  6. Butler, Alban; Burns, Paul (2000). Butler's Lives of the Saints. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press. p. 208. OCLC 33824974.
  • Stohlmann, Jürgen (2003). "Eustasius von Luxeuil". Lexikon der Heiligen und der Heiligenverehrung. Vol. 1. Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder. ISBN 3-451-28191-0.
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