Today, 20 September, is the feast of...
*Eustace and his companions, martyrs (2nd century?): Placidas, a Roman
general under Trajan, while hunting saw a stag, between whose antlers
appeared a figure of Christ on the cross; he converted, changed his
name, and got himself and his family martyred by being roasted to death
in a brazen bull - patron of hunters.
Two years ago Garth Carpenter wrote:
I am a little confused about your posting re the FEAST of Eustace on
20 September. I had read recently and extensively that the legend of
Eustace concerning the vision of the crucifix appearing between the
antlers of a deer was confused with (in the literal sense of that word)
that of St. Hubert, and that the Feast Day of both Eustace and St.
Hubert is 3 November. Most encyclopaediae give 3 November too. Any
comment?
I replied:
Good point. I usually take the feast listings from Butler's *Lives of
the Saints* (1956), edited, revised and supplemented by Herbert Thurston
and Donald Attwater (London, Burns & Oates). I use this edition as it
employs the dates of the pre-Vatican II feasts, and is thus usually in
accord with the dates on which the feasts would have been celebrated in
the Middle Ages.
A further note on the feast date of Eustace - according to the old
*Catholic Encyclopedia* (another pre-Vatican II source) it is celebrated
in the West on 20 September and in the East on 2 November. Now we have
three possible feast days! In regard to the vision of the crucifix being
confused with that of St Hubert's vision, all that Butler says on the
subject is the following:
"His worthless legend relates that he was a Roman general under Trajan
...
and while out hunting one day he saw coming towards him a stag, between
whose antlers appeared a figure of Christ on the cross -which story
appears also in the legend of St Hubert and other saints - and a voice
issuing there from calling him by name."
* Vincent Madelgarius, abbot (c. 687): Also known as Mauger or Vincent
of Soignies wife (Waldetrudis/Waudru) and kids (Landericus/Landry,
Madelberta, Aldetrudis and Dentelinus) also venerated as saints. His
vita was written in the abbey of Hautmont in the tenth or eleventh
century.
Last year Aline Hornaday provided us with this useful information about
Vincent's family cult:
In reference to Saint Vincent Madalgar's family, please remember also
his sister-in-law, Aldegunde of Maubeuge, and his wife Waldetrude's
niece Aye. This family of saints is venerated today in Belgium. Once
each century the relics of Saints Vincent and Waldetrude are taken
respectively from Soignies and Mons to meet halfway; the last such
procession took place in 1917 during the German occupation of Belgium.
One hopes the relics of these two spouses will meet again in 2017.
*******************
Dr Carolyn Muessig
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
University of Bristol
Bristol BS8 1TB
UK
phone: +44(0)117-928-8168
fax: +44(0)117-929-7850
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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