Eusebius

ON SAINT EUSEBIUS BISHOP OF FANO IN ITALY.

AFTER THE YEAR 503.

Eusebius, Bishop of Fano, in Italy (Saint)

By G. H.

Fano, an ancient and Episcopal city of Italy on the shore of the Adriatic Sea, is situated between Pesaro and Senigallia, cities of the Duchy of Urbino; but it formerly obeyed the Malatesta and Sforza princes, and then came to the Roman Pontiffs, under whom it remained for several centuries. We in the year 1660 were at Fano most humanely received by Matthaeus Gallettus, Canon Penitentiary, and we examined the ancient monuments of the Cathedral Church, from which the Acts of certain holy Bishops he himself at our request copied, The cult of Saint Eusebius, Patron of the city, and to us at Rome transmitted. Saint Eusebius the Bishop had no extant proper Acts: whom meanwhile with three other holy Bishops as Protector of their city the people of Fano venerate, and with the ecclesiastical Office honor on this day April 18, and his sacred body, relics. together with the bodies of Saints Fortunatus and Ursus, also Bishops there, enclosed in a marble tomb, Chapel in a Chapel consecrated to their name, they preserve. Hence we gather that Saint Eusebius so excelled in doctrine and holiness of life that above many others who held the same Pontificate, he himself is considered among the Saints and Patrons, celebrated by the Church of Fano with such solemnity.

[2] his virtues, Vincentius Nolfius published the Lives of the four holy Bishops and Protectors of Fano, and praises in Saint Eusebius remarkable love toward God, burning charity toward his neighbors, and rigor of penance toward himself: in him existed every fullness of goodness and holiness: in his heart no other breath breathed than to keep it pious, immaculate, and holy for God his Creator: he applied every vigilance, by which he himself, as Pastor, in the people and flock committed to him, might excite greater faith and devotion. There existed also a chapel, which is handed down to have been once dedicated in honor of Saint Peter the Apostle by Saint Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna, in which Saint Eusebius founded a college of Clerics. But when, on account of the increased number of them, it was too narrow, A College of Clerics erected: he is written to have founded another church and to have consecrated it to the same Apostle Peter, which is even now called the church of Saint Peter the Bishop. To these Clerics Blessed Peter Damian is said to have written the tract 27 of book three, the church of Saint Peter dedicated: On the Common Life of Canons to the Clerics of the Church of Fano, when among them had arisen a dispute, some wishing to live separately for themselves, others with the goods of the Church brought together in common; and he exhorts them that, laying aside all contention, they should follow the custom of the Apostles and the primitive church; for there cannot be union of minds among those where there is disagreement of resources.

[3] He was present at the Roman Synod in the year 503 The time of his See seems to be able to be gathered from the fact that Vitalis his predecessor was present at and subscribed the first Roman Synod held under Pope Symmachus in the year 499; and afterwards at the fifth Roman Synod held under the same Symmachus in the year 503 Eusebius was present. Each is called Bishop "Fanestrensis" in the ancient manner, as is described by Pomponius Mela book 2 On the Situation of the World chapter 4, where these are read: "From the Po one passes to Ancona through Ravenna, Rimini, Pesaro, Fanestris the colony, the river Metaurus and Aesis; and so one passes to Ancona." All these things are manifest to the eyes. How long afterwards Saint Eusebius lived is not established. Of Saint Eusebius besides treat Ughelli in his Bishops of Fano, Ferrarius in his General Catalog, and another of the Saints of Italy: Brautius, Bishop of Sarsina, honors him with this distich in his Poetic Martyrology:

The Pastor Fanestrensis at Fano, like a light from on high, Shone, and made the sheep to run to the light.

Here by a little word (if perhaps our life, or that of the people of Fano to whom we are obligated, does not last, until there will be treatment of the other Saints of Fano), let it be permitted to give thanks to Giovanni Battista Alferio the Bishop, Giovanni Battista Marcolino the Provost, Luca Amiano the Theologian Canon, and the mentioned Matthaeus Galletti the Penitentiary Canon of the said Cathedral Church of Fano, who with a seal affixed testified that the Lives of the Saints we desired to be copied, from word to word from tables, public instruments, and parchment membranes, were extracted.