OUR saint's mother, who was a lady of eminent virtue, and of the first
quality at Orleans, while she was with child of him, made a daily
offering of him to God, and begged nothing for him but divine grace.
When he was born, his parents dedicated him to God, and set him to study
when he was but seven years old, resolving to omit nothing that could be
done towards cultivating his mind, or forming his heart. His improvement
in virtue kept pace with his progress in learning: he meditated
assiduously on the sacred writings, especially on St. Paul's manner of
speaking on the world, and its enjoyments, as mere empty shadows, that
deceive us and vanish away;[1] and took particular notice that the
apostle says, the wisdom of those who love the pleasures and riches of
this life is no better than folly before God. {438} These reflections at
length sunk so deep into his mind, that he resolved to quit the world.
To put this design in execution, about the year 714, he retired to the
abbey of Jumiege, on the banks of the Seine, in the diocese of Rouen.
When he had spent six or seven years here, in the practice of
penitential austerities and obedience, Suavaric, his uncle, bishop of
Orleans, died: the senate and people, with the clergy of that city,
deputed persons to Charles Martel, mayor of the palace, to beg his
permission to elect Eucherius to the vacant see. That prince granted
their request, and sent with them one of his principal officers of state
to conduct him from his monastery to Orleans. The saint's affliction at
their arrival was inexpressible, and he entreated the monks to screen
him from the dangers that threatened him. But they preferred the public
good to their private inclinations, and resigned him up for that
important charge. He was received at Orleans, and consecrated with
universal applause, in 721. Though he received the episcopal character
with grievous apprehensions of its obligations and dangers, he was not
discouraged, but had recourse to the supreme pastor for assistance in
the discharge of his duties, and devoted himself entirely to the care of
his church. He was indefatigable in instructing and reforming his flock,
and his zeal and even reproofs were attended with so much sweetness and
charity, that it was impossible not to love and obey him. Charles
Martel, to defray the expenses of his wars and other undertakings, and
to recompense those that served him, often stripped the churches of
their revenues, and encouraged others to do the same. St. Eucherius
reproved these encroachments with so much zeal, that flatterers
represented it to the prince as an insult offered to his person;
therefore, in the year 737, Charles, in his return to Paris, after
having defeated the Saracens in Aquitaine, took Orleans in his way,
ordered Eucherius to follow him to Verneuil upon the Oise, in the
diocese of Beauvais, where he then kept his court, and banished him to
Cologne. The extraordinary esteem which his virtue procured him in that
city, moved Charles to order him to be conveyed thence to a strong place
in Hasbain, now called Haspengaw, in the territory of Liege, under the
guard of Robert, governor of that country. The governor was so charmed
with his virtue, that he made him the distributer of his large alms, and
allowed him to retire to the monastery of Sarchinium, or St. Tron's.
Here prayer and contemplation were his whole employment, till the year
743, in which he died on the 20th of February. He is named in the Roman,
and other martyrologies. See his original life by one of the same age,
with the preliminary dissertation of Henschenius, and the remarks of
Mabillon, saec. 3, Ben. The pretended vision of the damnation of Charles
Martel, is an evident interpolation, found only in later copies and in
Surius.
Footnotes:
1. 1. Cor. vii {}, m. 19.