Saint Eustace
St. Eustachius, called by the Greeks Eustathius, and before his conversion named Placidus, was a nobleman who suffered martyrdom at Rome, about the reign of Adrian, together with his wife Theopista, called before her baptism Tatiana, and two sons Agapius and Theopistus..
From Butler, Lives of the Saints, 1812, “_SS. EUSTACHIUS AND COMPANIONS, | MARTYRS.”
Patronages
According to Catholic tradition, as recorded in the sources cited for each patronage:
Hunters
He is honored as one of the Holy Helpers, is invoked in difficult situations, and is patron of the city of Madrid and of hunters.
Recorded as patron of hunters in:
- Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Sts. Eustachius and Companions
- Drake, Saints and Their Emblems, 1916, PATRONS OF ARTS, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
- Husenbeth, Emblems of Saints, 1882, PATRONS OF ARTS, TRADES, AND PROFESSIONS.
Also recorded as patron:
Madrid
He is honored as one of the Holy Helpers, is invoked in difficult situations, and is patron of the city of Madrid and of hunters.
Recorded as patron of Madrid in:
Feast day
- September 20 · Traditional date, Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913
From Butler, Lives of the Saints, 1812, “_SS. EUSTACHIUS AND COMPANIONS, | MARTYRS.”
These Greek names they must have taken after their conversion to the faith.
The ancient sacramentaries mention in the prayer for the festival of St. Eustachius, his profuse charities to the poor, on whom he bestowed all his large possessions, some.
time before he laid down his life for his faith. An ancient church in Rome was built in his honour, with the title of a Diacony: the same now gives title to a cardinal.
His body lay deposited in this church, till, in the twelfth age, it was translated to that of St. Denis near Paris.
Works of art
