CrucisSt. Eucherius of Lyon
St. Eucherius of Lyon was born about 380, of a distinguished Gallo-Roman family, and, like several noble Christians of his age, withdrew with his wife and sons from the world to embrace the ascetic life, retiring to the famous island monastery of Lérins off the coast of southern Gaul, a great nursery of saints and bishops. After years in this monastic solitude he was drawn from it to become bishop of Lyon about 434.
A man of learning as well as prayer, he wrote works that were widely read in the Middle Ages, including two treatises in praise of the solitary and ascetic life and on contempt for the world, and handbooks to aid in the understanding of the Scriptures, explaining difficult terms and the spiritual senses of the sacred text. His two sons also became bishops, and his writings helped to spread the monastic ideal of Lérins throughout the Church of Gaul. He died about 449, and is venerated as a saint, his memory kept on 16 November.
Selected quotes
“The desert is not empty but full of God; the soul that flees the world's noise finds Him in the silence.”
“Despise the world not out of bitterness but out of love for something better; let go the lesser to grasp the greater.”
“In solitude the soul learns to listen, and the God drowned out by the crowd speaks clearly to the alone.”