March 11: St Eulogius of Córdoba
Heavenly Father,
Give me the courage to strive for the highest goals,
to flee every temptation to be mediocre.
Enable me to aspire to greatness, as St Eulogius,
and to open my heart with joy to Your call to holiness.
Free me from the fear of failure.
I want to be, Lord, firmly and forever united to You.
Grant me the graces I ask You through St Eulogius’s intercession,
by the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
St. Eulogius of Córdoba, pray for us!
St. Eulogius of Córdoba
Moors controlled Spain in the 9th Century and Córdoba was their capital. Christians were allowed to worship if they paid a monthly tax. These taxes included fees for every church, monastery, and even the living paying on behalf of the dead. Persecution intensified in 850; Christians were accussed of blashpemy against Mohammed, conspiracy against the government, and proselytizing Muslims. The bishop and priests of Córdoba, including St. Eulogius, were arrested and imprisoned. There, St. Eulogius recited Scripture to encourage his companions. A virgin named St. Leocritia converted to Christianity and sought protection from her Muslim family. St. Eulogius helped her but the two were eventually discovered. St. Eulogius was beheaded on March 11, 859, and St. Leocritia met the same fate four days later.
