Have you ever heard the story from the Old Testament about a man named Job? The monks in the monastery have it available to read, I believe. It is actually an incredible story and very much worth reading. It tells the tale of a man who was tested in a very difficult way to prove his love for God. Why was it so difficult? Job wasn't just showing that he loved God, he was showing how much he loved God. Anyway, I suppose that's enough about Job since this story is about Saint Eustace. There is a reason, though, why I brought Job up. Well, you'll soon see why.

St. Eustace, before he became a Catholic, was named Placidus. Placidus lived in the city of Rome at the beginning of the second century. He was an excellent soldier and served his Emperor Trajan as the commanding chief of his armies. He was married to a woman who loved, respected and obeyed him. They had two young sons. Although he was a pagan and worshipped false idols he made sure to always give alms to the poor and help those in need. His wife shared in his pagan idolatry, but also accompanied him with great fervor in his acts of charity. Although their souls were dark without the light of Christ, God had given them the grace to perform corporal works of mercy.

Placidus loved to spend his leisure hours hunting with his soldiers. One day however, it changed his life. He rode with his men through the woods, following the herd of agile deer. They turned here and dashed there as they kept their eyes on the fleeting stags. As they were pursuing them, one of the deer broke from the group and headed off on its own. Placidus drew reins on his horse, causing his men to instinctively stop.

"What sir?" one of his men said. "Shall we pursue that runaway stag?"

"No," Placidus said slowly, as one who is thinking over something that needs an immediate answer. He had had his eye on that deer almost the entire time. Its beauty and its size had made it his desired prize of the hunt. "Funny," he thought, "that it should go a different way. Ha, as if that could stop me!"

"You men follow the herd. I'll pursue this one." he said quickly. Without argument or question, his men, like good soldiers, obeyed their chief and immediately resumed their chase.

Placidus now spurred his horse to a canter. They turned off the path and it was not long before his good hunting instincts had picked up the animal's trail. But this stag was no ordinary deer and its quick feet led Placidus deeper and deeper into the forest. It took all of his effort and strength to keep up with the stag, who still managed to keep a good distance ahead. Time and again the hunter did his best to catch it, but each time it evaded his grasp and lured him on. Not being discouraged or put back in the slightest, Placidus followed his prey with renewed vigor. The chase continued until suddenly the stag stopped. The soldier pulled his horse to a halt and looked around. The magnificent animal had led him to the top of a high peak. He tried to control his heavy breathing as he surveyed his prize, pondering on how he might catch it. Just as he was finalizing his plans, his thoughts ended abruptly in shock. Stunned, he blinked his eyes and stared at the stag - or more importantly its antlers. It seemed ... that there was actually something ... in its antlers. It looked like a cross, and it shone brilliantly. But there was even more. On the cross, Placidus thought he saw an image of a man. Suddenly, to his further amazement, he heard a man's voice speaking to him from the stag.