[Roman Martyrology. In those of Bede, Notker, and Rabanus, on Feb. 21st. Authorities;--A Life by a contemporary, published by Bollandus.]
This saint was dedicated to God from his infancy. About the year 714, he retired to the abbey of Jumièges, on the banks of the Seine, in the arch-diocese of Rouen. After having spent six or seven years there, his uncle Suavaric, bishop of Orleans, died, and Eucher was elected in his room, with the consent of Charles Martel, mayor of the palace, in 721. But he shortly afterwards incurred the anger of Charles Martel, for some political reason not mentioned by the author of the life of the saint, and Charles, on his return from defeating the Saracens near Tours, in 732, took the bishop from his see, and sent him into exile to Cologne, where, however, his piety and gentleness attracted such general admiration, that Charles ordered him to be removed into the less populous county of Hasbain, or Haspengau, in the territory of Liége, under the guard of Robert, the governor of that county, who allowed him to retire into the monastery of S. Trond, where he passed the rest of his days in prayer, glad to rest once more in the peaceful round of cloister life. He was buried at S. Trond, and there his relics are preserved.
In Art, S. Eucher is often represented contemplating a man in the flames of hell, on account of a legend which relates that he saw Charles Martel undergoing torment in the place of the damned. Sometimes he is depicted lying in his sepulchre, with a serpent marked with the arms of France, symbolising Charles Martel, writhing beneath it.
[S. Wulfric is also called Ulric. Wilson's Anglican Martyrology; also the Benedictine Kalendar. Authorities:--John Fordun, Roger of Wendover, Henry of Huntingdon, and other historians.]
S. Ulric was born at Lenton, eight miles from Bristol. When he had reached man's estate, he entered holy orders, and was made priest, without much thought of the responsibilities of his calling. He allowed himself to follow the sports of hunting, hawking, and other diversions inconsistent with his profession. One day, whilst out hunting, there came to him a man, who by his dress seemed needy, and begged of him a new piece of money, as alms; for at that time there was a new coinage in England, but it was rare, on account of its recency. Wulfric replied that he did not know whether he had any of the new coins or not; upon which the man said, "Look in thy purse and thou wilt find two pieces and a half." Wulfric did as he was bidden, and found the money, which he at once bestowed on the beggar. Then the man said, "May He, for whose love thou hast done this, give thee a fitting reward. Behold, in His name, I tell thee that thou shalt remove hence, and at length find repose; and He will summon thee to join the communion of His saints." Musing on these words, S. Wulfric felt that his life must undergo a change; and he resolved at once to embrace a very austere life. He therefore retired to Haselbury, in Dorsetshire, to a cell given him by a knight of his acquaintance, and there he served God in cold and want and tears. He wore a suit of chain mail next his flesh, even in winter. One Easter Eve he was troubled by impure thoughts. Then, next day, he went to the church and made public confession of what had befallen him, and humbly besought the prayers of the congregation. His shirt of mail hindering him from kneeling, he privately called to him his patron, and asked him to shorten it. The knight said that he would send the coat to London, and have it cut shorter. "Take a pair of shears and cut," said the recluse. The knight obeyed, and found that he was able to cut it as if it had been cloth.