January 22: Saint Vincent, Martyr

Life and Martyrdom of Saint Vincent of Saragossa

Saint Vincent of Saragossa was a deacon who suffered his martyrdom in Valencia during the Diocletian Persecution in the early fourth century. He served as deacon under Bishop Valerius of Saragossa, and when the imperial decrees were enacted against the Church, both were arrested and led in chains to Valencia. Bishop Valerius, who suffered from a speech impediment, relied on Vincent to speak on their behalf; Vincent boldly confessed the Christian faith before the governor Dacian. Valerius was subsequently exiled, but Vincent was subjected to excruciating tortures, including the rack, iron hooks, and the gridiron. Refusing to renounce Christ under torture, he was cast into a cell strewn with sharp pottery shards, where tradition holds angels visited to comfort him. Dacian later ordered him placed upon a soft bed in an attempt to break his resolve, but Vincent died shortly thereafter. His relics were venerated across Europe, and he became renowned as the protomartyr of Spain. In should be noted the Kingdom of Asturias had a church dedicated to this Saint Vincent; it was in this region of Spain that the beginnings of the Reconquistada occurred. 

Collect Prayer for the Feast of Saint Vincent, Martyr

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully pour out 

upon us Thy Holy Spirit: that our hearts may be

 inflamed with that same ardent love whereby 

Thy holy Martyr Vincent overcame all bodily

 torments. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee

 in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God,

 forever and ever. Amen.

Header image: Giner, Tomás. Saint Vincent of Saragossa. 1462–1466. Tempera and gold leaf on wood. Museo de Zaragoza, Spain. Available from Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vicente_de_Zaragoza_by_Tom%C3%A1s_Giner,_1462%E2%80%931466.jpg.

Video Credit: HansenBCN. "Flag of Asturias." September 13, 2009. Digital vector graphic. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Asturias.svg.