St. Vincent, deacon and martyr, pray for us.
Deacon and martyr. Born at Huesca, Spain, he became a deacon and served St, Valerius at Saragossa until their martyrdom at Valencia during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian (r. 284-305). St. Valerius was exiled, but Vincent was cruelly tortured because he would not surrender the holy books. He converted the warden of the prison and then died. He was honored by Sts. Augustine, Pope Leo I, and Prudentius, and is considered the patron saint of vinedressers in some regions of Spain.
Reflection
In age when our Faith is ridiculed as being outmoded, we take heart in the lives of so many Martyrs, like St. Vincent, who gave their lives under terrible conditions to defend and sustain their Faith. This confers on us a strong desire to persevere in God’s love.
Prayer
Eternal Father, you gave Saint Vincent the courage to endure torture and death for the gospel: fill us with your Spirit and strengthen us in your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Holy Ones 