Feast of SAINT VINCENT

The old Roman Calendar combined the feast of Saint Anastasius with that of Saint Vincent, since they both died on January 22nd, though centuries apart. In order to give greater honor to Saint Anastasius, a Carmelite saint, the old Discalced Carmelite Calendar celebrated only his feast on January 22nd, and transferred the feast of Saint Vincent to February 17th. An optional memorial in honor of Saint Vincent is inscribed on the current General Roman Calendar for January 22nd. He died in 304 AD.

PRAYER.

GIVE ear, O Lord! 
to our entreaties; 
that we who acknowledge ourselves 
worthy of punishment by our iniquities, 
may be set free 
through the intercession of Thy Blessed Martyr, Vincent.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

LESSON IV.

Vincent was born at Huesea in Spain. He was fond of study from his early youth, and Valerius, Bishop of Saragossa, instructed him in the sacred writings. The Bishop was unable to discharge his duty as preacher because he stammered, and Vincent took his place in preaching the Gospel. The fact was carried to the ears of Dacian, who had been placed over the province by the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, and in consequence Vincent was seized at Saragossa, laden with heavy chains, and carried to Dacian at Valentia, in company with the Bishop, Valerius. The Governor cast them into a foul and stinking prison, where, with iron chains hanging from their necks and attached to their hands, he made them suffer cruelly from want and filth.

LESSON V.

Dacian, thinking that it would be easy to bend them to his will, worn out as they were by the long torments of the prison, had them brought before him, and demanded of the Bishop why he set himself against the command of the Emperors under pretence of religion. Valerius thought it best to return a mild and calm answer, upon which Vincent, turning to him, said, “Why, Father, dost thou address this tyrant so humbly? Cry out with a loud voice, and call upon the power of God to crush the pride of this man.” Dacian boiled with rage at these words; and. commanding the Bishop to be led away, he ordered every instrument of torture to be brought with which to torment the holy deacon. Vincent was scourged, and put upon the rack; he was stretched on a gridiron over burning coals; his bones were laid bare with iron claws; he was burned with plates of red-hot metal, and sprinkled with fat and with coarse salt. Since no atrocity of torment, nor yet harsh or cajoling words could move Vincent from his determination, he was led back to prison, which was strewn with potsherds, that, although overcome with sleep, his naked body might be tortured with the sharp points of the potsherds upon which he lay.

LESSON VI.

While Vincent was lying in his gloomy prison, there appeared a great light which lighted up the whole place. All who saw it were filled with wonder, and the guard carried the news to Dacian. The latter had Vincent brought out and laid in soft bed, that he might torture him more cruelly after giving him a short respite, or, if Vincent, freed from the executioner, should pass away quietly, that people might say that he had died rather than that he had been put to death. In the meantime the heavenly court opened to Vincent; and after having overcome fire, steel, and the cruelty of his tormentors, the conqueror flew to receive the crown of martyrdom in Heaven upon the eleventh day of the Kalends of February. His body was cast out unburied; but strange to relate, a crow defended it with claws, beak, and wings, from other birds, and from a wolf. Upon hearing of this prodigy, Dacian ordered the body to be sunk in the deep sea, but it was cast upon the shore by the divine power, and the Christians buried it.

Taken from the book “Saints of Carmel” (BOSTON: JOHN CASHMAN & CO., 1896).