23 January 2009

St. Vincent of Saragosa, deacon, martyr: (transferred)

Vincent was born in Huesca, norther Spain, and moved to Saragosa, where he became a Christian, was trained in the faith, and ordained deacon by Bishop Valerius. During the persecutions of the church under Diocletian and Maximian, Dacian, governor of Spain took Vincent and Valerius prisoner. As Bishop Valerius had a speach impediment, Vincent spoke for both of them in defending the Church and the Christian faith. His defense was so vehement, that Dacian had him tortured, and his prison guard converted to the Christian faith. Vincent finally died under torture, but was faithful to the end. It is said that Dacian tried to do away with the body, by leaving it (unsucdesfully) for wild animals and having it sunk (also unsuccesfully) at sea.

A poem of his sufferings may be found at: http://www.deacons.net/Deacons_before_us/vincent.html

Collect for the day: Heavenly Father, as you raised Vincent to be deacon in Saragossa, and gave him eloquence to proclaim and strength to die for his faith, so fill us with your spirit that we would always be ready to proclaim the Gospel and to live and die for Yeshua. In the name of Yeshua we pray, Amen.