28th April, St Vitalis, Martyr

St. Vitalis, Martyr

St. Vitalis, father of SS. Gervase and Protase, was put to death at Ravenna under Nero about 62 A. D. Having been tortured on the rack he was thrown into a deep hole and stoned to death. A church was consecrated to him in Rome: the Station is held there on the Friday in the Second Week in Lent

Protexisti me, Deus, a conventu malignantium, alleluja: a multitudine operantium iniquitatem, alleluja, alleluja. * Exaudi, Deus, orationem meam cum deprecor: a timore inimici eripe animam meam.

Thou hast protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant, alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia, alleluia. * Hear, O God, my prayer, when I make supplication to Thee: free my soul from the fear of the enemy.

(Psalm 63:3,2 from the Introit of Mass)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15486a.htm