15th June, SS. Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, Martyrs

SS. Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, Martyrs

Vitus, also called Guy, belonged to an illustrious Sicilian family. His father, learning that he had been baptized, delivered him to the judge Valerian to be scourged, but he was struck blind. The prayers of the saint obtained his recovery but did not convert him. Vitus was then saved from his father's cruelty by Modestus his tutor and by Crescentia his nurse who took him to another part of the country. There his holiness became so famous that Diocletian had recourse to him to deliver his son who was tormented by the devil. Guy healed him (Gospel). But the ungrateful prince having failed to induce the saint to worship the false gods, caused him to be arrested with Modestus and Crescentia. They were plunged into a cauldron of molten lead and flaming resin and were then quartered. After having tested them like gold in the furnace (Epistle), God delivered them from all these sufferings (Introit) and rejoiced them by giving them a place of honour at the heavenly banquet (Gradual). They died in 303. St. Vitus is one of the fourteen auxiliary saints.

Let us have recourse to St. Guy, to be preserved from the bite of mad dogs and from the sad disease which bears his name. He will obtain for us great docility towards the Holy Ghost, in order that we do good in all liberty, humility and charity (Collect).


Multae tribulationes justorum, et de his omnibus liberavit eos Dominus: Dominus custodit omnia ossa eorum: unum ex his non conteretur. * Benedicam Dominum in omni tempore: semper laus ejus in ore meo.
Many were the afflictions of the just, and out of all these the Lord hath delivered them: the Lord keepeth all their bones; not one of them shall be broken. * I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall be always in my mouth.
(Psalm 33:20-21,2 from the Introit of Mass)

Da Ecclesiae tuae, quaesumus, Domine, sanctis Martyribus tuis Vito, Modesto atque Crescentia intercedentibus, superbe non sapere, sed tibi placita humilitate proficere: ut, prava despiciens, quaecumque recta sunt, libera exerceat caritate.
Grant to Thy Church, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by the intercession of Thy holy martyrs, Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, not to be proud-minded, but to make progress by humility pleasing unto Thee; that despising what is evil, she may exercise with an eager love the things which are right.
(Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15490b.htm