Saint of the Day for 15 June: St. Vitus
St. Vitus: Life, Martyrdom and Devotion to the Patron Saint of the Sick
Name
St. Vitus
Title
Teenage martyr
Birth
III century , Mazara del Vallo (Trapani)
Death
June 15, 303, Lucania
Recurrence
15 June
Martyrology
2004 edition
Prayer
Most lovable young and most glorious our Protector St. Vitus oh! Please accept, with the kindness of your genius, the smallness of our respects and with the greatness of your merits, give value to our supplications. Kindly accept in our offerings our hearts which together with those we consecrate to you. Be our loving protector in this life, be our valid advocate in heaven. May your tender age always be a guide to our years, your generous constancy – always victorious among a thousand assaults – give strength to our weakness against our rebellious passions and against our common enemies Ah! Holy, our most amiable Protector, ensure that we can always live with the most tender and solid devotion under your powerful patronage, ensure that we can be imitators of your generous actions, always strong in faith, always alive in hope, always fervent in charity towards Eternal love. Thus we will surely enjoy what you interceded with Divine liberality to your true devotees and the appropriate assistance in temporal and spiritual needs in this life, and the eternal enjoyments in the next.
Patron of
San Vito Chietino, Barete, Tufillo, Castelguidone, Avigliano, Atella, Albano di Lucania, Banzi, Castelgrande, Rapone, San Vito sullo Ionio, Aieta, Eboli, Capaccio Paestum, Forio, Sapri, Positano, Baia e Latina, Santo Stefano del Sole, Aquilonia, Felitto, Tortorella, Rocchetta e Croce, Marano Lagunare, San Vito Romano, Lentate sul Seveso, Bedizzole, Lomazzo, Bagnolo San Vito, Barzanò, Civate, Barbariga, Ceranova, Recanati, Monte San Vito, Montalto delle Marche, Monte Vidon Corrado, Castello di Annone, San Vito dei Normanni, Polignano a Mare, Tricase, Carmiano, Lequile, Castri di Lecce, San Vito, Gergei, Mazara del Vallo, Carini, Mascalucia, Ravanusa, Partanna, Campobello di Mazara, Chiaramonte Gulfi, Regalbuto, San Vito Lo Capo, Ciminna, Condrò, Montignoso, Cornedo all’Isarco, Aldeno, Andalo, Braies, Lauregno, San Vito di Leguzzano, Badia Calavena, San Vito di Cadore
Protector
Dancers, from the bites of dogs
Roman Martyrology
In Basilicata, Saint Vitus, martyr.
The Saint and Mission
Saint Vitus, a 3rd century Christian martyr, is remembered for his extraordinary faith and the courage with which he faced persecution. Born in Sicily, Vito was raised in the Christian faith from a young age, and despite pressure and threats from him, he remained steadfast in his religious principles. His mission was simple but powerful: to bear witness to faith in Christ with his own life. Vito demonstrated unshakable determination when, as a teenager, he was arrested for his faith. He suffered torture and persecution, but never denied Christ. His endurance became a source of inspiration to many Christians who, seeing his strength, were encouraged to maintain their faith in the face of adversity. Saint Vitus’ mission extends beyond his earthly life, as his figure is venerated as the patron saint of the sick, particularly those suffering from epilepsy and neurological diseases. Devotion to St. Vitus has brought comfort and hope to countless people over the centuries, strengthening the faith of those who pray to his intercession. The martyrdom of St. Vitus reminds us that true Christian mission can require the greatest sacrifice, and that faith, even when tested, can be a guiding light for others. His life is an example of how courage and faithfulness can have a lasting impact, inspiring generations of believers to remain steadfast in their faith.
The Saint and Mercy
Saint Vitus, a young Christian martyr, embodies divine mercy through his courage and unshakable faith. His life, marked by suffering and persecution, is a powerful example of how mercy manifests itself in the strength to persevere and in the desire to bring comfort to others, despite one’s own difficulties. Vito, despite still being a boy, showed extraordinary compassion towards his persecutors, praying for them and forgiving them even while suffering torture for his faith. The devotion to San Vito has spanned the centuries, transforming him into a symbol of hope and healing for the sick, in particular for those suffering from epilepsy and other neurological diseases. This devotion reflects his merciful intercession, through which many have found comfort and strength. The miracles attributed to his intercession are evidence of his continued compassion and loving presence in the lives of those who suffer. Saint Vitus reminds us that mercy is not just an act of piety, but a way of life that transforms pain and suffering into opportunities for love and forgiveness. His life inspires us to look beyond our own suffering, to see and respond to the needs of others with a heart full of mercy. Through his example, we are invited to practice a mercy that embraces, heals and inspires hope.
Hagiography
The honorable mention of St. Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia in the ancient martyrologies gives us the firmest assurance that they courageously confessed Christ with the sacrifice of their lives. But their Acts are so interpolated, that it becomes difficult to find the tangle, so around the details of their lives much uncertainty reigns. Tradition tells us that St. Vitus belonged to a notable and…