April 26 — Saint Vitalis, Martyr

There are few Martyrs of the West, whose names are more celebrated than those of Saints Gervasius and Protasius. The veneration in which they are held by the Roman Church, has led her to honour the memory of their father, who also won the palm under the persecution of Nero. She has chosen for his feast the glad Season of Easter. The account, given by the Liturgy, upon St. Vitalis, is short ; but we can gather, from the few circumstances related, what fine characters these primitive Christians were, who received the crown of martyrdom under the first of all the Persecutions, — the one that numbers, among its choicest victims, the two Apostles Saints Peter and Paul.

Vitalis miles, sanctorum Vitalis was a soldier, and

Gervasii et Protasii pater, the father of Saints Gervasius una cum Paulino judice and Protasius. Coming one

Eavennam ingressus, cum day into Ravenna, in com- vidisset Ursicinum medi- pany with the judge Paulinus, cum ob Christian© fidei there was being led to execu- confessionem ductum ad tion, for his having confessed supplicium paululum in tor- the Christian faith, a certain mentis titubare, exclamavit : Uraicinus, a physician. Vitalis

Ursicine medice, qui alios observing that his courage was curare eolitus es, cave ne te somewhat staggered by the mortis ae teniae jaculo con- tortures, cried out to him : ficias. Qua voce confirmatus "Ursicinus! thou that art a

APRIL 28. ST. VITALTS.

" physician, and curest other Ursicinus, martyrium forti-

" men, take heed lest thou ter subivit. Quare Paulinus

" wound thyself with the dart incensus Vitalem compre-

" of eternal death !" Encour- hendi jubet, et equuleo aged by these words, Ursi- tortum, atque in profundam cinus bravely suffered martyr- foveam demersum,lapidibus dom. Whereupon, Paulinus obruL Quo facto quid am was exceedingly angry, and Apollinis sacerdos, qui Pau- ordered Vitalis to be seized, linum in Vitalem incitarat, tortured on the rack, and then oppressus a dsemone, cla- mium, Vitalis Christi incendis: et illo sestu jactatus, se praecipitavit in Pau- fluuien. linus against Vitalis, "Vitalis, he was to be buried alive by marstones being thrown upon him, tyr, This done, one of the priests of Apollo, who had excited was possessed by a devil, and began shouting these words : " O Martyr of Christ, " thou burnest me beyond en- " durance !" Mad with the inward burning, he threw himself into a river.

Sin is the enemy of the soul ; it throws her back again into that death, whence Jesus had drawn her by his Resurrection. To preserve one of thy brethren from this misery, thou, O Vitalis, bravely raisedst a cry of zealous warning to him in the midst of his torments, and thy words awakened him to self-possession and courage. Show this same fraternal charity to us. We are living with the Life of our Risen Jesus ; but the enemy is bent on robbing us of this Life. He will seek to intimidate us ; he will lay all manner of snares wherewitlj to deceive us ; he will give us battle, and this untiringly. Pray then for us, O holy Martyr, that we may be on our guard, and that the mystery of the Pasch may be fully accomplished within us, now and forever!