Lectio Divina: Sacred Scripture and Mental Prayer
Lectio Divina means “Divine Reading...
Today is the feast day of Saint Vincent of Saragosa, deacon and martyr. Born in what is now Spain in the 3rd century, his parents were Aethesus and Enola. He grew up and was educated in Saragosa, made the decision to give his life to the Lord, and was ordained by Bishop Valerius, but Valerius struggled with a speech impediment. Recognizing Vincent’s great gifts as a speaker, the bishop sent him to preach to all parts of the diocese and used him as his spokesman.
In 303, Emperor Diocletian began a brutal persecution of all Christians across the Roman Empire, which resulted in both Valerius and Vincent being sent to Valencia to face the Roman governor, Dacian. The governor put both in prison offering to release them if they would recant and put limits on their preaching. But Vincent was defiant and in his refusal that enraged Dacian who responded by severely torturing Vincent before having him thrown onto a jail cell floor covered with shards of pottery killing him. He died in 304 and was immediately venerated as a saint.
Saint Vincent Saragosa, please pray for us.
