From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

June 15th =E2=80=93 St Vitus, Martyr
(born c. 290 in Sicily =E2=80=93 died c. 303 in Lucania, modern-day Basilic= ata, Italy).

Saint Vitus lived during the joint reigns of two Roman Emperors. The
Roman Emperor Maximian, who was Roman Emperor for the Western Empire
from 286 to 305 and Diocletian (r.284-305). who mounted some of the
fiercest persecutions of the early Church especially in the East of
the Roman Empire. This was an extremely dangerous time to adhere to
the Christian faith due to persecutions of the Roman Emperors. St
Vitus was the son of a Sicilian senator named Hylas. The family
adhered to the Pagan Roman Gods but at the age of 12 Vitus converted
to Christianity. His father was so furious that he had his son and his associates arrested and whipped. They were released and escaped to
Rome. His links with Roman nobility gained Vitus access to the royal
court of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. It is said that Vitus cured the
son of the Emperor of evil spirits. A sacrifice to the Roman gods was
planned in thanks for the cure Vitus was unable to participate due his Christian beliefs and when this emerged he was accused of being a
sorcerer and practising magic to effect the cure. He and his friends
were arrested and condemned to death in the arena. Legend tells that
the wild beasts and lions refused to attack Vitus and he was killed by
the terrible fate of being boiled in oil.

The veneration of the martyrs spread rapidly in Southern Italy and
Sicily, Pope Gregory the Great mentions a monastery dedicated to Vitus
in Sicily. The veneration of St. Vitus, the chief saint of the group,
also appeared very early at Rome. Pope Gelasius I (492-496) mentions a
shrine dedicated to him and at Rome in the 7th century the chapel of a
deaconry was dedicated to him.

In 756 AD, it is said that the relics of St. Vitus were brought to the monastery of St-Denis by Abbot Fulrad. They were later presented to
Abbot Warin of Corvey in Germany, who solemnly transferred some of
them to this abbey in 836. From Corvey the veneration of St Vitus
spread throughout Westphalia and in the districts of eastern and
northern Germany. His cult grew in Prague, Bohemia when, in 925, king
Henry I of Germany presented as a gift the bones of one hand of St.
Vitus to Wenceslaus, Duke of Bohemia. Since then, this relic has been
a sacred treasure in the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague.

Saint Vitus is one of the Fourteen Martyrs who give aid in times of
trouble. He is specifically invoked against chorea, which is called
St. Vitus Dance.

Patron against animal attacks, against dog bites, against epilepsy; epileptics, against lightning, against over-sleeping, against
rheumatic chorea or Saint Vitus Dance, against snake bites, against
storms, against wild beasts, of actors, comedians; comediennes,
dancers, dogs, Bohemia, Czech Republic, Serbia, 17 cities. Attributes =E2=80=93 depicted in a cauldron, with a dog and or a rooster.


Saint Quote:
My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help.
I can do all in Him who strengthens me. His Power is infinite, and if
I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look
to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived. His Goodness is infinite,
and if my trust is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.
-- Pope Saint Pius X

Bible Quote:
My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. [James 2:1] RSVCE


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Daily Offering to the Sacred Heart

O my God!
I offer You all my actions of this day
for the intentions and for the glory
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I desire to sanctify every beat of my heart,
my every thought,
my simplest works,
by uniting them to His infinite merits;
and I wish to make reparation for my sins
by casting them into the furnace
of His Merciful Love.
O my God! I ask of You for myself
and for those whom I hold dear,
the grace to fulfill perfectly Your Holy Will,
to accept for love of You
the joys and sorrows of this passing life,
so that we may one day be united together
in heaven for all Eternity. Amen
--By St Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
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