Vitalis of Milan
Vitalis of Milan | |
|---|---|
 Glory of St Vitalis, San Vidal, Venice | |
| Martyr | |
| Died | ~1st century or 2nd century |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Feast | 28 April |
| Attributes | with Saint Gervase and Saint Protase |
| Patronage | Ravenna and Granarolo dell'Emilia, Italy; Thibodaux, Louisiana |
Vitalis of
Biography
His legend relates that Vitalis was a wealthy citizen of Milan, perhaps a soldier. He was married to Valeria of Milan. They are supposed to have been the parents of the (perhaps legendary) Gervasius and Protasius.[1]
According to legend, Vitalis was an officer who accompanied the judge Paulinus from Milan to Ravenna. He encouraged Ursicinus of Ravenna to be steadfast at his execution, and himself gave Ursicinus honorable burial. Vitalis was discovered to be a Christian. Paulinus ordered Vitalis to be racked and then thrown into a deep pit and covered with stones and earth.[2]
The date of his martyrdom is uncertain: some sources say that he was a victim of Nero; others, of Marcus Aurelius. He was martyred in Ravenna, but all else in the story is suspect. "Many scholars believe that the narrative is partly fanciful, recognising in the characters mentioned, other martyrs of the same name venerated both in Milan and Ravenna."[3]
Veneration
Vitalis is honoured as the principal patron saint of the city of Ravenna.[4]
The feast day of Saint Vitalis is 28 April.
The
A statue of Vitalis is one of those on the colonnade of
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The Martyrdom of Saint Vitalis, by Federico Barocci. -
Vitalis being buried alive. From the Martyrs Mirror. -
Vitalis among the saints, in Heaven, from the 6th century Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, in Ravenna. -
The martyrdom of Saint Vitalis from a 14th-century French manuscript
References
- ^ Stracke, Richard. "Saints Vitalis and Valeria of Milan: The Iconography"
- ^ a b Webster, Douglas Raymund. "St. Vitalis." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 24 Jan. 2014
- ^ Borrelli, Antonio. " San Vitale Sposo e martire", Santi e Beati, September 16, 2002
- ^ Butler, Alban. "Saint Vitalis, Martyr". Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints (1866), CatholicSaints.info. 26 April 2013.
- ISBN 88-209-7210-7)
- ^ "St. Vitalis", Saints of the Colonnade Archived 21 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Vitalis". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Sources
- Patron Saints: Vitalis of Milan
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Wood, James, ed. (1907). "Vitalis, St.". The Nuttall Encyclopædia. London and New York: Frederick Warne.
External links
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| National | |
