Homily: January 23 - Saint Vincent, deacon & martyr

Because January 22 is designated as a day of prayer for the legal protection of the unborn in the United States, the feast of Saint Vincent the martyr can be observed today. 

Vincent of Saragossa was one of the Church's three most illustrious deacons, the other two being Stephen and Lawrence. There was a deep devotion to Saint Vincent the martyr in the early Church.  He is also Spain's most renowned martyr.  He was martyred at Valencia Spain, during the Roman Emperor’s state sponsored persecution of Christians—when the Roman Emperor had issued edicts for the immediate arrest of the clergy.  Both Vincent, and the bishop who ordained him were captured and imprisoned.  When Vincent was forced to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods he was subjected to unspeakable tortures before his martyr’s death.

Vincent could have denied his faith in order to save his life. 

If we were arrested because we were Christian, would we have the same courage? 

In the Opening Prayer of the Mass highlighted the courage of St. Vincent in enduring torture and death and asked God to fill us with your Spirit and strengthen us in your love.

The martyrs are heroic examples of what God's power can do. It is possible with God’s grace to endure extreme hardship and trial and torture and remain faithful to God –even to give witness to God’s glory in the face of hardship!

Saint Augustine said, “No one ought to be confident in his own strength when he undergoes  temptation.”  Our perseverance comes from Christ.  So we must cultivate that strength through prayer, fasting, mortification, and daily imitation of our Lord.

For us we are faced with situations which are uncomfortable or difficult: witnessing to the value of human life, witnessing to fallen away Catholics who are sometimes even members of our family, forgiving estranged friends or family members.  But the Lord fills us with his Spirit and strengthens us with his love through these Sacraments, when we cling to Him.

May the Lord who gave St. Vincent courage in enduring torture and death fill us with the same spirit and strengthen us in love, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.