Vincent of Saragossa, Deacon, first Martyr of Spain
22 January -- Commemoration
If celebrated as a Lesser Festival,
Common of Martyrs, page 464
Vincent was born in Saragossa in Aragon in the latter part
of the third century and was ordained to the diaconate by
Valerian, his bishop in that city. When the Diocletian
persecutions began, both men were brought before the Roman
governor but, because Valerian stammered badly, he relied on
Vincent to speak for them both. Vincent spoke eloquently
for both his bishop and his church, proclaiming the good
news of Jesus Christ and condemning paganism. He so angered
the governor that he was immediately condemned to a painful
death, reputedly on the gridiron. Thus he lived and gave
his life in the tradition of Stephen, the first martyr and
also a deacon; he died in the year 304 and his feast has
been celebrated on this day since the persecutions ended in
312.