Pious Legend has it that Saints Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia suffered martyrdom under the emporer Diocletian. According to the legend Vitus was a youngster, whose pagan father wanted him to deny his Christian faith. Vitus refused, and finally ran away with his tutor Modestus and nurse Crescentia to Lucania.
Vitus was subsequently summoned to Rome to cast out a demon in the emperor Diocletian's son, which he accomplished. The act brought him to the emporer's attention, and trouble followed.
Tortured to renounce their faith, the three were miraculously brought back to their home in Lucania, where the three of them died from the torture they had endured.
Vitus is the patron saint against epilepsy (called St Vitus's Dance!) and mad dogs, and is one of the fourteen holy martyrs who give aid in times of trouble. (Ss. Acacius, Barbara, Blaise, Catherine of Alexandria, Christopher, Cyriacus, Denys, Elmo, Eustace, George, Giles, Margaret the Virgin, Pantaleon and Vitus)
He is oftentimes represented next to a pot filled with boiling oil, lead or resin, because, according to legend, he was thrown into such a kettle, and yet escaped death miraculously.
Their feast day is listed in the "Supplement to the Proper of Saints" of the Anglican Missal, and is therefore not posted/noted on the Church Ordo Kalendar in the right column of this blog.
The accompanying picture is from a 14th century manuscript, and depicts their attempted martyrdom (although no kettle is included).
Grant, O Lord, we pray thee, that, at the intercession of thy blessed Martyrs, Vitus, Modestus and Crescentia, thy Church may learn not to be highminded, but to grow in all such lowliness as is acceptable unto thee: that we may eschew all things that are contrary to thy will, and in freedom and charity perform all things that are agreeable to the same. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, AMEN. (the day's collect)
