Christian Saints

St. Vitalis

St. Vitalis is an early Christian martyr. Not much is certain about his life or the date of his martyrdom. Some sources say it was the time of Nero, while others claim that he suffered during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius in 171. One legend claims that he was a Bolognese gentleman and husband to St. Valeria, who was martyred at Milan. They were both the parents of St. Gervasius and St. Protasius.
Vitalis is said to have been revealed as being a Christian when he encouraged Saint Ursicinus of Ravenna to be steadfast at his execution. Vitalis was then racked and buried alive with stones.
There are churches dedicated in his honor at Rome, Faenza, Rimini, Como, Ferrara, Venice and Verona in Italy and Zadar in Dalmatia. The most famous is probably the Basilica of San Vitale at Ravenna, Italy. Vitalis’ feast day is April 28.
See: Vittore Carpaccio. Glory of St. Vitalis.

Recommended reading:
Lives of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa by Richard McBrien (Author). Harper San Francisco, 2001.
The Oxford Dictionary of Saints (Oxford Paperback Reference) by David Hugh Farmer. Oxford University Press, 2003.
The Golden Legend by Jacobus De Voragine, William Granger Ryan (Translator). Princeton Univ Pr, 1995.

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