(ABOUT A.D. 555.)
[Benedictine Martyrology, and that of Leon, and other Spanish
churches. Tamayus Salazar complains, "The Acts of S. Vincent are shut
up in the Spanish Benedictine Libraries, and are never shown by the
most reverend fathers, possibly lest they should become too common,
content rather that they should lie in bags and boxes, buried in
dust and cobwebs, rather than exposed for the public benefit." We
have, accordingly, in Bollandus, only a compendium of the Acts by
the historian, Antonio Yepes, gathered from MSS., at Leon, and the
lections of the monastic breviary of Coimbra.]
When the Vandals overran Spain, in company with the Suevi and the
Alani, the Suevi settled down in Gallicia and part of Portugal, whilst
the Vandals crossed into North Africa. They were Arians, and their
king, Hermanrik, and his son, Richild, harassed the Catholics in every
way possible, destroying or seizing on their churches. The Arians drew
Vincent, abbot of S. Claudius, before the prince, charging him with
contempt of the laws made against the Catholics. He boldly proclaimed
the divinity of Jesus Christ before the king, and was ordered to be
beaten and thrown into prison. Next day he was again brought before the
king, and was condemned to death. The executioner struck at him with
his sword, and clave his skull. His martyrdom was followed by that of
the prior, Ramirus, and twelve of the monks of his house.
Relics: the body of S. Vincent in the cathedral of Oviedo. The body of
S. Ramirus was translated, April, 26th, 1596, to the monastery of S.
Claudius, at Leon.