Perhaps you have heard whispers of a saint associated with dance. That saint is connected to this very St. Vitus.
St. Vitus stands as a testament to faith and history. Its story is interwoven with legends of a young martyr. Let me tell you more about St. Vitus.
Legend says Vitus was the son of a Sicilian senator. He converted to Christianity at a young age. This angered his father.
Vitus’s faith was strong. He performed miracles. The administrator of Sicily tried to shake his belief. He failed. Vitus fled with his tutor Modestus and servant Crescentia.
They escaped to Lucania and then to Rome. There, Vitus freed Emperor Diocletian’s son from an evil spirit. However, Vitus refused to sacrifice to Roman gods. The cure was attributed to sorcery. Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia were tortured. They survived unharmed.
A storm destroyed temples. An angel guided them back to Lucania. They eventually died there.
The legend is interesting. The verifiable fact is that they were Christians. They were martyred in Lucania.
Devotion to St. Vitus grew in Germany. His relics were moved to Saxony in 836. St. Vitus became one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. People prayed to him for help with various ailments.
He became the patron saint of epileptics. He was also for those with St. Vitus’ Dance. He is also the patron of dancers and actors. He even protects against storms.
Interestingly, St. Vitus is connected to beer brewers. A brewer’s proverb says: “Saint Vitus, don’t let it rain, so that we will lack no barley.” His feast day on June 15 was once the longest day of the year. This is according to the Julian calendar. It aligns with the summer solstice.
The remains of St. Vitus are in two places. One arm is in Prague’s St. Vitus Cathedral. The rest are in Corvey Abbey in Germany.
St. Vitus is often shown as a young man. He might be in a cauldron. Sometimes, he is with a rooster or lion. These images reflect the stories of his martyrdom.
Dancing before St. Vitus’s statue was a German tradition. It supposedly brought good health for a year. This led to his association with dancers. It also led to the naming of Sydenham’s chorea as St. Vitus’ Dance.
So, remember St. Vitus. He is a saint of faith, healing, and even dance. His story continues to inspire.