E02247: Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon on the feast of *Vincent (deacon and martyr of Saragossa and Valencia, S00290), most probably after the public reading of his Martyrdom. Sermon 274, preached in Latin, probably at Hippo Regius (North Africa) in c. 410.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 274

[In natali martyris Vincenti

'On the birthday of the martyr Vincent']


Magnum spectaculum spectauimus oculis fidei, martyrem sanctum Vincentium ubique uincentem.
uicit in uerbis, uicit in poenis; uicit in confessione, uicit in tribulatione; uicit exustus ignibus, uicit submersus fluctibus: postremo uicit tortus, uicit mortuus.

'We have been watching a magnificent spectacle with the eyes of faith, the holy martyr Vincent everywhere victorious. He was victorious in his words, victorious in the pains he endured; victorious in his confession, victorious in his tribulations; victorious when burned with fire; victorious when submerged in the waves.'

There follows praise of Vincent, focused especially on his endurance in martyrdom.

Text: Patrologia Latina 38, 1252. Translation: Hill 1994, 23.