E02271: Augustine of Hippo preaches a sermon on the feast of *Vincentius (deacon and martyr of Saragossa and Valencia, S00290), after the public reading of his acts. Sermon 277A, preached in Latin, probably at Hippo Regius (North Africa) in c. 410/412.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 277A

[In natale sancto Vincenti

'On the birthday of St Vincent']


1. Vincentii martyris sancti fortissimam et gloriosissimam passionem celebrare Christus sollemniter iubet, et non segniter praedicare. Vidimus animo, et cogitatione conspeximus, quanta pertulerit, quae audierit, quae responderit, et quodammodo ante oculos nostros mirandum spectaculum constitutum est: iudex iniquus, tortor cruentus, martyr inuictus, crudelitatis pietatis que certamen; et hinc insania, inde uictoria.

'Christ commands us to celebrate with due solemnity the heroic and glorious sufferings of the holy martyr Vincent, and not to be slow in preaching about it. We have seen in spirit, and gazed in thought at all that he endured, that he heard, that he answered, and how a marvelous spectacle was staged before our very eyes: the wicked judge, the bloody-thirsty torturer, the invincible martyr, a contest between cruelty and piety; on this side raving madness, on that a splendid victory.'


In what follows Augustine refers frequently to the story of Vincent's sufferings.

2. ... Dignus itaque martyr Vincentius a domino coronari, in quo elegit et per sapientiam et per patientiam gloriari; dignus sollemni celebritate, dignus felicitate aeterna, pro qua adipiscenda leue quicquid minacissimus iudex terruit, quicquid carnifex cruentus inflixit.

'... And so the martyr Vincent was worthy to be crowned by the Lord, in whom he chose to boast through both his wisdom and patience; worthy of his perennial renown, worthy of eternal bliss, to gain which, whatever terrifying judge threatened him with, whatever the bloodthirsty executioner inflicted on him, is light indeed.'


Text: Morin 1930, 243-245. Translation: Hill 1994, 33. Summary: R. Wiśniewski.