My son has been in Spain the last three weeks and he went to a beautiful cathedral in Valencia. While there, he saw the arm of a saint. A preserved detached forearm. I was so curious I had to research to find out why they would just have the arm displayed and who this person was.
His name was St. Vincent of Saragossa. According to legend, he was born in the last part of the third century and ordained by Bishop Valerius. Apparently, Valerius had a speech impediment, so Vincent was his spokesman and preached throughout the diocese. When the Roman Emperor started persecuting Christians, Vincent was imprisoned and only offered release if he would consign the scriptures to the fire.
Vincent refused.
Once he did that, he was stretched on the rack and his flesh torn by iron hooks, then salt was rubbed in the wounds. He was also burned alive on a hot gridiron, then his body thrown in a room with broken pottery all over the floor, which is where he died. His body was put in a bag and thrown into the sea. Ravens protected his body until his followers could recover it. And his arm is now displayed in the Valencia cathedral.
So interesting (and awful.) Have you ever been on vacation and come across something you had no idea existed that made you research to know more?
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