Vitalis, Heiliger#
Vitalis, Saint, feast day Oct. 20, d. Oct. 20, before 730. From 716 second (?) Bishop of Salzburg and Abbot of St. Peter´s. Legend has it that he continued Rupert´s missionary work in Pinzgau and founded numerous monks´ cells (Zell am See). Another legend tells of a lily that grew out of a rock (lily miracle). The canonization process, which lasted from 1459-1462, was not completed. 1519 the process was taken up again and 1628 Pope Urban VIII set the feast day for Oct. 20. The memorial slab in St. Peter´s has existed since 1497, in 1762 it was given its current form.
Literature#
A. Hahnl, Kult und Legende, Maximus, Amandus und V., die Heiligen von St. Peter, in: exhibition catalogue, St. Peter´s in Salzburg, 1982.