This year too Lequile the patronal festival of San Vito Martire has come to an end and was characterised by numerous civil and religious events.
The history of San Vito tells us that he came from a rich and important family of Mazara del Valloin Sicily. He was entrusted to a Christian nurse, Crescentia, who baptized him in secret and raised him in the Christian faith despite his father’s attempts to distance him from the faith. He showed great constancy in his faith, despite his father’s threats and punishments. A boy with Christian faith and the strength to resist, Crescentia and Modesto were also martyred for their Christian faith during Diocletian’s persecution. Young Vitus was famous for the miracles he performed and was called to Diocletian’s court to free the emperor’s son from a diabolical obsession. Although he had performed the miracle, the emperor could not persuade him to worship the gods and had him imprisoned along with Crescentia and Modesto. Finally, they were tortured and killed. The remains of Saint Vitus are preserved in the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Speranza in Marigliano.
The organizing committee, chaired by Don Michele Giannone and composed of the delegate president Carmelo Lezzi, by the board of directors and the councilors, has shown, as always, a great commitment in organizing the celebrations in honor of San Vito Martire, but as the president points out, it is the many fellow citizens of Lequile, with their support, who allow the realization of the patronal feast; the entire community with its devotion handed down over the years has made San Vito a special saint, who fits into a spiritual, aggregative and social dimension.
The Archbishop Michael Seccia he presided over the evening mass on Sunday 23 June, in the presence of the civil and military authorities and asked Saint Vitus to help believers seek holiness in daily life and to become witnesses of faith in God.
Among the most important events, the historical parade through the streets of the town, which commemorates the arrival of the relics of San Vito in the town, in collaboration with the primary school and over 100 participants, the flower festival set up on the street level of Via Magenta, also this one with the collaboration of the primary and secondary school of 1st grade as well as the parish and association groups of Lequile.
The closing of the festival with the fireworks on Sunday 23 June and the shows on Friday 28 June with the concert of the choir of Deputation and Saturday 29th with that of the Pinch yourself official in Largo San Vito. Yesterday the holy mass at the church of San Vito and the return of the statue to the mother church.
