These martyrs were natives of Sicily. Vitus was nobly born and had the happiness to be instructed in the faith and inspired with the most perfect sentiments of his religion by his Christian nurse, Crescentia and her faithful husband Modestus. Vitus’ father, learning of his aversion to idolatry, whipped the boy and delivered Vitus to Valerian the governor who tried, in vain to work him into compliance with his father’s will. He escaped and together with Crescentia and Modestus fled into Italy. They were met with the crown of martyrdom in Lucania in the persecution of Diocletian.