St. Victorian

A native of Italy, Victorian migrated to Gaul (France) and later to northeast Spain, where after living as a hermit he became abbot of the monastery of Asan sometime between 522 and 531. Of particular importance in the biography of Victorian, written probably in the eighth century, is a passage describing his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. It constitutes the earliest extant, explicit account of prayer before the reserved Eucharist outside of Mass, demonstrating that the practice had arisen by the first half of the sixth century. After describing Victorian's devotion in celebrating Mass as a hermit-priest, the biographer tells of a chapel Victorian built adjoining his hermitage, "far off from every loud noise of the world," and how he spent his time there: "In this [chapel], more frequently and fervently, he poured forth his prayers before that indescribable Sacrament of divine goodness, and commended to God the health of the whole Church; and in this holy exercise he consumed almost the whole day." This anecdote lends credence to the claim of the Spanish city of Lugo that perpetual adoration of the Eucharist has existed in the city since the late sixth century.