[2] We have two pious panegyrics made upon this saint by St. Bernard, who says: “Now placed in heaven, he beholds God clearly revealed to him, swallowed up in joy, but not forgetting us.
Our Saint’s parents took care that, after being cleansed in the purifying waters of Baptism, the child, whom the Almighty chose to glorify with such power, should have the most thorough training in virtue and piety.
From his father’s house the youth proceeded straight to a desert, and in a small cell, rudely made of interwoven branches, he for some years led a hermit’s life, mortifying the flesh with hunger, thirst, and watching.
One summer the neighbourhood in which the hermit lived was afflicted by a long-continued drought; all the pools were dried up; there was not a spring or a stream within miles; not a drop of water was to be had unless by journeying to the nearest village or town.
As Victor was unwilling to abandon the solitary life to which he had bound himself, he, after being tortured for several days by all the pangs of thirst, at last implored help from Heaven.
It was wonderful how the new monk distinguished himself in brotherly love, charity, patience, and obedience – virtues which are the chief supports of community life.
So severe was Saint Victor’s discipline, so purified was he from all earthly weakness, so much did he raise himself above the condition of this mortal life, that he was deemed worthy to be allowed to gaze on the joys of Heaven.
In such pious practices, and cheered by such dazzling visions, our Saint grew old, till it pleased Almighty God to summon him to participate in those delights which he had so often been permitted to witness.