Born in Pietrabbondante (Compobasso), Italy, on October 13, 1926, Vincent ltalo was the youngest of nine children. His father was Angelo Zarlenga and his mother was Giovanna DiBenedette. His early education took place in local schools. In 1943, he followed his brother, Rinaldo Angelico into the Dominican Order. He was received into the Novitiate in the Convento San Domenico in Pistoia, Italy. He made his profession of vows on October 3, 1944 and was sent to Rome to live in the Convento Santa Maria sopra Minerva, where he was ordained a priest on October 28, 1951. He studies philosophy and theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, where obtained a doctorate in philosophy.

In March 1955, the Provincial of the Province of Rome obtained permission from the Provincial of the Province of Saint Albert the Great in the United States to allow Vincent to do missionary work within the territory of his province. In September 1955, he began teaching philosophy at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois and continued to teach there for 20 years. In 1958, he was assigned to the Province of Saint Albert the Great and lived in with the community at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois. In 1963, Vincent became a United States citizen.

When his teaching ministry ended at DePaul University, he taught the Italian language at Triton College, Maywood, Illinois, with residence at Saint Vincent Priory in River Forest, Illinois. As his health declined, he withdrew from teaching. Upon the death of his brother Rinaldo, an accomplished artist, he founded the Fra Angelico Foundation for the Arts, as an independent corporation to promote young people working in the fine arts. In 2009, the foundation was dissolved.

In July 2002, Vincent was transfiliated to the Province of Saint Albert the Great by the Master of the Order. In his retirement he lived at Saint Vincent Ferrer Priory until his health declined when he moved to the province assisted care center at Saint Pius V Priory in Chicago, Illinois. He died on June 13, 2010. The Mass of Christian burial was held at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in River Forest, Illinois and his burial was in his family tomb in Pietrabbondante, Italy according to his wishes.