(4TH CENT.)
[Modern Roman Martyrology. Maurolycus, Greven and Canisius give Dec.
9th; Galesinus gives both days. The Roman Martyrology says that S.
Proculus confessed Christ in the persecution of Dioclesian; all the
other Martyrologies, that of Verona included, and all the versions of
the Acts extant make a mistake, and say he confessed under Maximin,
the emperor, when he was at Milan, before Anulinus the consul. But
Maximin never was at Milan; and Annius Cornelius Anulinus was consul
in the year 295, when Dioclesian and Maximian were emperors; and
Maximian was at Milan more than once. Anulinus was proconsul of Africa
in 303, and we meet with him in the Acts of some of the African
martyrs. The Acts of SS. Firmus and Rusticus are not precisely in
their original form, or this error would not have crept in, of making
Maximian into Maximin; otherwise they seem to be trustworthy.]
Saint Proculus was the fourth bishop of Verona. During the persecution
waged by Dioclesian and Maximian against the Church, Anulinus the
consul came to Milan breathing out threatenings and slaughter against
the faithful. And when he had laid his hands on SS. Firmus and
Rusticus, the holy bishop Proculus went to them into their prison to
encourage them to strive manfully for Christ. And he kissed them and
said, "Be strong in the Lord Jesus, and receive me, my brethren, as
your fellow in death; for I desire greatly to be your companion, that
we may have but one will and one struggle for the Lord, so that we may
merit to enter into His glory and sing His praises eternally?" And
they answered, "So be it." Now Anulinus had sent to have the martyrs
brought before him; and the officers came to the door, and saw the
old man sitting with Firmus and Rusticus, and they laughed, and said,
"What does that old man want with these condemned criminals?" Then
the blessed Proculus answered, "They are not condemned criminals, but
crowned victors of the Lord; and would that I might share their glory!"
So saying he held out his hands to the officers that they might be
bound; so they bound him.
Anulinus sat on his judgment seat, and they brought before him Firmus
and Rusticus, and after them the venerable Proculus. "Who is this old
man?" asked the magistrate; and when they told him, Anulinus said, "He
drivels, send him off." So they unbound him and beat him about the
face, and drove him out of the city.
So far from the Acts of SS. Firmus and Rusticus, other accounts of S.
Proculus are less authentic. According to these latter, he went to
Jerusalem together with some companions, when the persecution was at
an end, and was taken captive and sold as a slave; but was released,
on account of his advanced age. On his way home he passed through
Pannonia, and an odd story is related of the journey. The old man felt
the want of a razor, and was ill-content at remaining unshaven so
long. At length, passing through a country where there was no water,
and unable to endure the growth on his chin and place of tonsure any
longer, he summoned water out of the rock, and giving an old blunt
knife to his attendant bade him shave boldly. Then wondrous to relate
the bristles on the old man came off lightly, as though mown by the
keenest razor.
The relics of the saint were discovered on the rebuilding of the
confession or church of S. Proculus, in 1492.