ST. PROTASIA 107 There they snffered horrible tortures with some iniraonlons circnmstances, and were all beheaded in the reign of Max- imian. AA,8S. St Proba ^3), Sept. 5, April 28, called in Frencn Preuve, V., an Irish reclnse, martyred in her retreat at Laon in Picardy. She is worshipped with Grimonia or Gkrmana. Their relics are at Herford in Westphalia. A chapel was built on the site ot their martyr- dom and became famous for miracles. The town of Chapelle grew up round it and took its name from its origin. Proba is mentioned by Molanus and Ganisius and in several other important calendars. AA.SS,, April 28. French Mart., Sept. 5. Stadler says that Proba lived at Tonson near Laon and was beheaded; that Germana was the daughter of a heathen Irish Prince, and that they have un- doubtedly long been honoured together in Belgium. {See St. Grimonia.) St. Probata or Probatus, May 10, M. in Africa. AA.SS, St. Probedigna, Pr^epedigna. St. Processa, May 6, M. at Milan with many others. AA,S8. St. Procla, Procula or Proba, Octo- ber 27, the wife of Pilate, mentioned but not named by St. Matthew, xxvii. 19; worshipped among the Greeks and Bussians, but never in the Western Church. AA.S8., Praeter. St. Proclina, April 15, M. in Italy, towards the end of the first century, honoured with several other martyrs. AA.SS. St. Procula (l), Procla. St. Procula (2), Oct. 1 2, V. M., time uncertain, at Gkiimatum or Gknnacum in Auvergne. It is certain that her worship was established in Auvergne and sanc- tioned by the local authorities of the Church as that of a martyr of chastity, but the following tradition does not rest on any good foundation. She was of a noble &mily living in the mountains between Auvergne and Butheni. She was piously brought up and early made a vow of celibacy. She lived the life of a nun in her parents' house until she was thrown into great consternation by their entertaining a plan for her mar- riage, the alliance being sought by all the neighbouring families. Abhorring the idea of a temporal union, as she con- sidered herself the wife of Christ, she tried to change the resolution of her father and mother by persuasion, entreaty, and tears; but finding her efforts vain, she fled in disguise to a thicket in the moun- tains between Auvergne and fiourbon. Here she considered herself safe, but her retreat was discovered by her pr^tendu, who offered her marriage or death. Her choice was quickly made. Her head was cut off and she carried it in her hands, singing psalms all the way to the church where she gave it to Paul the chaplain, and received the sacraments of the Church. The miracle of a martyr carrying his or her head after decapi- tation is here and elsewhere stigmatized as fable by hagiographers. AA,S8. Appendix. SS. Procula (3, 4), April 2, June 3, MM. AA.8S. St. Procusa, June 1, M. with St. AucKGA. AA,SS. St. Prodixia, Prodocia. SS. Prodocia, Prodixia, or Perdicia, Veronica and Speciosa, July 11. Three holy virgins of Antioch whose names are in the Martyrology of St. Jerome. AA,8S, St. Prompta, or Promptia, sister of POSENNA. St. Propedigpia, Pr^pedigna. St. Prosdoce, or Prodocb, M., daughter of St. Domnina (3) of Antioch and sister of St. Berenice (2). AA.88. Baillet. St. Proseria or Prosiria, Oct. 12, M. in Syria. AA.SS, St. Prospera, Sept. 4, V. M. Her body is worshipped in the church of St. Badgnnd at Milan, but as her name does not appear in the Martyrology it is pro- bable this name has been given after her translation, to the body of some unknown martyr brought from one of the Boman cemeteries. AA.SS. Prseter, St. Protasia, or Prothasia, May 20, Dec. 19, Dec. 18, V. M. c, 287. Chief patron of Senlis in the diocese of Beau- vais, where her relics are kept in the cathedral. In 1392 they were brought out with a solemn procession to restore
