Acta Sanctorum

Probus of Verona

12 January · commentary
Latin source: Heiligenlexikon
St. Probus, the sixth bishop of Verona, who governed the church around A.D. 236 during the persecution of Emperor Maximinus. He was distinguished by charity and holiness of life. His body is disputed between the basilica of St. Stephen and the basilica of St. Proculus in Verona. 3rd century

ON ST. PROBUS, BISHOP OF VERONA.

Commentary

Probus, Bishop of Verona in Italy (St.)

[1] Probus is recorded as the sixth bishop of the Church of Verona, of whom the Roman Martyrology says on this day: "At Verona, St. Probus, Bishop." Galesinius adds "and Confessor." Cardinal Augustinus Valerius is said to have written his life; The feast of St. Probus. from which Ferrarius composed this summary in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy.

[2] Probus, Bishop of Verona, the sixth in succession after St. Senator, governed the Church of Verona around the year of salvation 236. Life from Ferrarius. At that time the Emperor Maximinus, who had succeeded Alexander, was persecuting the Christians. This holy bishop, renowned for the holiness of his life and outstanding virtues, and especially distinguished by his charity, discharged the episcopal office admirably; and departed this life on the day before the Ides of January. His body is believed to be buried in the basilica of St. Stephen.

[3] So writes Ferrarius, who then in his Annotation adds the following: "The Veronese disagree about the body of St. Probus, for some hold that he was buried in the basilica of St. Stephen, Where the body is. proving this from a marble tablet there extant; others maintain that it is in the basilica of St. Proculus, demonstrating this from a stone tablet, from a synodal decree, and from a painted image of him with this inscription: 'St. Probus.' Let the Veronese themselves decide." We treated of St. Senator on the 7th of January, and although Ferrarius writes there that he lived in the age of Diocletian and Maximian, nevertheless we showed from Ferrarius himself that this is doubtful, When he lived. since he says that St. Proculus, his predecessor, flourished under Claudius Maximinus on the 23rd of March, and here too that Probus his successor administered the Church around the year 236. Then, as he notes elsewhere as well, it is received by universal consensus that St. Zeno, the eighth bishop of that city, was crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Gallienus.