ON ST. PROIECTUS, DEACON AND MARTYR, AT CASALE IN ITALY.
Eighth century.
CommentaryProiectus, Deacon and Martyr at Casale in Italy (St.)
Casale is a city of Liguria, the capital of Monferrat. Here St. Euasius, Bishop of Asti and Martyr, is venerated on December 1 and is the Patron of the city, which is hence commonly called Casale Sant'Evasio. The feast of St. Proiectus: St. Proiectus is said to have been the Deacon of St. Euasius. Concerning him Ferrari writes in his general Catalogue of Saints on this day: At Casale in Liguria, St. Proiectus, Deacon and Martyr. He cites the records of the Church of Casale and the Life of St. Euasius; but in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy he writes the following: Proiectus, Deacon of St. Euasius, Bishop of Asti, fleeing with him the persecution of the Arians, his zeal: came to the city of Sedula (where the city of Casale now is). When they had led many in those places to the Catholic faith, they were seized by the command of Atubalus, Prefect of Sedula, and consigned to prison: where, when they were found most steadfast in the confession of the Catholic faith, first Euasius, then Proiectus with 146 others, was beheaded. His martyrdom: Their bodies were buried there by Natalis the Priest and other Christians; a church was built shortly afterward by Liutprand, King of the Lombards, in honor of St. Euasius. So he writes. But we have seen neither the name of the city of Sedula anywhere, nor the Acts of St. Euasius. Sigonius, in book 3 on the Kingdom of Italy, writes that Liutprand assumed governance in the year of Christ 713 and died about 743. Whence one may determine the era of Saints Euasius and Proiectus, since it is said that St. Euasius was promoted to the See of Asti during the reign of Liutprand.