Patrocius, a martyr

Patrocius (2) (St. Parre), Jan. 21, a martyr supposed to have suffered under Aurelian, and commemorated by Greg. Turon. Glor. Mart. c. 64. His Acts are fully told by the Bollandists, 807AA. SS Jan. ii. 342–349. A curious story told by Gregory (l.c.) shews how his Acts originated. Patroclus had a chapel in Gaul served by a solitary priest. The populace despised this chapel because it possessed no Acts of his passion, and a traveller came to the priest one day and shewed him a book which proved to be the Acts of his own saint. The priest sat up all night copying them, and then returned the book to the traveller, who went his way. The priest at once shewed his bishop the Acts. The prelate was suspicious, taxed him with forgery, and, according to the stern discipline of the Gallic church, flogged him on the spot. An army, however, shortly afterwards invaded Italy, and brought back an identical copy of the Acts, thus proving the good faith of the priest. The people thereupon built a splendid church in honour of Patroclus.

[G.T.S.]