From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

October 24th =E2=80=93 St. Proclus of Constantinople
d. 446

=C2 St. Proclus was a native of Constantinople, and was very young when
he was made a lector.=C2 He was a disciple of St. John Chrysostom, but nevertheless became secretary to St. John's opponent, Atticus,
archbishop of Constantinople, who ordained him deacon and priest.
Alter his death many cast their eyes upon Proclus as the fittest
person to be placed in that important see; but Sisinnius was chosen
and he appointed Proclus bishop of Cyzicus.=C2 Inhabitants of that city refused to receive him and chose someone else. Proclus therefore
continued at Constantinople, where he got a great reputation by his
preaching. Upon death of Sisinnius many again cast their eyes upon him
as the most worthy of that dignity; but Nestorius was chosen, who soon
began to propagate his errors. St. Proclus courageously maintained the
truth against him, and in 429 preached a sermon to show that the
Blessed Virgin ought to be styled the Mother of God. In the course of
it he made use of the memorable phrase, =E2=80=9CWe do not proclaim a deifi=
ed
man, but we confess an incarnate God=E2=80=9D. When Nestorius was deposed Maximian was chosen to succeed him, but after his death in 434, as
Proclus had never been able in fact to take possession of the see of
Cyzicus, he was elected to that of Constantinople.

The mildness and tact with which he treated even the most obstinate
among Nestorians and other heretics was a distinguishing part of his
character. The Armenian bishops consulted him about the doctrine and
writings of Theodore of Mopsuestia, who was then dead, and whose name
was in reputation in those parts. St. Proclus answered by his Tome to
the Armenians, the most famous of his writings. In it he condemned the
doctrine mentioned as savoring of Nestorianism, and expounded the
faith of the Incarnation; without, however, naming Theodore, whose
memory was revered by many and who had died in the communion of the
Church. He exhorted them to adhere to the doctrine of St. Basil and
St. Gregory Nazianzen, whose names and works were in particular
veneration among them. Others carried on this contest with greater
warmth. In concert with the Empress St. Pulcheria, he translated the
body of his old master St. John Chrysostom from Comana Pontica to the
church of the Apostles at Constantinople. The whole city went out to
meet the procession, and the remaining intransigent followers of St.
John submitted themselves to his gentle and conciliatory successor.

=C2 During the episcopate of St. Proclus, a disastrous earthquake
visited Constantinople. Amid the ruins men ran to and fro distracted
with fear, not being able to find any place of security. Inhabitants
wandered in the fields, and Proclus with his clergy followed his
scattered flock, and ceased not to comfort them amidst their
afflictions and to implore the divine mercy. The Greek Menology of
Basil, on the authority of a chronicler who wrote 350 years after the
alleged event, refers to a legend that, as they thus prayed, crying
out Kyrie eleison, a child was caught up out of sight into the air.
When he came back to earth, the boy said he had heard the angelic
choirs singing the words, =E2=80=9CHoly God, holy Strong One, holy Deathles=
s
One=E2=80=9D; and straightway he died. The people repeated the words, addin=
g,
=E2=80=9CHave mercy upon us=E2=80=9D, and the earthquake ceased. In consequ= ence St.
Proclus introduced this invocation, the Trisagion, into the liturgy.
It is not known that he did this, but the first certain mention of the Trisagion is at the Council of Chalcedon, only a few years later, and
it is possible that St. Proclus and his people prayed in these famous
words at the time of the earthquake.

=C2 Proclus is referred to by St. Cyril of Alexandria as =E2=80=9Ca man =
full of
religion, perfectly instructed in the discipline of the Church, and a
careful observer of the canons=E2=80=9D. =E2=80=9CIn moral excellence=E2=80= =9D, says the Greek
historian Socrates, who knew him personally, =E2=80=9Che had few equals. He
was always gentle to everyone, for he was convinced that kindness
advances the cause of truth better than severity. He therefore
determined not to irritate and harass heretics, and so restored to the
Church in his own person that mild and benignant dignity of character,
which had so often been unhappily violated. He was a pattern of all
true prelates.=E2=80=9D

A number of the letters and sermons of St. Proclus are extant.... A sufficiently full account of St. Proclus, compiled from the church
historians and other sources, is provided in the Acta Sanctorum,
October, vol. x....


Saint Quote:
Christ does not force our will, He only takes what we give Him. But He
does not give Himself entirely until He sees that we yield ourselves
entirely to Him.
--St. Teresa of Avila

Bible Quote:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only
as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling;=C2 (Phil. 2:12)=C2 RSVCE


<><><><>
Memorare to Jesus, Mary and St. Joseph

=C2 Remember, O Merciful Jesus, Immaculate Mary and glorious St.
Joseph that no one has ever had recourse to Thy Protection, or
implored Thy assistance without obtaining relief. Animated with a like confidence, but weighted down by my sins, I prostrate myself before
Thee. O! Reject not my petitions, but graciously hear and grant them.
Amen.

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)