Peter of Verona

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For the 16th century historian, see Peter Martyr d'Anghiera

Biography

The fire miracle of Saint Peter Martyr, Antonio Vivarini, 1440-1450.

He was born at Verona, in 1206 as son of Catharii, adherents of the Manichæan heresy, which still survived in northern Italy in the thirteenth century. He went to a Catholic school, and later to the University of Bologna, where Peter is said to have maintained his orthodoxy and at the age of fifteen, met Saint Dominic. Peter joined the Order of the Friars Preachers (Dominicans) and became a celebrated preacher throughout northern and central Italy.

In 1252, because of his virtues, severity of life and doctrine, talent for preaching, and zeal for the Faith, Pope Innocent IV appointed him general inquisitor; he had been fighting against heretics since the 1230's under Gregory IX.

As his superiors destined him to combat the Manichæans, he evangelized nearly the whole of Italy, preaching in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Genoa, and Como. Crowds came to meet him and followed him wherever he went; and conversions were numerous. He never failed to denounce the vices and errors of Catholics who confessed the Faith by words, but in deeds denied it. The Manichæans did all they could to compel the inquisitor to cease from preaching against their errors and propaganda. Persecutions, calumnies, threats, nothing was left untried.

He was murdered on 6 April, 1252, when returning from Como to Milan by Catharii. A certain Carino who with some other Manichæans had plotted to murder him struck his head with an axe, and then gave Peter's companion Dominic several fatal wounds. Rising to his knees he recited the first article of the Symbol of the Apostles, and offering his blood as a sacrifice to God he dipped his fingers in it and wrote on the ground the words: "Credo in Unum Deum". The murderer then pierced his heart.

Veneration

Saint Peter the Martyr, The artist has depicted the saint before a brocade baldachin and wearing the attributes common to him. He is standing, dressed with the Dominican habit and showing a wide tonsure, the knife in the cranium and the sword in the chest. In the left hand he holds a book where the Credo can be read and in the right one the palm surrounded by the three crowns that symbolize martyrdom, preaching and chastity.', Pedro de Berruguet, d.1504

His body was carried to Milan and laid in the church of St. Eustorgio, where a magnificent mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory.

His murderer, Carino, eventually became a Dominican at Forli and is the subject of a local cult as "Blessed Carino of Balsamo".

Many miracles are attributed to him when living, but they were even more numerous after his martyrdom.

He was canonized by Pope Innocent IV on March 9, 1253 after an interval of only 337 days, making him the fastest papally canonized saint in history.

His liturgical feast is on April 29.

Sources

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia.
• [Saints Index]

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