St. Peter of Verona

Today was the feast of Saint Peter of Verona, in the Universal Church, before 1969. Prior to that year, the feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, although she died on April 29th, had been moved till tomorrow - April 30th.

Dominican Friar Peter of Verona was both an inquisitor and martyr. Peter was born at Verona, Italy, in 1205. Both of his parents were Catharists, a heresy that denied that God created the material world. Even so, Peter was educated at a Catholic school and later at the University of Bologna. While in Bologna, Peter was accepted into the Dominican Order by St. Dominic. He developed into a great preacher, and was well known for his inspiring sermons in the Lombardy region. In addition, around the year 1234, he was appointed by Pope Gregory IX as inquisitor of Northern Italy, where many Catharists lived. Peter's preaching attracted large crowds, but as inquisitor he made many enemies.

In 1252, while returning from Como to Milan, he was murdered by a Catharist assassin at the age of forty-six.

In 1969, Paul VI "demoted" Peter, Wikipedia gives the following explanation:

"Pope Pius II canonized Catherine in the year 1461. Her feast day, at the time, was not included in the Tridentine Calendar. When it was later added to the Roman Calendar, it was put on April 30, the day after she died, owing to the fact that the feast of Saint Saint Peter of Verona was on April 29. In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic calendar of saints, it was decided to leave the celebration of the feast of St Peter of Verona to local calendars, because he was not as well known worldwide, and Saint Catherine's feast was moved to April 29. Other Christians also, including Lutherans, celebrate her feast on the day of her death. Traditional Roman Catholics continue to commemorate St Catherine's feast on April 30." (my underline added.)

I think the "sticky wicket" on Saint Peter of Verona was that he was an Inquisitor. After his canonization he was listed as a patron saint of Inquisitors.

If ever Holy Mother Church needed an active and aggressive "Holy Office" it is NOW. I know I'm dreaming. While I love BXVI, he's no Pius X and, no matter how much needed, we won't see renewed "Committees of Vigilance."

Nonetheless, one can dream, and what better day than the feast of Saint Peter of Verona, patron of Inquisitors?

Comments

[joanne]

That St Peter was "demoted" because he was an inquisitor is conjecture. Isn't it equally probable that St Catherine of Siena's feast took precedence because she was a Doctor of the Church, and therefore, WAS more well-known throughout the world?

[joanne]

That St Peter was "demoted" because he was an inquisitor is conjecture. Isn't it equally probable that St Catherine of Siena's feast took precedence because she was a Doctor of the Church, and therefore, WAS more well-known throughout the world?

[Thomistic]

I enjoyed the St. Peter of Verona post. How do you think Peter of Verona would feel about the Dominican Order of today, with a high incidence of heterodoxy (liturgical goofiness, inclusive language and unapproved texts, lay homilists, support for the ordination of women, etc.) in all but the Eastern Province of the United States, and a considerable percentage of homosexually oriented priests and seminarians, and a former master general like Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, saying homosexual priests are a gift to the Church and telling the laity to watch Brokeback Mountain and read homosexual literature?

I suspect St. Peter of Verona would have been run out on a rail in his novitiate year were he to enter the Western, Southern, or Central Dominican Provinces of the United States.

Pax,

Thomistic

[joanne]

Thomistic,
Who is the Dominican Master General today? I know that the Dominicans were struggling for a while, there. Wondering if the water is "safe" yet for those who are drawn to, or moved by, the Dominican charism. Any thoughts?