PETER OF VERONA

'Saint Peter of Verona', O.P. also known as 'Peter Martyr' (1206 – April 6, 1252), was a 13th century Dominican preacher and Grand Inquisitor in Italy.

Contents

Biography

Veneration

Sources

Biography

He was born at Verona, a son of Cathars, adherents of the dualist faith which had many adherents 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 what was said to be his virtues, severity of life and doctrine, talent for preaching, and zeal for the orthodox Catholic faith, Pope Innocent IV appointed him Inquisitor for Lombardy; he had been fighting against what the Church deemed heretics since the 1230s under Gregory IX.
As his superiors destined him to persecute the Cathars, he "evangelized" nearly the whole of Italy, preaching in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Genoa, and Como. Crowds came to meet him and followed him; and "conversions" were numerous. He typically attacked Catholics who confessed the Faith by words, but in deeds denied it. The Cathars, a rather progressive but more peaceful and industrious community, naturally did all they could to fight against him, whose zeal was directed at their actual extermination rather than conversion.
He was killed on 6 April 1252, when returning from Como to Milan by Cathars. According to legend, a man called Carino who with some other Cathars had designed the attack struck his head with an axe, and then gave Peter's companion Dominic several fatal wounds. It is told that, rising to his knees, Peter 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 assassin then pierced his heart.

Veneration

His body was carried to Milan and laid in the church of Sant'Eustorgio, where a ornate mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory.
His assassin, Carino, eventually became a Dominican at Forlì and is the subject of a local cult as "Blessed Carino of Balsamo".
Many miracles are attributed to him when living, and even more 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. The church of Santa Maria Antiqua in Verona is co-entitled to him.

Sources

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★ Saints Index

★ Patron Saints: Peter of Verona