Saint Peter of Verona, Martyr
S. Petri Martyris
Saint Peter of Verona, commonly called Saint Peter Martyr, was an early friar of the Order of Preachers and a celebrated preacher of the Faith in northern Italy. He was slain on the road for the sake of the truth he had defended, and is venerated as the first martyr of the Dominican Order. He died in the year 1252.
Saint Peter was born at Verona about the year 1206. Coming to study at Bologna in his youth, he was drawn by the preaching of Saint Dominic himself and entered the newly founded Order of Preachers, receiving the habit, as tradition holds, from the hands of the holy founder. He gave himself with ardour to study, to prayer, and above all to the preaching of the Catholic Faith, in which he became renowned throughout the cities of northern Italy.
A preacher of the Faith
For many years Saint Peter travelled from city to city, preaching to great multitudes and recalling many to the unity of the Faith in a region where error had spread. His eloquence and his evident holiness drew crowds wherever he went, and he was entrusted by the Holy See with the grave office of confronting the errors of his day. He bore this charge with zeal tempered by charity, seeking always the conversion and salvation of those who had gone astray, and his labours bore abundant fruit.
Martyrdom on the road
It was while returning from one of his journeys, in the spring of 1252, that Saint Peter met his death at the hands of assassins set upon him by enemies of the Faith he preached. According to the constant tradition of his Order, as he fell he traced upon the ground, or spoke aloud, the opening words of the Creed, bearing witness with his last breath to the faith for which he died. So beloved and so manifestly holy was he that he was canonised in the very next year, 1253, with remarkable swiftness. The Church venerates him as the protomartyr of the Order of Preachers, a witness who confirmed his preaching by the shedding of his blood.
The Collect
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we may follow with becoming devotion the faith of blessed Peter, Thy Martyr, who for the spread of that same faith was found worthy to obtain the palm of martyrdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Præsta, quǽsumus, omnípotens Deus: ut beáti Petri Mártyris tui fidem cóngrua devotióne sectémur; qui, pro eiúsdem fídei dilatatióne, martýrii palmam méruit obtinére. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia sǽcula sæculórum. Amen.
Patronage
Saint Peter of Verona is venerated as the first martyr of the Order of Preachers (the Dominicans).
In the Modern Calendar
Saint Peter of Verona is no longer inscribed in the General Roman Calendar; he continues to be honoured by the Order of Preachers, which keeps his memory on 6 June.
Common Questions
When is the feast of Saint Peter of Verona?
In the 1962 Roman Missal his feast is kept on 29 April as a Third-Class feast. He is also honoured by the Dominican Order, which keeps his memory on 6 June.
Who was Saint Peter of Verona?
He was a thirteenth-century friar of the Order of Preachers and a famous preacher of the Faith in northern Italy. He is venerated as Saint Peter Martyr, the first of the Dominican Order to die for the Faith, slain on the road in 1252.
Why is he called Saint Peter Martyr?
He received the surname “Martyr” because he was killed for his defence of the Catholic Faith and is honoured as the protomartyr, or first martyr, of the Dominican Order. He was canonised within a year of his death.
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