Apostleship of Prayer -- Saints
St. Peter CanisiusDecember 21
Peter was born in 1521, in Nijmegen, Holland, where his father was tutor to the sons of the duke of Lorraine. Peter was sent to the University of Cologne where he studied canon law. He found this study not to his liking and also the marriage that his parents had planned for him. He took a vow of celibacy and returned to Main where he attended a retreat given by blessed Peter Favre. This completely changed his life and he entered the Society of Jesus. He completed his novitiate in Cologne where he spent his time in prayer, study, care of the sick.
After his ordination, he attended the Council of Trent as a theologian. He was then sent to teach in the first Jesuit School at Messina. After that he was recalled to Rome where he worked with Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus. Again he was transferred to Germany where he worked predominantly in Southern Germany, Austria, Bohemia and Switzerland. He wrote a Catechism which became the model for other catechisms. This work was translated into fifteen language during his own lifetime. He considered discussions with Protestant theologians as nearly useless as thees tended to widen the gap between them and Catholicism. He preferred to talk to them about basic Christianity involving prayer and the practice of prayer. He became famous in converting people to Catholicism by his courteous manner and by the bread of knowledge. Wherever he resided conversions soon followed.
He helped to establish the University of Fribourg which has had a tremendous influence in the teaching of theology up to the present day. All of his live was spent in writing. He had a stroke and lived for six more years, dying in 1597. He was declared a Saint and a Doctor of the Church in 1925.
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