
Peter was a 13th century Italian Catholic priest. He was a Dominican friar and a celebrated preacher.
He preached from the 1230s against heresy, and especially Catharism who referred to themselves as Good Christians ( See brief notes on* Catharism*)
He was appointed General Inquisitor for Northern Italy in 1234 by Pope Gregory 1X and Peter evangelized nearly the whole of Italy
He was recognized by Pope Innocent 1V in 1251 for his severity of life and doctrine, talent for preaching and zeal for the orthodox Catholic faith. Crowds came to meet and follow him. In his sermons he denounced heresy.
He had served as an inquisitor in Lombardy for only 6 months when he and his companion Domenico were assassinated on 6th April 1252. A group of Milanese Cathars had conspired to kill him. He was returning from Como to Milan with friar Domenico when they were attacked.
The blow which hit Peter cut off his head. The testimony given at the inquest confirmed that he began reciting the Creed when he was attacked.
Domenico was mortally wound and died 5 days later in Meda…
Peter was canonized as a Catholic saint 11 months later- March 9th 1253 - the fastest canonization in history.
His feast day is 29th April - April 6th, his death Loxton date was not used because it would too often conflict with Easter Triduum
Note
Carino of Balsamo, one of the assassins, confessed his crime and converted to the Catholic church and eventually became a lay brother in the Dominican
convent of Forli.
Sources
Wikipedia
The Encyclopedia of Saints by Howard Loxton
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