Peter Martyr

ON ST. PETER MARTYR

OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS.

IN THE YEAR 1252

PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.

Peter Martyr, of the Order of Preachers (S.)

§ I. The homeland of S. Peter, his birth, his entry into the Order of S. Dominic, the heretics he opposed, and their origin.

This noted bulwark of the Catholic faith, and purpled champion fighting for it with his own blood, the Dominican Order had from Verona, an ancient city of the Lombards, S. Peter of Verona. for that was his birth-soil, as it was of very many most holy and most illustrious men, so also of S. Peter. Thomas of Lentino might seem to think that S. Peter was from Como or New Como, likewise a city of Lombardy, distant from Verona about one hundred twenty miles; when at the beginning of the Life he says S. Peter Martyr drew his origin from the province of Lombardy, from the city of Como, from heretical parents; but he must be explained. For he mentions the city of Como here, not because it was the seat of his birth, but of his dwelling and prefecture: for he himself in the course of the Life calls S. Peter a Veronese, and that his native house exists at Verona even today, Ludovicus Zacconi testifies in his compendium on the Lives of Saints. Moreover Augustine Valerius, Bishop of Verona, in his Verona, teaches that the same house is pointed out in the parish of V. Stephen: and that it may be more certainly known, he says that on the outer wall of the house in the year 1457 an image of the Saint was painted, with these verses:

I am Peter Martyr, nourished and born as an infant In these houses: let my image be witness.

Now he was born, as Pius writes, in the year 1205; Maluenda however from Flaminius, born around the year 1206 who attributed about fifteen years of life to him in the year of the Lord 1221 when he embraced the Preachers' institute, concludes he was born in the year of the Lord 1206: we, because there is no agreement among these Writers, pronounce him born either in the year 1205 or 1206.

From what family, says Flaminius, he drew his origin, and what ancestors he had, and of what parents he was born, no writers whom I have been able to see hand down. The first and only Augustine Valerius, author accurate in Veronese matters, named the Rosina family. At Bologna, when he was giving his attention to the studies of the liberal arts, and perchance heard S. Dominic speaking in a sermon, he was moved to embrace the Order founded by him: and in the year 1221 was admitted by S. Dominic to the habit. to which he was admitted by the same in the Convent of S. Nicholas de Vinea, in the year of the Lord (as all say) 1221; which was the last for S. Dominic, but for him the fifteenth or sixteenth of his age.

[2] From then, being about to care for the salvation of his neighbor besides his own, he began to be engaged in public, and waged a sharp and continuous war against the license of evil Catholics and the errors of heretics. But in what year of the Christian era he first entered the arena, is not sufficiently clear. Corius thinks at least before 1233, this happened. he is illustrious against the heretics. The field of contest was Lombardy, Tuscany, Romagna, the March of Ancona, indeed almost all Italy: but his principal contests and victories Florence and Milan beheld. The heretics, with whose poison Italy was laboring in those times breathed upon, and with whom S. Peter had unconquered battle up to the palm of Martyrdom, were not called by one name. By Ragnerius Zacconus, These under various appellations, as Franciscus Peña is author in the Directorium Inquisitorum of Nicholas Eymericus part 2, qu. 13,

comm. 38, they are named Albanenses, Concorrezenses, and Baglanenses, subdivided into as many sects. But Peter Maria Campi writes in the Placentine History for the year of Christ 1250, that this Ragnerius, having previously professed their errors, later, leaving them, joined himself to the Catholic Church, and entering the Order of S. Dominic, with S. Peter carried out the office of Inquisitor General through all Lombardy. Peña adds that the same Zacconus against the dogmas of these men and of the Leonists or Poor of Lyons wrote a Summa in the year 1250, which he saw in an ancient MS. codex of the Vatican Library, from which he himself also enumerates their principal errors. Corius in the Milanese History calls them Cathari, Gazari, Concorresii; Emperor Frederick in a certain rescript given at Padua against them calls them Patareni; others Believers of the Cathar Life, and promiscuously Cathari and new Manichæans.

[3] with uncertain beginnings, Certain persons labor to attribute to these men a certain origin and author. That they are other than those Cathari, to whom about the year 256 Novatus gave the name and heresy, is clear from the doctrine which both professed, and from the distance of the times in which they arose. The more recent Cathari, of whom we speak here, are in the life of S. Peter also called Manichæans; yet they are not for that reason to be derived immediately from Manes: which Nicholas Eymericus does in part 2 of the Directory of Inquisitors, qu. 13, constructing their origin in these words: nor immediately proceeding from Manes, The thirteenth question is: what are the heresies and errors of the Manichæans, which arose in the parts of Italy, and there were condemned through Prelates and Inquisitors? To this we respond that in the time of Lord Pope Innocent III, in the parts of Italy, namely in the Archbishopric of Milan, and other neighboring parts, there arose a certain man called Manes, from whom both he and his followers were called Manichæans: who publicly divulged many heresies and errors, and publicly and imprudently preached in Italy; for the extirpation of which Brother Peter, of the Order of Preachers, Inquisitor in the aforesaid parts, was by these same Manichæan heretics killed with swords and martyred, etc. But let even him notice that this error is no small one, who has merely greeted the history of the Church from the threshold, as we say. For who does not know that Manes, that famous heresiarch, more than nine centuries ago breathed his pestilence not first on Europe, but on Asia? But concerning another man of this same name who arose in Italy so many years later, nothing is established among writers, as Peña, the commentator of Eymericus, agrees.

[4] they existed at Milan around the year 1176 The new Cathari especially showed themselves and openly raved at Milan, in the time of the schism which Emperor Frederick wickedly fostered against Pope Alexander III: this the Life of S. Galdinus, once Archbishop of Milan, has made attested to us: whose author in Mombritius, sufficiently joined to that Saint in time, affirms that the said heresy began to sprout on the occasion of the mentioned schism. Against which, when S. Galdinus himself, in the year 1176, most sharply disputed in the church of S. Thecla, in the same place and time he ended his life as a Saint. Dominic Gravina also seems to look to this in book 4 of Catholic Prescriptions against heretics, when he says: The new Cathari arose about the year of the Lord 1160 under Emperor Frederick, in the diocese of Cologne around the year 1166 pretending to live the life of the Apostles. It is held manifest from the works of Eckbert that they existed around the year 1166 in the diocese of Cologne: who, according to the testimony of Trithemius in the book on Ecclesiastical writers, from being a Canon of Bonn, at the exhortation of B. Elisabeth, Abbess of Schönau, his sister, was made a monk, and then second Abbot of the monastery of S. Florinus, then wrote Sermons against their errors, which he dedicated to Reinald, Archbishop of Cologne: refuted by Eckbert. who, distinguished supporter and helper of the Frederician schism, waged wars for Frederick in Lombardy and against the Milanese, dying in Italy in the year 1168. Eckbert confesses in the preface that, when he was still Canon of Bonn, he had often disputed with these heretics in speech, and delivers their origin in these words: Behold, for certain hidden men, perverse and perverters, who for many times have lurked, and secretly have corrupted the Christian faith in many men of foolish simplicity; have been multiplied through all lands, so that the Church of God suffers great peril from the worst poison, which they pour out from everywhere against her. For their speech creeps like a cancer, and like leprosy runs about far and wide with swift flights, contaminating the precious members of Christ. Our Germany calls these Cathari, Flanders calls them Piphlers, Gaul calls them Texerants from the practice of weaving. Matt. 24:26 As the Lord foretold concerning them, they say Christ is in the inner chambers: because they say the true faith of Christ and the true worship of Christ are nowhere else, except in their little conventicles; which they have in cellars and in weaving-rooms, and in underground houses of this kind. They say they are living the life of the Apostles, etc. Thus he.

[5] Whence they first crept into Cologne, from Godfrey Panthaleonita, Gretserus teaches in the Prolegomena, Whence to Cologne which he prefaces to volume 13 of the Library of the Fathers, to the works written against the Albigenses and Waldenses: Concerning the Cathari Godfrey recounts, he says, in the annals a history of this kind. In this year also, one thousand one hundred and sixty-three, certain heretics, of the sect of those who are called Cathari, coming from the parts of Flanders to Cologne, began to dwell secretly in a certain barn near the city, etc. and did they come to Milan? Whence they may have come to Milan is almost in darkness: and those who pronounce anything on this matter, act from conjectures rather than from certain testimony. Peter Puricellus, in book 1 on the monuments of the Milanese basilica, judges it more credible that the Cathari came to Milan from Germany, and namely from the diocese of Cologne. Him it especially moves, that the writer of the Life of S. Galdinus with Gravina says, that this heresy began to sprout at Milan at the time of the Frederician schism, which at the same time held the diocese of Cologne infected; that from there Reinald, Archbishop of Cologne and Chancellor of Frederick, led out soldiers against the Milanese; among whom there existed some breathed upon by these errors, especially since war was being waged against the Pope and Papal supporters, ought not to seem doubtful: although, as the same Puricellus narrates from Morena, Reinald arrived with only five hundred soldiers, himself an enemy of the Cathari: which also from Eckbert and Ægidius Gelenius in book 3 on Sacred Cologne becomes manifest.

[6] Perhaps, at the time of the same schism or before, those Cathari came out from neighboring Gaul of Lombardy. or from Gaul? For it is established from Baronius and S. Bernard sermon 65 and especially 66 on the Canticle, that in Gaul, and especially around Albi and Toulouse, in the year 1147 there existed heretics, vile and common men; who had the same dogmas which, according to Eckbert, the Cathari of Cologne professed; and according to Michael Pius book 1 On the Progeny of S. Dominic, also the Cathari of Milan, by whom S. Peter was killed. Alexander III in the third year after the death of S. Galdinus, that is, in 1179 AD, condemned them under the name of Cathari and Publicans in the Lateran Council: in which chap. 27 the following is recounted: Since in Gascony, Albegatium (or Albigeois) and the parts of Toulouse, of heretics, whom some call Cathari, others Patrini (otherwise Patarini or Patareni), others Publicans, others by other names, the damnable perversity has prevailed, so that no longer in secret, as some, do they practice their wickedness, but publicly manifest their error, etc. Among their ravings are also all the errors of Peter of Bruys, who in the year 1126 disseminated his heresy in those parts. The heir of his wickedness (as Peter of Cluny writes in his letters against both) was a certain Henry, were they remnants of the Albigensians? made from a monk an apostate in the year 1147, who added many: both the first authors of the Albigensians. From this it becomes probable what Maluenda in the Annals of the Dominicans for the year 1221, and Nicholas Sanderus in the book on the visible monarchy of the Church for the year 1159, say: that the Cathari of Lombardy did not found their own heresy, but were a portion of the Henricians, and perhaps the same as the Albigensians; which also makes it maximally so, that those called Cathari by Zacconus are named Albanenses, namely from Albium, which is also called Alba Augusta. Therefore it is credible that from the Albigensians the Cathari crept into Lombardy, from Albi into inner Gaul, from Gaul into Flanders, from Flanders into the diocese of Cologne: but whence the very name of Cathari seems to have been taken, we have said in the Life of S. Galdinus on April 18, letter n.

§ II

The office of Inquisitor committed to S. Peter, his death brought for the faith.

[7] Animated against them by Christ With these heretics therefore S. Peter had the most bitter war, being animated to wage it against them, as is handed down, by Christ himself speaking from the cross, and by his most holy mother not once: from whom he merited to hear that which once from our Savior S. Peter [did]: "I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not." he expels them from Florence: At Florence in a sermon he stirred up such hatred against them; that the citizens, immediately seizing arms, drove them all from the city. In memory of which matter a banner exists there, and every year with solemn pomp on the Saint's feast is carried around the city, which he himself, marked with the sign of the cross, had handed over to be borne before those about to fight. He instituted there a sodality of noble men, for carrying on a similar war afterwards if need were; for whose expense lands had been bought from the goods of heretics, Rechac is the author in the Life; adding that S. Peter had presided in his own Convents, of Piacenza, Genoa, Este, Jesi, and Como.

[8] in various places he fills prefectures among his own But when the fame of his distinguished doctrine and sanctity spread more and more, nor was it hidden from the court of the Pope himself; by him he was given as Inquisitor against the plague of heretics from Milan. That this was done in the year 1252, Eymericus asserts in part 2 of the Directory: but that he had been more quickly elevated to that dignity, and had exercised the power of the office, namely in the year 1232 or thereabouts, constituted Inquisitor of Milan in the year 1232 is established from Corius: who for the year 1233 speaks thus: With Oldrado Tresseno holding the praetorship among the Milanese, many things were decreed against heretics, as authentic records attest to us, from which are the following: In the name of the Lord, in the year from his incarnation 1233, on Friday, the 15th of September, indiction VII, with Oldrado Tresseno as Prætor of the Milanese, Brother Peter of Verona of the Order of Preachers (who was afterwards enrolled among the Saints, by the faculty given to him by the Pope, as the letters drawn up in the year 1232 on this matter attest, to which Obizo Scazagus, notary of the city of Milan, subscribed; likewise from the power made for him by the people of Milan, as is clear from others of the same year subscribed by Singhimbaldus de la Trore, Chancellor of the city) decreed and ordered that, among other statutes of the Republic,

the following chapters be referred to which are contained in the letter of the supreme Pontiff sent to the same Brother of Verona: through which all heretics, Cathari, Patareni, etc., are excommunicated and anathematized. Thus Corius, to be corrected in the number of the Christian year, which was 1234, not 3: the characters of the day and indiction prove, demanding the Dominical letter A. Meanwhile, because by Thomas of Lentino and other writers of the Life it is constantly said that he was given as Inquisitor to the Milanese by Innocent IV, who received the supreme Pontificate in the year 1243, the power seems to have been granted by Gregory IX, by Gregory IX, who lived in the Pontificate in the year of the Lord 1232, then to have been confirmed by Innocent IV: as was done in the case of Raynerius Zacconus, confirmed by Innocent IV. whom, constituted Inquisitor by the same Innocent, Alexander IV confirmed, as is clear from the letter of the same Alexander, which begins: "Cum felicis recordationis."

[6] Odericus Raynaldus asserts that the office of Inquisitor was conferred on S. Peter by Innocent IV, he exercises the same office at Cremona: in the year 1251 for the territory of Cremona: the words in the chronology for the year 1252 are as follows: The Pope, to uproot the rising darnel from the Lord's field, had constituted censors of the faith in very many places, and in the previous year among others had committed to Peter of Verona, Master of the Preachers, the province of defending Religion against heretics, as we have seen. Then he brings forward a letter of the same Innocent, by which he confers this dignity on S. Peter and Vivianus of Bergamo, both of the Order of Preachers: under the middle of which the Pope speaks thus: For formerly, while that perfidious tyrant was living, it could not freely proceed against a plague of this kind, especially in Italy itself, with him impeding, since he did not assail the plague itself, but rather fostered it. Concerning which, since he was evidently held suspect, with many other and enormous excesses of his nonetheless demanding, with power received through a Pontifical diploma: he was by us condemned in the Council of Lyons. And therefore to your discretion by Apostolic writings we mandate by strictly commanding, enjoining in remission of your sins, that taking up this business of the faith, which principally rests in our heart, with all your affections and pursuing it with fervent minds, you personally go to Cremona (since through other cities and other places of Lombardy we have also appointed other discreet men to execute the same business) and for the extirpation from the city itself and its district of the heretical depravity, laboring solicitously and efficaciously, with a diocesan council held beforehand; if you find any there guilty of that depravity, or infected or even defamed, unless, examined, they are willing absolutely to obey the mandates of the Church, proceed against them and their receivers, defenders and supporters, setting aside human fear, according to the canonical sanctions by Apostolic authority; invoking for this against them, if need shall be, the aid of the secular arm, etc. These letters were given at Genoa, in the 8th year of the Pontificate of Innocent, on the Ides of June, which was the same as the year of the Lord 1251.

[10] That he also performed the office of Inquisitor at Florence, is clear from Taëgius in the Life, likewise at Florence, and is supported by the deed of the holy Martyr in that city, about which above. He exercised the same office at Como, as Francisco Bellarino testifies in the Compendium of the Chronicle of Como; who with Seraphino Razzio in the Life, and Peter Maria Campi in the Ecclesiastical History of the Placentines, and others, at Como, and through all Lombardy, wants S. Peter to have been Inquisitor General through all Lombardy. But whether he had this immediately from the Pope himself, or from the General or Provincial of his Order, is not established for us. With the General and Provincials this power at least was, that they themselves might constitute as Inquisitors whomever they wished: as Michael Pius relates in book 1 on the lives of illustrious men of S. Dominic part 2 from a certain Bull of Innocent IV, which begins: "Odore suavi": in which the following are held: That the Generals and Provincials of the Order may institute Inquisitors, and remove them at their discretion and substitute others. Which privilege Pius ascribes to the year 1244.

[11] Therefore, while the Sanctified Martyr was exercising the power of Inquisitor at Milan against the obstinate; the heretics conspire for his death they, to free themselves from troublesome inquiries and judgments, by hired assassins plotted his death. How and when and where it was plotted and brought upon him, we transcribe from Tristano Calco of Milan, who professes in book 15 of his History that he saw their confessions; and recalls the acts reported in public records, and therefore recounts the matter, which has been lightly touched by others, more copiously. So he in the year 1252: We have said above that two Inquisitors, Peter of Verona and Raynerius Sacconus of Piacenza, had begun to be engaged in Lombardy; and by Apostolic authority to harass the heretics, of whom very many sects had grown up, with preachings, to terrify them with miracles; and to convert some to thinking well of Christ; others, from whom the insane and perverse opinion could not be driven out, to condemn; to deliver the condemned to the magistrates to suffer punishment: by them they were either macerated in perpetual prisons, many were consigned to the fires. This assiduous and sharp pursuit armed very many for the death of the Preachers.

[12] Perhaps Peter carried out the Lent of that year at Como, and the other at Pavia; and meanwhile at Milan a conspiracy against them was entered into in this manner. Glusiano is a town about midway between Milan and Como, a little distant from the direct road; hence a not ignoble family holds its surname in the city. There, a few days before the Resurrection of Christ, approached, especially Stephen Confalonerius, Clironus and Sachella: Stephen Confalonerius, born in the village of Aliato, conscious of the matter; and immediately he met Manfred Clironus of Glusiano, in the garden, as happens, lingering at sunset; and said: What do you think, the Believers of Milan (so the perverse faction was called) have decreed to take out of the midst Brother Peter of Verona, by whose eloquence and force of speaking day by day, weakened, they are diminished: for unless by that means they cannot provide for their life. What seems to you? Prudently, he said, I judge they will act. Therefore, Stephen adds, let both of us go to Milan, and transact the things which are necessary for the business. Having set out, they meet Guidotus Sacchella, and speak to him about the matter. He says he has twenty-five pounds of money ready. Then addressing Jacobus, whose name was from the Clusa of the Jovian gate, they learn he has prepared an equal amount of money, and moreover is going to Pavia to dispatch the other enemy.

[13] Thus the price agreed, Stephen and Manfred return to Glusiano to prepare the assassin; by whom assassins were hired and soon Jacobus was there with the money, they seal up forty pounds counted out, with as many denarii deducted on account of the table, in a bag, and hand it over to Fatius Glusianeus as sequester, to be presented to Manfred, when the impending crime had been committed. The same Jacobus hastens to Pavia. But Manfred invites Peter Balsamus, who was commonly called Charinus, the hope of money being set before him and the gratification of great men being declared, to the death of the hated man. Charinus does not refuse, but says he does not dare to do this work alone, and desires a companion. But whom? Charinus and Albertinus, Albertinus Porrus, surnamed Migniffus, from Lentate, a nearby village. But Manfred repeats that this man is by no means to be employed, because he himself had been the author of having him punished with exile. Desist, said Charinus, from that fear; every danger, that you should ever be accused of this crime, I will guarantee: because neither to Albertinus, nor to any other, will I say that you know these things. Come, then, says Manfred, and do as you please.

[14] Thus dismissed, they let the solemn days of Easter pass. Then Manfred and Stephen set out for Como, and not much later Charinus was there, but alone; since by agreement he had left Albertinus at home, where a suitable occasion for carrying out the crime seemed about to be. There were ample woods and a solitude suited for robbers. They stayed three days at Como. Then Charinus inquired from the lodging-place itself of Brother Peter, when he was going to depart, so as to head for Milan. And when he had departed before the light of that day, they kill him which was the first Saturday after Easter and the sixth day of the month of April; Charinus begged Manfred that he would lend him his horse, by which he might more quickly follow the one departing. But when he excused that the horse could be a manifest indication of himself, he went on foot; and following him, in the place where his companion was waiting, with a double wound they dispatched him. Thus far Calcus: from whose opinion S. Peter, granted the palm of martyrdom, died on the sixth of April, the Saturday before the Sunday called in Albis. Pius, Razzius, in 1252, on the 6th of April Rehac say he was slain on the fifth of April, yet Razzius inclines to the sixth, because this is inscribed on the tomb. But this will be beyond controversy hereafter, if it is asked on what day in that year, that is, 1252, Easter fell; and it will be found to have fallen on the 31st of March: from which if you proceed counting up to the Saturday before the Sunday in Albis, to which day all ascribe his death, you will hit on the sixth of April.

[15] Writers of the Life everywhere also say, that S. Peter, when he was already yielding up his soul from the wound, recited as much as his voice permitted the Symbol of faith, reciting the symbol which when seven years old he had once championed against his heretical uncle: of which matter Tristanus makes no mention, but continues to narrate the slaying in these words: One wound was inflicted on the head, with a vast gash, the skull opened, by the weight of the driven falx, which grows to a point in two horns after the manner of the moon and is still preserved; the other on the shoulders, with a dagger driven in. At the same time Dominic, Peter's companion, lethally pierced, with his companion Dominic they left near the dead man. The place in which they perpetrated this crime was called Ferona, situated between the villages of Barlassina and Boysium, and Meda and Sevisum. John Garzo, in the Life in Leander Albertus, writes that the second wound, in which the Saint breathed out his soul, was made by a lance driven through the side: Thomas of Lentino in Taëgius mentions only a sword: but whoever shall have seen before him the form of the sword, lacking a suitable point, shall know that either a dagger or a lance was needed, that death might be inflicted through the side. Moreover, since it is certain that S. Peter's death fell in the year of Christ 1252, it will follow from those things which we have pronounced above concerning the year of his birth, and likewise concerning the age at which he put on the religious habit, in the year of his age 46 or the following. that he ended life in the forty-sixth or seventh year of his age, and in the thirty-first or second year of his entered Religion.

[16] What was done after the slaying Calcus so pursues: Not so long after, he says, travelers coming up see the most atrocious deed: Dominic still breathing they carry to Meda, where on the sixth day he entirely failed. Soon through all the borders fame flew, that a most religious man and his companion had been cut down on the Como road. the body brought to S. Simplicianus, The astonished city stood a while at the atrocity of the crime; then sending those who would care for the corpse, they brought it back to the city for burial; and in the church of Simplicianus, which is in the suburbs, for the time being they laid it. This indeed the holy Martyr had foretold: for when the Como people were trying to dissuade him from the journey, because

with his strength diminished from fever, they doubted he would arrive at Milan on that day, he gave answer: If we cannot reach Milan today, certainly we shall spend the night at S. Simplicianus.

Tristanus continues: On the following day, with a funeral procession prepared through the middle of the city, thence to Milan, he is buried in S. Eustorgius. with every Order of citizens and Religious following, it was translated to the Eustorgian church, which the Brothers of his own Order hold.

[17] Not so long after, by I know not what indication or suspicion betrayed, the assassin Charinus is seized: he is drawn back to the Prætor Peter Advocatus, to plead his case in chains. The matter was extended to the tenth day, the assassin Charinus escaped from the prison on which, beyond all hope and opinion, he escaped from the prison. The city immediately suspected that a great price had been given for this to the Prætor and the guards, and accordingly with a popular tumult it rushed into the palace; and with wealth plundered, they place the Prætor himself with three judges and bailiffs, guilty of fraud, before the tribunal of the Archbishop, and altogether deprive them of their magistracy, life being grudgingly granted to them. Meanwhile the other executioner, Albertinus, not daring to appear himself, sent his father Huncelerius, to reclaim the contracted money from the guarantor Manfred Olirinus: for he had immediately received it from Fatius the sequester. But either from love of silver, or fearing the charge against himself, with a steadfast face he denied that he had anything of those things: thus the buyer of human blood received, as he deservedly ought, a reward.

[18] Then one of the conspirators, Daniel Glusianeus, led by penitence for the crime, enters the Order of the deceased Religious, and gave himself wholly to his discipline, and from office named the accomplices. Hence Manfred and Fatius, being seized, related in chains before the Inquisitors of the Eustorgian monastery the deed done. entering the Order of S. Dominic But Charinus, fleeing, betook himself to Forlì, where, equally weary of his deed, he enters the same Religion; and with such bitterness he spontaneously mortified himself, that manifest signs of earned heavenly grace and of the reconciled divine majesty were seen: and therefore his memory was consecrated, and honored with a marble tomb, which still exists. Concerning Charinus, however, Seraphinus Razzius a little more carefully: That Charinus, he says, who brought death to S. Peter Martyr; when he had heard that the fame of his miracles was being divulged far and wide, from fear of judgments and death, from the territory of Milan in flight he snatched himself away to Forlì: where, seized by sickness, and brought to the common hospital of the city, when he was being absolved by a certain holy man with the sacrament of Confession, he had penance imposed for his crimes, that since he himself had snatched life from a holy and Religious man, he should consecrate his own to Religion: which most willingly, when he should have recovered his health, he promised he would do. Guilty of his promise, he then came to our Convent of the same city: he holily dies into which admitted, he put on the habit among the Brothers whom we call Converses. Where, piously dying after a holy life, and famous for miracles then performed, he was buried in the sacristy of the church, although he himself had asked to be buried somewhere in the earth beneath the steps. Into the monastery he brought with him the dagger, with which, from S. Peter, after the first wound inflicted with an axe while still breathing, he had expelled the soul. It is in custody there even now, and, as an instrument of killing, is held in veneration. But those who have seen it with their own eyes, will deny it can be called a dagger, or that a wound inflicted by stabbing could be made with it: for it is altogether in the likeness of a curved weapon like a scimitar, such as is described below as preserved in the place of the slaying; and at the end four times broader than it is at the hilt, it can not absurdly be called an axe. Wherefore since Carinus was seized after the slaying had been committed; nor does it seem credible that his sword was left to him in prison; more probably you would say that the one with which he came girded to Forlì was indeed in form similar to the former, according to the usage customary at that time, but not the same with which the slaying was committed: yet preserved to the memory of the deed, and so it began to be believed that it was the same.

§ III.

The canonization of S. Peter, the cult decreed him throughout the whole Church, and why in the Order of the Servants of the B. Mary.

[19] With not yet a year elapsed after his death, when S. Peter was shining day by day with many miracles, and it was confessed that he had been killed in hatred of the faith, by Innocent IV at Perugia he was inscribed among the Saints; S. Peter is canonized in the year 1253, namely in the year 1253, on March 25; concerning which matter the diploma drawn up by the Pope, Taëgius inserts into the Life, to be given by us below. The body, which for a year and more had lain buried in the humble place of S. Eustorgius; with the body still found uncorrupted, exhumed in the same year 1253, appeared entirely incorrupt; and after it had remained for some days exposed to the public veneration of the pious, it was translated into a marble chest, the head being laid up separately. This chest the holy Martyr had once foretold would be destined for such uses; of which prophecy the Abbot of S. Simplicianus being mindful, willingly gave it as a gift for this. At the same time when these things were being done, Richerius, a monk of the Senonian monastery in Vosges, was writing book 4 of the Chronicle, edited by Luca Acherius in volume 3 of the Spicilegium, of which book Chapter 35 on S. Peter of Milan, the new Martyr, it seems right to add here, on account of the antiquity of the testimony; for the author added only one book afterwards, finishing it with the beginnings of Urban IV, elected in the year 1261: thus he has it.

[20] and is praised by the writer of the Senonian Chronicle, Because in our times and in the last days of the age, as He promised through the Prophet, the Lord God renews signs and changes wonders; it will not be irksome to recount one of these new signs. In Lombardy is a certain city which is called Milan, in which the Brothers Preachers are said to dwell. With them a certain Preacher was dwelling, Peter by name, an excellent man and most learned in preaching. This Peter also, that he might report the talent committed to him with manifold interest to his Lord, daily applied himself to the office of preaching. For since at Milan from ancient times heretics had been accustomed to dwell, this Brother Peter, who still saw certain brambles of heretics sprouting in the same city, daily vigorously impugned these same heretics in his preaching; and that he might bring them back to the way of truth, now with flatteries or exhortations, now with rebukes or vituperations, he reproved them. But because, as Scripture says, wisdom will not enter into a malevolent soul, as a hammer of heretics, their hearts being hardened, like a deaf asp against the charmer, so these heretics too against the charm of preaching stopped their ears: and as the Jews against B. Stephen, so these too against Fr. Peter gnashed their teeth: and if they could have found him outside the city, no less than the Jews stoned Stephen, these would stone Peter. What more? they bent their bow, to shoot in secret at the blameless, that is, they laid snares for him, to deliver him to death if they could. Yet because they did not dare to harm him in the open, they arranged to set snares for him. For there was a certain road in the city (nay rather between the city of Milan and the city of Como) through which he was accustomed to go and return, when he went to preach or returned. And when God wished to reward his servant, the unconquered champion of truth, a true Martyr, with the gift of heavenly glory, he was rapt away, lest malice change his understanding, or deceit deceive his soul. And truly rapt away: for when on a certain day he was returning from the city, namely of Como, to Milan, and was wishing to pass through that road as he was accustomed; those wretches who had stretched the bow of snares, leaping forth as an arrow from the hidden snares, shot that blameless Peter, that is, killed him with their weapons: and so consummated in a short time he completed his times, for his soul was pleasing to God. The Brothers Preachers, on hearing of his death, grieved beyond measure, because he was more powerful than all in sermon: and with due obsequies performed, they buried him in an honorable tomb with canticles and spiritual hymns. And that God might declare the merits of his Martyr to the world, and illustrious with miracles and that those most unhappy heretics might be confounded, he deigned to confer such grace on him, that whoever weak, whoever held by infirmities approached the tomb of the Martyr himself, would be freed from all evils. And so in our times God does not disdain to magnify His servants.

[21] After the first Translation of the body, with 87 years elapsed, another more solemn Translation was made, in the penultimate year of Hugh the Frenchman, the body is again translated in the year 1340 in the year of Christ 1340, before the General convention of the whole Order, gathered at Milan: concerning which Ambrose Taëgius thus wrote: In the celebration of this Chapter, the body of the glorious B. Peter M. was translated from the ancient chest, in which in the first translation it had been placed, into a new and solemn marble chest, not without the coruscation of miracles, in the presence of Lord John Visconti, Archbishop of Milan, the Master of the Order, the other definitors of the Chapter and a great many other Brothers, and Princes and many nobles. For many from different parts of the world sent large alms for the construction of this chest. For the Lord King of Cyprus with the Lady Queen sent three hundred gold ducats: a certain Noble of the aforesaid kingdom one hundred gold ducats: the aforesaid Lord Archbishop of Milan fifty gold ducats: the Lord Aro Visconti, then Prince of Milan, fifty gold ducats and sixty wagons of lime, for the castle to be founded in the earth, on which the chest is placed; twenty gold ducats for the gilding of the chest itself: all of whom are sculpted on the cover of the chest: the Lord Erasmus Bogia thirty gold ducats; and many other nobles and devout from France, Germany, England and Italy, and especially from Milan, conferred large alms for this so pious and devout work. And there were expended for the construction of the said chest about two thousand gold ducats. The artificer of the aforesaid chest was a certain Master John of Pisa, most excellent in the art of sculpting of that time; which he brought to an end in three years after he began it. Thus he.

[22] The head also separately in the year 1651 The most solemn Translation of the head also made in the year 1651 at Milan, P. John Baptist Verax of our Society wrote to us in these words: The Reverend PP. Dominicans in this city, on the day of last Sunday, made a most solemn translation of the head of S. Peter Martyr, with a long and most celebrated procession. The apparatus was most festive. On the way seven altars were seen erected, triumphal arches and a most elegant palm-grove, where he was slain. Eight Inquisitors were present, who wore the Biretum in the manner of Priests; and what the Italians call la mozzetta. Four of them carried the support, on which the holy Head stood prominent, enclosed in silver elaborately worked, with crystal, with various music resounding amid the clangors of trumpets. At the end of the day the procession was finished, with the whole city running together. Praise to God and to the holy Martyr.

We, when in the year 1662 we traversed Italy, having experienced the humanity of the R. P. Prior of the Convent of Milan, looked upon the body laid in a sumptuous and splendid tomb; but the head separately in an elegant chapel, enclosed in a vessel

gleaming with gold and crystal, which once had been a lantern of a Turkish Prætor.

[23] Cult throughout the universal Church the same Pope, who had inscribed him among the Saints, decreed him, giving for this two years later a special diploma, also reported in the Life by Taëgius: which cult, now under the rite of a double, now of a semidouble, as the Church calls it, cult decreed him now under a double rite, now a semidouble; lest, if it were recalled on the day of his death, it should frequently run into the paschal feasts, by order of Innocent, began to obtain this 29th of April. The double rite Francisco Peña in the commentaries on the Directory of Eymericus mentions in these words: Lastly it is to be known, that at Rome on the 29th day of April the feast of this B. Peter Martyr is double, and concerning him a solemn chapel is celebrated in the church of S. Maria supra Minervam by the Most Reverend Lord Cardinals Inquisitors General, and other Officials of the Holy Inquisition, every year: Sixtus V moreover, Supreme Pontiff, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1586 on the Ides of April, ordered the birthday of the same under the same double Office to be celebrated and recited by all Ecclesiastics, in a certain constitution beginning: "Sanctorum Christi militum." Yet Gavantus writes, in the Rubrics of the Roman Breviary, that the feast of S. Peter, which Sixtus V had willed to be double with the office among all, Clement VIII ordered again to be semidouble. Now however in the year 1670 Clement X willed it henceforth to be Double through the whole Church, in the year 1670 with a Double rite through the whole Church, concerning which matter the letter of the sacred Congregation of Rites is of this kind. Of the City and the World. The Most Holy D. N. Clement X, at prayers offered to him by the Most Eminent Lord Cardinal Barberini, Dean, in the name of the Congregation of the Most Holy Inquisition, has benignly granted that henceforth the Office of S. Peter Martyr of the Order of Preachers, which up to now under a semidouble rite was recited by the universal Church, be recited under a double rite, and under the same rite be placed in the Breviary, to be recited by all who are bound to the canonical hours, both seculars and Regulars of both sexes, by precept on the 29th day of April, and has commanded that thus it be observed. On the 26th of July, 1670.

[24] previously observed in the Order of the Servants of B. Mary, The Order of Servants of B. Mary, however, always recited a double Office for S. Peter among its Saints, and erected to him a statue in the refectory of its principal monastery, called of Monte-Senario, by reason of singular piety: the reason for which deed in the Annals of the said Order Archangelus Gianius gives in this fashion: Now, he says, by the testimony of the deceased Pope Celestine and various colloquies in the Roman curia, the fame of the Servants of B. Mary Virgin being diffused, had reached the ears of almost all Prelates. When Sinibaldus Cardinal de Flisco, after that difficult and long vacancy of the See, was elected Supreme Pontiff at Anagni among the Hernici on the 8th day before the Calends of July in the year 1243, so that he might recognize the beginnings of this Order under the title of the Blessed Virgin, to Peter of Verona, the most vigilant Inquisitor of the Apostolic See throughout all Italy, coming to Florence, he entrusted this business among others; whose Institute at the mandate of Innocent IV that he should diligently inquire into the manners and institutes of certain modern Religious in that city, recently stirred up under the title of Servants of B. Mary Virgin; and judge whether they were to be tolerated, or rather, according to the decree of the Lateran Council under Innocent III, to be abolished. For when the Christian republic was not only vexed by the fallacies of hypocrites and heretics daily rising up under the pretext of piety; but also, long orphaned of father and shepherd, like an acephalous body daily slipping into worse, had fallen to such a point, that the summit of the Catholic faith was found in the greatest danger; it was needful that Innocent IV, scarcely raised to the summit of the Apostolate, should look about on all sides, and oppose to so many threatening evils the strong remedies of this kind of holy Inquisition for correcting errors. For from that license of living which, by Frederick II as author, had crept through almost all of Italy, as from a worst root, so many heresies (which easily from excessive freedom and lust of acting frequently arise) seemed to spring forth, that the Church was gradually being infected with depraved morals. And since the cunning of the devil sometimes comes to this, that even under a sheep's skin the malice of wolves is concealed, from that suspicion and vigilance of the Pope and Inquisitors even new Religious were not exempted. At that time among pseudo-religious there also flourished certain heresies of the Albigensians, of the Poor of Lyons, of the Pseudo-apostles, of William of S. Amour, of the Flagellants; and others of this kind: who, while they took care to disseminate their sects more widely under the appearance of piety and religion, were not afraid even to disturb the Religious themselves and especially the mendicant Orders, and, if they could, to overthrow them from their foundations.

[25] Peter therefore of Verona of the Order of Preachers, a man no less filled with sanctity than with virtues and doctrine, through all Italy, with every power of rebuking the worst morals and of inquiring into and coercing heretical depravities, was destined by the Pope; examined, he approves much, while at Florence he was discharging the task entrusted to him, this title of Servants, the new institution, and their custom and use of living diligently inquiring, came to the Bishop of the city; and asking his testimony and faith, being made more certain concerning the individual things which had happened, and how they had been initiated under the auspices of the Blessed Virgin, he willed that they, so that he might more fully know them, be first summoned to him, then that he dwell among them: And addressing Bonfilius with the rest of the Brothers, he inquired into their origin, life, number and very many other things pertaining to Religion and faith, and learned. Having heard their unblamable life, and having diligently inspected their unfeigned sanctity; the man of God rejoices, exults, and renders immense thanks to the most holy Mother of Christ; both because she had chosen for herself such and so great men as Servants, and also because she had, to him many times praying, revealed through enigmatic excesses that which he then most openly understood to be fulfilled in the same Brothers Servants.

[26] For from the time the holy man had come to Florence, he affirmed that he had been raised in ecstasy a third time after prayer, and had seen a mountain covered to the highest with a clear light, and adorned with every kind of flower: among which seven whitest lilies far surpassed the others in beauty and sweetness: concerning him instructed through heavenly visions. which, gathered by Angels into one and offered before the Blessed Virgin, were received by her with a cheerful face, and at the same time commended to Peter. There are also those who relate how, to Peter praying, it once seemed that the Blessed Virgin, surrounded by Angels, covered under both her arms and cloak these same Brothers whom Peter had before addressed: and while, held by this kind of vision, he marveled, the Blessed Virgin said to him: Behold, Peter, these are the men whom from the fellowship of others I have chosen for myself as Servants, that, marked by this peculiar name, they may render perpetual service to me; take care therefore that they retain the name and habit conferred on them, and observe the Rule of S. Augustine. With which said, she vanished. In whose vision Peter being greatly delighted, early in the morning he went to Ardingus, recounting what had happened. Both then, affected with the greatest joy, again met the Brothers; whom Peter with incredible joy embraced, and recounted to them what the most pious Virgin had deigned to show him. All of which, when he was holding a sermon publicly before the Florentine people, with the greatest eagerness of the citizens he was recounting; and he exhorted the Florentines that they should venerate these Religious of theirs, whom he had found to be truly Servants of the Virgin and men of the highest goodness. Nor did he publicly recount many things about this kind of Order only at Florence, but also everywhere in his sermons; and he made Innocent the Supreme Pontiff, as he had in his mandates, more certain of their excellent institution and most auspicious beginning: just as he had promised all his work with the Apostolic See, for the augmenting of that Order, both to Bishop Ardingus and to the Brothers themselves. This is that Peter who, for defending Christ's Catholic faith, merited to be crowned with martyrdom, soon by the same Innocent IV, illustrious for miracles, to be enrolled in the number of Saints, the greatest splendor of the Dominican Family, whom also the Order of Servants, not unmindful of so great a benefit, entered in the sacred Fasti, and commanded his feast to be celebrated in their churches with a double Office every year on the fourth. Thus Gianius.

§ IV The cult of S. Peter singular in certain cities, Relics, writers of the Life.

[27] Although the cult of S. Peter Martyr is common to the whole Christian world, nevertheless in those places it appears more illustrious, which are consecrated with some portion of his relics. But nowhere more than at Milan: where in the church of S. Eustorgius the sacred body of the Martyr, at Milan a chapel built for the preservation of the head, and in a nearby chapel separately the head is religiously kept. That chapel Pigellus Portinarius, a noble Florentine, built: whose epitaph inscribed on this tomb we have read there. Pigellus Portinarius, a Florentine by country, most distinguished in nobility and probity, dedicated this chapel to Saint Peter Martyr; here he was buried on the 11th day of October, in the year 1468. The following verses are seen there, written to the honor of so great a Martyr by S. Thomas Aquinas, staying at Milan in the year 1263:

Herald, lantern, boxer, of Christ, of the people, and of the faith, Here is silenced, here is covered, here lies slain unjustly. verses inscribed on the tomb by S. Thomas. A voice sweet to the sheep, a most pleasing light of souls, And the sword of the word fell by the swords of the Cathari. Christ makes wondrous, the devout people adores, And faith preserved by martyrdom adorns the Saint. But Christ makes new signs to speak, and new to the crowd Light is given, and faith made known shines again in the city.

The very epitaph of S. Peter is this: D. O. M. To Saint Peter of the Order of Preachers, with three crowns, of doctrine, virginity and Martyrdom, in the year 1252.

[28] About thirteen miles from Milan a church is also seen built to him, a church dedicated to S. Peter in the place of the slaying, commonly called of S. Peter Martyr of Barlassina, which once, being about to enter, S. Carlo Borromeo, Archbishop of Milan, ordered his shoes and stockings to be taken off his feet at the threshold, that he might enter barefoot. So Paul Morigia narrates in the Milanese Sanctuary. The major and principal altar of this church is erected in that place, in which, slain for the faith, the Saint met death. A weapon there curved in the form of a sickle is preserved, the instrument of his death, strong with the power of miracles. There is also to be seen earth sprinkled with the holy Martyr's blood, of which no small portion, salutary for curing diseases, the pious worshippers of the same have carried off with them: on this S. Peter, dying, is said to have inscribed the beginning of the Apostles' Creed.

[29] Among the Placentines also the veneration of S. Peter is distinguished. In the church of the Convent which has its name from S. John, likewise at Piacenza, where his cap with a joint of a finger, they preserve a certain cap of black cloth lined with skin: since once it had served the holy Martyr for warding off evil from his head, with his feast returning every year, it is customarily placed on the heads of citizens who flock there. They also venerate a joint from one of the fingers, which, immersed in the waters of a certain well, which he had ordered to be dug, makes them salutary for those who drink, for driving away diseases. It was also established by the Placentine people,

that the day sacred to S. Peter should every year wholly be a feast, and at the sound of the trumpet, with the Prætor of the city accompanying, some waxen offering should be solemnly offered. There is a custom there of consecrating with sacred blessing, at the invocation of the Saint, branches of palms and olives, and the custom of consecrating branches on his feast against storms. in which a prodigious power against lightning and other storms of the sky is believed to reside. So in the Ecclesiastical History of the city of Piacenza, Peter Maria Campi. The prayers by which these branches are customarily consecrated are of this kind: Hear the prayers of Thy faithful, almighty God, that as Thou wast propitiously present to Thy servant Moses in Helim, where there were seventy palms and twelve fountains of waters; so in the solemnity of S. Peter Thy Martyr, which we today observe, Thou mayst deign by Thine immense piety to be present to Thy devout people standing by: and these palms, which in honor of Thy name and for reverence of the same aforesaid Martyr of Thine it yearns to receive, deign to bless: that in whatever places, houses, gardens, vineyards, woods or fields they shall have been placed, the inhabitants and possessors may merit Thy generous blessing and benign guardianship; and every adversity of lightnings and storms of malignant spirits, by the intercession and merits of the same most holy Peter the Martyr, may flee away and be reduced to nothing. So that the faithful, trusting in Thy free mercy, and receiving the palms with devout hands, and placing them in whatever places shall seem good to them, both they themselves and their land, from every incursion and infestation of most wicked demons, by Thine ineffable clemency, may be protected; and by the assiduous patronage of the same most blessed Peter the Martyr, may merit to obtain health of mind and body. Through our Lord Jesus, etc.

[30] a church at Padua and a sodality: The inscription of the church at Padua, dedicated to S. Peter although in a common dedication consecrated also to other Saints, is this: In the year of the Lord 1275, on the 3rd of the month of August this work began to be done by the Commune of Padua, to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of B. Mary his mother, and of the Blessed Confessors Augustine, Dominic, John the Evangelist, the Apostles Peter and Paul, and Stephen, and Peter Martyr, and others whose altars are here. In the same city, as Angelus Portenarus testifies in the book on the Felicity of Padua, in the year 1323, under the name and tutelage of S. Peter a sodality was instituted, famous for its rich annual income and for its wonderful devotion toward its patron Saint; for which an annual procession has been decreed by the citizens, on account of the memory of the peace restored to the city on the day sacred to the holy Martyr.

[31] a chapel at Como in which a finger, At Como, where S. Peter held the Priorate, he has a chapel conspicuous with miracles painted in order, and venerable with a great number of waxen and silver ex-votos hanging from it. One of his fingers here is held in veneration; which both by itself, and through water consecrated by its contact, heals many fevers. But of his cell, cell and other memorials. turned into a chapel, these inscribed verses are read:

I was the cell of Peter, which you behold, of the gentle Martyr, When he strikes heretics strongly and piously. Behold, he then endured fierce blows, wounds, death: Now by his merits venerate me as sacred.

In this city a sodality of Cross-bearers was instituted by him, which in subsequent years, notably augmented, many Supreme Pontiffs decorated with sacred privileges. Likewise a well was ordered by him to be dug there, whose waters drunk reverently and with confidence are salutary for driving away fevers. A tree also planted by him is most useful for extinguishing pains of the kidneys. So Francisco Ballarino in the Chronicle of Como. a finger at Cesena.

[32] What of his Relics is preserved at Cesena, a city of Italy situated between Faenza and Rimini; thus Bernardinus Manzonius narrates in the Chronology of the people of Cesena: S. Peter, Inquisitor of the Order of Preachers, commonly S. Peter Martyr, came to Cesena, and stayed there for a long time. This holy man, often coming, they received with great honor and followed departing with a most honorable company; and with great concourse and the greatest devotion the people of Cesena heard him preaching. Who at last obtained the finger of this holy Martyr (a sacred and long-desired relic): whose solemn translation was made at Cesena in the year 1519; and it was placed in the church of the Brothers of the same Order of Preachers, in whose Saint's honor it is dedicated. And every year the people of Cesena solemnly celebrate his feast on the twenty-ninth day of April. and at Verona. Thus he. Of Verona, his native city, its Bishop Augustine Valerius writes thus. S. Peter Martyr has a church, which, as Francis Corna asserts, at the time he was writing, namely in the year of the Lord 1477, was not yet completed: in which church, which is also called S. Anastasia, a finger of S. Peter is preserved. That the cult of S. Peter is most ancient and most celebrated at Pesaro, we know from the old book of statutes of that city, where in Rubric 4 it is decreed, cult at Pesaro, how the two principal feasts of B. Mary assumed and of S. Terentius are to be celebrated, and how the offerings of those days are to be used; and then it is commanded that the same be understood of the offerings due and customary on the festivities of the body of Christ, of S. Mustia, of S. Peter Martyr, and of S. Michelina. I would believe these decrees pertain to the 14th century: that the author of the feast to be so solemnly instituted was Fr. Salvus, whom, as the only bishop from the Order of Preachers confirmed in the year 1292, the people of Pesaro had, although his episcopate was brief. Whether there was any other special cause binding that city to the Saint, I have not yet discovered, and I shall gladly learn.

[33] At Recanati a particle of the wood of the holy cross At Recanati, in the church of the PP. Preachers, we beheld an elegant altar erected to him, venerable with a sacred particle of Christ's Cross, which once, to confound the heretic Fraticelli, he threw into the fire, violated in nothing by it: Modestus Benevenutus, a Sylvestrine monk, narrates the deed in this sense, in his Historical Relation of the Saints of Recanati: The constant tradition of our forefathers, he says, is that S. Peter Martyr once came into our city, and by the preachings and by the miracles which he worked, led back very many of the citizens from error to the truth of the Catholic faith. He is said among other things to have carried with him a part of the holy cross of Christ, with which he extinguished fires. and to have produced by it an illustrious miracle in the forum of the city, extinguishing a vast fire, with all astonished at the novelty of the matter who had flocked to the spectacle. Which, depicted once by a certain Lotto, an illustrious painter of those times, is seen today in the church of S. Dominic. The wood of the holy Cross, however, is fittingly preserved enclosed in another chalice elaborated from silver, customarily carried out of the church by the Priest in turbid and stormy weather and exposed to public veneration, with the clouds immediately scattered at the sight of the sacred wood. The city, considering itself bound for these benefits to the holy Martyr, that it might be grateful, chose him as its tutelary Patron. Thus he.

[34] Patron of the Inquisition in Spain Thus far about Italy. In Spain, where (as Tamayus de Salazar writes for the memory of this Saint) the tribunal of the holy Inquisition, constructed many ages back, still more happily perseveres in its green observance, there is no ancient Breviary in which the office of so great a Martyr is not found; and the ministers of the holy Office have chosen him as Patron and Protector for themselves and their confraternities: who also upon this matter and upon the greater cult of him (for what before had been Double for many, the Apostolic See has once and again reduced to the rite of Semidouble) have obtained the following Brief, which the aforesaid Tamayus suggests, conceived in these words. Since S. Peter Martyr of the Order of Preachers, from boyhood was the most bitter defender of the orthodox faith, which even when dying he professed with the creed against the heretics killing him; and for this reason the kingdoms of the Spains glory in bearing great devotion toward the said holy Martyr; to this end that his feast day may be celebrated with greater veneration, he is venerated with a double Office. the King of Spain and in his name the Orator at the Apostolic See has earnestly supplicated the Most Holy Father, to grant that all Ministers and Ecclesiastical Officials of the holy Office of the kingdoms of Spain be able to celebrate the said feast day of S. Peter Martyr, with an Office under the rite of double and Masses with the Creed: and with the petition through the Most Holy Father sent to this sacred Congregation of Rites, the same sacred Congregation judged it should be granted, if it shall please the Most Holy. The Most Holy assented on the 19th day of the month of March 1633. C. Bishop of Porto, Card. Pius. Julius Rospigliosius, Secretary; who afterwards was Apostolic Legate in Spain under Alexander VII, Relics at Prague. and finally the supreme Pontiff Clement IX. At Prague in Bohemia the treasure of sacred Relics, preserved in the Metropolitan, contains some particles of the same S. Peter given by Emperor Charles IV, and brought from Milan around the year 1355, as we learn from the Diary of the same church often cited this month. Elsewhere perhaps some things of this kind are found, by which the festivity of the holy Martyr is made more illustrious in those places and dearer to the peoples: meanwhile it will suffice for us to have collected these things more known to us.

[35] Life written a little after his death. The Life and Passion of S. Peter was written a little after his canonization by Fr. Thomas of Lentino, or Leontinus, by nation a Sicilian, ten years before Prior of Naples, and then perhaps Provincial of Lombardy; certainly around the year 1255 he set out for the Holy Land, probably with the power of Provincial; where at length he was created Bishop of Bethlehem; then was taken up to the Archbishopric of Cosenza, and finally again sent back to the East by Gregory X, in the year of Christ 1272, because the Pope could find no one to whom both other distinguished talents, and the long stay of conversation which he had drawn in those parts, more recommended, to administer the Patriarchate of Jerusalem with the office of Legate a latere. Hence in the Life which he wrote, which is found in the Convent of S. Marco at Florence in MS. in primitive style, but is read in Surius in the same slightly changed in printing, in both places the title of Patriarch of Jerusalem is added. Of this Life we have an illustrious compendium which we keep, transcribed from the Utrecht Passional of the church of S. Salvator. The same Life was first used by Gerardus Frachetus of Limoges, Provincial of the Province, when at the order of Humbert the General (who, however, left the magistracy in the year 1263) he compiled the book called "Lives of the Brothers"; miracles successively collected by others: but from other sources he added certain illustrious miracles, reported from various Convents of Spain, France, Germany. More then, by mandate of the Venerable Father Fr. Berengarius, the 13th Master of the Order of Preachers, were collected and committed to writing around the year 1314. Others Fr. Petrus Calo of Chioggia, of the Order of Preachers, collected in his great Legendary, around the same time or a little before; which along with the other volume of this Legendary still lie hidden: for the other, which is preserved in the Library of Cardinal Francisco Barberini, showed us nothing of the sort.

[36] The Life excerpted in the 15th century S. Antoninus saw the earlier things and excerpted what he judged worthier of note in his History, completed around the year 1450, title 23 ch. 5. Using the Commentaries of S. Antoninus, Francis the Priest of Castiglione by S. Antoninus, collected a new Life of the holy Martyr

from the same sources, which he put together as briefly and as cut down a narrative as he could, at Florence in the year 1471; and on the 22nd of April of the same year dedicated it to the Most Reverend Lord B. Cardinal of Ravenna (this was Bartholomew Roverella), thus beginning the prologue: by Francis of Castiglione, I have determined, Most Reverend Father, to recall the ancient praise of our family, while I briefly touch on the Life of B. Peter Martyr in the shortest narrative. For since the memory of this glorious Martyr in our city and in the church of B. Mary, whose surname is Novella, is exceedingly celebrated, I have found a chapel in the most celebrated place of that church, founded and dedicated to the name of the holy Martyr himself by my kindred; and also other buildings in the same place, which is the most noble monastery of the Brothers Preachers in Italy, erected with no small expenses: which matter both the perpetual memory of the Brothers themselves and the ancient arms of our family engraved on walls and columns attest. Francis was, as is read after the Life of S. Thomas Aquinas also elaborated by him, Doctor of Sacred Theology, in Greek and Latin letters the most skilled man of his time, Canon of S. Lorenzo of Florence and Parson of S. Appianus.

[37] Leander Albertus, who in the year 1517 published at Bologna six books on the illustrious men of the Order of Preachers, although elsewhere he uses Francis's writings; in this Saint, however, who ought to have led the band of Martyrs at the head of the second book, wished to show honor to his own country, by taking up the Life, written with equal brevity by John Garzo of Bologna, by John Garzo: a most distinguished orator, to the Venerable P. F. John Torphaninus of Bologna: of which John's age nothing has been made clear to me: he indicates he wrote after several others, when, having related the conversion of a certain wealthy heretic, he denies that it is at hand, to say what followed; because there are no authors who have committed those things to writing; but he had said before that out of the many signs of his living, which are handed down to memory by writers, he would relate two. But he also professes that it was not his intention to commit all the Saint's actions to writing, because in doing so he would seem to exceed his mode of writing. His special care was to weave together certain things more worthy of note, and to adorn them with flowers of profane, even gentile, erudition. He did not even touch upon miracles after death: Which if any one, he says, should demand for himself so officious a Province, I shall pursue him with no mediocre honor of words.

[38] The MSS. of Taëgius excel the rest, which we give. Seemed to have deserved that honor who flourished and wrote at Milan at the beginning of the 16th century, Ambrose Taëgius: from whose volumes hitherto unedited, which he left in manuscript in his convent of S. Maria delle Grazie concerning the insignia of the Order of Preachers, we have received many excellent Lives to be inserted in this our work. Of these, one is this, which we judge above all others and alone should be given: for it both embraces the Life written by Thomas of Lentino word for word, and the syntagmata of miracles lost, certainly not yet produced hitherto, if not in the same words as the Life, at least in the same sense, it arranges in the best order. The other authors whom I have named, will serve for enriching the Annotations. It does not matter to name individually more recent writers, such as Razzius, Castellus, Rehac, and very many others: since it can be said in one word, that by all who have either treated the History of the Order or collected the Lives of Saints in this age in the order of years or days, some life or laudation of this Saint is brought forward, so that not even of vernacular languages can any be sought which lacks knowledge of S. Peter Martyr.

LIFE

Written by Thomas of Lentino, a contemporary, of the Order of Preachers, afterwards Patriarch of Jerusalem; Augmented by Ambrose Taëgius of the same Order, from his MSS. at Milan in the Convent of S. Maria delle Grazie.

Peter Martyr, of the Order of Preachers (S.)

BHL Number: 6722, 6723, 0000, 6726

BY AMBR. TAËGIUS FROM MS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] There are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and there are three who give testimony on earth, the spirit, water, and blood. 1 Jn. 5:7 Divine wisdom has provided for the glory of the Saints to be established by many and various testimonies, by which it might more attentively lift the hearts of the faithful in praise of His goodness, and more vehemently and more frequently excite them to the veneration of the Saints. Happy indeed is the Saint, sanctity conferred on S. Peter by the Holy Trinity to whom both heavenly and earthly testimonies are in support; for whom neither heavenly virtue be lacking for glory, nor earthly praise for fame, spread far and wide and approved by the testimonies of the faithful. Which indeed in B. Peter the Martyr, the new champion of the faith, become known more quickly; to whose sanctity the whole Trinity bears witness; namely the power of the Father, in miracles; the wisdom of the Son, in doctrines; the grace of the Holy Spirit, in virtues and gifts, with which he decorated him more abundantly, and anointed him with the unction of his charisms beyond his partakers. And that the faith in the champion of faith against the impugners of the faith, namely heretics, might shine forth more, proved by his very works and shining forth with its rays might more powerfully blind the eyes of the envious; earthly testimonies were not wanting, since both the water of baptismal innocence, which he preserved untouched from his mother's womb; and the spirit of salutary wisdom, which he diffused untouched through Italy; and the blood of triumphal passion, which for the faith of Christ he victoriously sustained, bear testimony to the proclamations of his manifold glory; that he might be equal in reward to the holy virgins, Doctors and Martyrs, whose principal imitator he has proved himself by merit. Which that they may more fully appear, taking the beginning of the narrative from the earliest beginnings of his life, up to the triumph of his passion we have decreed to carry on a brief but rude style; adding some miracles shown from heaven, as the approved relation of men worthy of faith has brought to us the order of truth, to the glory and honor of Him, who has crowned His Martyr with glory and honor.

ANOTHER PROLOGUE.

Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? the glory of S. Peter this handsome one in his stole, walking in the multitude of his strength? Isa. 63:1 In a wondrous manner the Angels marvel, as the new King with the new royal insignia enters the heavenly regions, Who, they say, is this, so wonderful to heaven, so remarkable to the world, so terrible to hell, that at his name every knee of things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth should bow: who comes from Edom with dyed garments from Bozrah? etc. All things bring into wonder the beholders of that greatness, omitting nothing of the things touching him, whether those which pertain to the dyeing of the passion or to the glory of the resurrection, or to the magnificent retinue of the ascension: for the individual things are full of wonder and praise, but all joined together add wonder, and more wonderful things occur even to the supernal intelligences themselves. Let men therefore wonder, in an Angelic manner; let hearers and spectators of so great a virtue wonder, as through a mirror in enigmas, at the new soldier pursuing the footprints of the King with triumphal tokens, while thus dyed with gore and victorious he is described in a bloody garment, thus fruitful in the grace of doctrine, through which he bore with him to the Lord a great company of the Faithful, as it were the sheaves of his seed, whether those whom from error he converted to the faith, or from fault to justice he transferred, or from the world to Religion he led. laurel of the doctorate, of virginity and of martyrdom distinguished. These are the triumphal tokens of the new champion, to be marveled at in all ages, and unheard of from ancient ages, that thus crowned with a triple laurel he should ascend, namely of Martyrs, in the shedding of blood for the faith of Christ; of Virgins, in the untouched cleanness of mind and body; and of Preachers, in the dissemination of salutary wisdom, through which he converted many into the way of salvation. These are the things which heaven wonders at, the world venerates, and the infernal army of demons and heretics dreads, as is evident from various and wondrous miracles: hence just as he bore into heaven new tokens of more abundant glory; so he left to the world new joys of fuller grace; and with the followers of errors confuted, he more attentively excited all the Faithful to follow his footsteps. But that the beginning, end, and middle of his deeds may be commended to memory; from the beginnings of his origin, through the course of his conversation, up to the triumphal title of passion and death, we have assumed the order of the narrative to be described, as the approved description of men worthy of faith has brought it to us, to the honor of Him, who is the beginning and the end, the honor and glory and crown of the Saints.

The first Prologue may also be read in Surius: the second (of the same or another author I could not divine) is found after the first, in the Florentine MS. of the Convent of S. Marco. Taëgius, professing to give a Life compiled from many Legends into one, wished his work to be tripartite, and divided the individual parts into paragraphs, in this form which follows.

SYLLABUS OF THE ANCIENT DIVISION.

PART I. §. 1. Of his origin.

2 Of the disputation of the faith and the victory he had against his uncle.

3 Of his sending to the studies of Bologna, and entry into the Order.

4 Of the austerity of his life, in fasts and abstinences in the Novitiate.

5 Of the purity of his mind and body.

6 Of the holy virgins of the heavenly fatherland, who appeared to him praying.

7 Of his profound humility, and studiousness for divine letters.

8 Of his zeal for defending the Catholic faith, and for the impugnation of heresies.

9 Of the grace of his Preaching, and the devotion of peoples toward him.

10 Of the confidence which he had toward God.

11 Of the young mute man, to whom he miraculously restored speech.

12 Of the bodily and spiritual cure of a certain desperate woman.

13 Of the young man, whom he freed from an evil tumor.

14 Of the oil, by his merits divinely multiplied in a vessel.

15 Of certain things which he foretold to the people of Cesena, things to come.

16 Of the austerity of his life, and of the fact that he foretold to the wife of D. John Scotus the return of her husband to his country, and the son to be born from her.

17 Of the brother struck by a scorpion, and healed through B. Peter.

18 Of the heretic, wishing to mock B. Peter, struck by God, and wonderfully healed in soul and body through him.

19 Of the heretic, confuted by him and with the B. Virgin comforting him.

20 Of the horse, running upon the people with B. Peter preaching at Florence, and by the merits of the same Saint hurting no one.

21 Of the devil, who in the form of a most black horse wanted to disturb his sermon.

22 Of the expulsion of heretics from the city of Florence at B. Peter's urging.

23 Of the young man, who out of indiscreet zeal cut off his own foot, and was perfectly healed through B. Peter.

24 Of the Crucified speaking to him, and strengthening him in tribulations.

25 Of the heretic, converted to the Catholic faith through his prudence and virtue.

26 Of the machination of the mind of the heretics and demons with the body of Christ, scattered through him.

27 Of the mute boy restored through him to the office of speech.

28 Of a certain woman, by his merits freed from peril of death.

29 Of the miracle of the lit candle, by which his sanctity was designated.

30 Of the office of Inquisitor of heretical depravity in Milan and its county, committed to him by the Apostolic See.

31 Of the little cloud, which he divinely obtained over the sweltering people.

32 Of the victory, which he had against the loquacious heretic, by taking away his speech.

33 Of two, freed at the touch of his cape from most grievous infirmities.

34 Of two contracted men, healed by him with prayer and the sign of the cross.

35 Of his prayer to the body of Christ, and how he foretold the ruin of the castle of Gatha.

PART II. Of his Martyrdom, canonization, and translation of his body.

§. 1 Of the fact that he foreknew his death, and foretold it in public preaching.

2 Of the tract made at the death of B. Peter, and of those who were present at it.

3 Of his Martyrdom.

4 How his body, as he had foretold when living, rested that night at S. Simplicianus.

5 Of the sick woman, healed at the touch of his body.

6 Of the conformity of his martyrdom to the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Of the nun of the monastery of Ripoli near Florence, to whom the glory and passing of B. Peter Martyr was shown.

8 Of the lamps hanging from his tomb, divinely lit by a heavenly light.

9 Of the miracles wrought at the touch of earth dyed with the blood of the Martyr himself.

10 Of the solemn canonization of B. Peter Martyr, made by D. Innocent IV at Perugia.

11 Letters of canonization.

12 Of the fact that the supreme Pontiff ordered his feast to be solemnly celebrated.

13 Letters of the supreme Pontiff on the celebration of the feast of B. Peter Martyr.

14 Of the venerable translation of his body.

PART III. Of the miracles after the death of B. Peter Mart. divinely wrought at his invocation, both before and after his canonization.

§. 1 Of the blood, which miraculously flowed on his feast, and the conversion of a heretic.

2 Of the cloth of the tunic of this Martyr, which leapt back unburned from the fire.

3 Of certain persons blaspheming the holy Martyr, punished by God.

4 Of violators of vows made to B. Peter Mart., severely punished by God.

5 Of miracles done for Brothers of the Order of Preachers through B. Peter Mart.

6 Of miracles for persons of both sexes of the Order of Minors, done by his merits.

7 Of miracles for certain other religious persons, wrought by the merits of the holy Martyr.

8 Of the dead, raised divinely by the merits of B. Peter Martyr.

9 Of women, established in the peril of childbirth, freed at his invocation.

10 Of children born deformed, reformed at the invocation of B. Martyr.

11 Of sons, granted by the Lord at the invocation of B. Peter Martyr.

12 Of the sick, established in the article of death, freed by the prayers of the Martyr.

13 Of the fevered, healed at the invocation of the Martyr.

14 Of certain dropsical persons, freed at the invocation of the Martyr.

15 Of a certain one freed from the evil of the stone, at the invocation of S. Peter Martyr.

16 Of Paralytics, freed by the merits of B. Peter Martyr.

17 Of the liberation of the mother of the aforesaid boy from a grave infirmity of the breasts.

18 Of the contracted, freed at the invocation of B. Peter Mart.

19 Of infirmities of abscesses and fistulas, cured through the holy Martyr.

20 Of the liberation of the aforesaid woman from the peril of drowning.

21 Of a certain one freed from the infirmity of cancer by the merits of B. Peter M.

22 Of a certain furious man, freed at the invocation of B. Peter Mart.

23 Of some epileptics, healed by the merits of B. Peter Mart.

24 Of a lethargic woman, freed at the invocation of the Holy Martyr.

25 Of a man, whose chest vein broken, healed by the merits of B. Peter Mart.

26 Of various miracles done from water blessed with the relics of S. Peter.

27 Of demoniacs freed through B. Peter Mart.

28 Of him who, in testimony of the sanctity of B. Peter, bore glowing iron in his hands without harm.

29 Of the fire repressed at the presence of the relics of B. Peter Martyr.

30 Of the blood coming forth from the relics of B. Peter Martyr, and of the novice doubting in the faith confirmed by this.

31 Of the ship in peril, with B. Peter appearing on the sail, freed from shipwreck.

32 Of the ship remaining immobile on the shore, and in the name of B. Peter Mart. by the sole touch of the hand quickly moving itself.

CHAPTER I.

Birth of S. Peter, entry into Religion, virtues in the novitiate, abstinence, colloquies with Saints and Christ, sermons.

[1] Born at Verona to heretical parents, Blessed Peter Martyr, of the order of Fr. Preachers, from the Province of Lombardy, Veronese by origin, drew his origin from heretical parents a; so that, like light from darkness, a rose from thorns, a flower risen from brambles, he might shine forth so much more in the cloister, and glow in heaven; by as much as from parents blinded by error, a luminous preacher arises; and from those wounded in mind, and corrupt in body, virginal glory proceeds; and from thorns appointed to eternal burning, an illustrious Martyr ascends. And although nature teaches a son to be informed by the instructions of his parents, and necessity compels the boy; yet he so kept himself clean from errors and immune, that neither by the deceitfulness of flatteries, nor by the urgency of admonitions, nor by the frequency of blows could he at all be led or compelled to the conferences of heretics. he shuns the companionship of heretics, He already seemed to understand: he who touches pitch will be defiled by it, and evil conversations corrupt good morals. For what nature has bestowed upon men and animals, that a man should abhor the sight of a serpent, and a lamb of a wolf, and feel an implanted enmity; this a heavenly unction taught the boy of good nature, that he should flee the assaults of venomous serpents, and recognize rapacious wolves, although covered with sheep's skins, as enemies, and avoid their companionship.

[2] But when around b his seventh year, returning from the schools, to which he had been handed over to be imbued with letters, at seven he defends the symbol of faith. by his c paternal uncle, a heretic, a great snare of the devil, being asked what he had learned in schools; he answered that he had learned the Symbol of the faith: "I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth," etc., reciting in order. From whose profession when the said uncle strove to turn the aforesaid boy, as if a raw fighter; so that he should confess not God, against his uncle but rather the devil as the creator of these visible things, even adding authorities in support of his error, since he was a lawyer and patron of infidelity; yet he could obtain nothing from the boy, who firmly affirmed that what he had read and what was written he wished to believe and confess. Which, when that seducer of souls and snare of the devil perceived, he reported the whole thing that had been done to the father; and, that he might remove d Petrinus from schools, persuaded him by every means: For I fear, he said, that when Petrinus shall have been well learned, he may betake himself to the harlot Roman Church, and so destroy our faith. foreshadowing his hatred against heretics: But this he said not from himself, but as another Caiaphas prophesied that B. Peter would destroy the perfidy of heretics, not knowing the future. But because there is no counsel against the Lord, his father did not give assent to his brother's admonitions, hoping to attract the son to his sect through some heresiarch afterwards, when he should be instructed in Grammar.

[3] The boy therefore, with his childhood years already run through at home, was sent to Bologna to study: he is sent to Bologna to his studies, where although he had been removed from the urgency of the heretics, yet there were not wanting new kinds of impugnation, striving to snatch away the flower of his modesty, customary to more adolescent age. For who among the enticements of the flesh, the deceptions of the world, the snares of the enemy and the slippery companies of comrades, could suffice to guard the integrity of mind and body? To live in the flesh beyond the flesh, Jerome in Assump. B. V. is Angelic, not human, says Jerome. Wherefore the ingenious boy, having obtained a good soul, and longing with all his affections for an unstained body and an immaculate heart; recognizing and being amazed at the goodness of divine dispensation around him, was confessed by those privy to his purity, how in so slippery a way he could have avoided a lapse of chastity. Perceiving also that it was not safe to dwell with scorpions, like another Joseph, he left his cloak in the hand of the Egyptian plotting against his modesty, and fleeing to the refuge of religion, despising the world with its falling flower, and his parents with their destroying error, he himself pure entered the Order of Preachers under B. Dominic e (as is written in the Lives of the Brothers), to be a distinguished preacher, an assailant of heresies, he enters the Order of Preachers, a persecutor of filth, and a most powerful rebuker of vices. In which order indeed, following the blessed Father Dominic as his leader through the footprints of poverty and humility, a virgin following a virgin, he attained the great summit of perfection; always advancing from virtue to virtue, and proceeding as a shining light to the perfect day.

[4] distinguished by the austerity of life In his novitiate, inflamed with excessive zeal against the flesh, lest the servant delicately nourished should grow wanton against his master, he afflicted himself with fasts and abstinence of excessive austerity, he macerated himself with vigils of propriety in prayers; so that exceeding the measure of his own fragility, he almost lost the citizen, while seeking to destroy the enemy. For with his sinews contracted from excessive exhaustion, his teeth were so strongly clamped together, that they could scarcely be opened by any instrument to swallow anything that could be sipped. But the Lord, having mercy on him or rather on his people, did not allow that blessed mouth to be shut longer, which He had so often disposed to open in the midst of His Church. But restored to his former health, he changed the mode of abstinence, not the purpose or custom of abstaining. abstinence, But the experience of human weakness, compassion joined to virtue, so ordered in him the affection of piety and parsimony, that although he remained sparing and austere to himself, yet he was always more indulgent to the necessities of others. For when from a more abundant grace, spread on his lips, the Lord had inflamed the hearts of many to his devotion, and they rejoiced more vehemently when they could send him some little pieties of gifts (as the Brothers, who were then present, diligently noted), from all the foods that were sent abundantly on account of his grace, through one whole Lent, he either ate nothing or little; as he was accustomed more often to abstain, following from afar Him who came to minister and not to be ministered to.

[5] Moreover, he studied always thus to preserve the integrity of mind and body untouched, with perpetual virginity and innocence, and in preserving to advance; so that a virgin in body and a virgin in mind, he never felt the contagion of any mortal crime, as has been proved by the faithful testimony of his Confessors. And lest through the sloth of idleness he should lie open to hostile snares, he exercised himself assiduously in the justifications of the Lord; that, with him totally occupied about virtuous things, nothing vicious might anywhere obtain a place in him, and from spiritual wickednesses

he might be safe. Moreover, how pleasing he was in devotion, and with various other virtues. calm in obedience, sweet in kindness, constant in patience, surpassing in charity, and in all things composed with maturity of morals; seculars and Brothers who saw him, and merited his fellowship, and adhered to him more familiarly, protest more diffusely. f

[6] He was also of such purity and sanctity, that holy Virgins from the heavenly court sometimes visited him, and with him praying familiarly conversed. Hence when he was staying in a certain city g in the convent of the Order, heard conversing with Saints it happened that while he was praying in his cell, certain Brothers, led by levity, passing by his cell, hearing the conversation of several, resolved that they would catch who they might be. Who, hearing the voices of women, as less devout, judged that there were women in the cell. Hence in the Chapter, having brought witnesses before the Prior, they accused him: and wrongly therefore accused for however pious the cause, even of confession or necessary counsel, to introduce women into the dormitory, even the most honorable, is judged sacrilege. Rising in the middle, Fr. Peter, called by the Prior, is interrogated concerning the matter itself, and neither explains with whom he was speaking, (both lest he should seem to boast by asserting that he had held conversation with the holy Virgins, and also considering that faith would not be given to him alone against many) nor yet does he confess to have had in the cell women, of whom they intended; but silent, prostrate in the middle, he asks pardon. Who, he says, can say, "I am clean from sin," that he needs not pardon? The Prior sharply rebuked him, how he dared to bring women even honorable into his cell, when beyond the danger of infamy a mark might arise against the convent: he was judging perhaps more from some incaution and simple purity, than that it had been done in wantonness. The Order of Preachers then flourished, and all wantonness was banished from them. The Prior therefore orders Fr. Peter to leave that Convent, and to dwell in the convent of Jesi h of the same Order, he is sent away to another, situated in the March, and there as if relegated to remain, that he may learn not to scandalize convents by such incautions. He bows his head, humbly receives the penance, though innocent, takes up the journey and applying himself, resides there. But on a certain night, while he was more devoutly praying in the church before the image of the Crucified, the confusion inflicted on him without cause and the rebuke came to his mind, and excited his sensitive faculty to sadness, and making a pious complaint to the Crucified, he said: with Christ consoling him from the cross. My Lord, Thou knowest my innocence in that matter, why didst Thou permit me to be thus judged? And the image of the Crucified to him: And I, Peter, what evil have I done, that with so many reproaches and contumelies I should be condemned to the cross? learn therefore by my example to bear all things equanimously. By which words he was wonderfully comforted and consoled: but in the course of time it was declared that those had been deceived by error, who had believed the Virgins of the heavenly country to be women of the way. That image of the Crucified is still held in reverence and honor in the said convent.

[7] However much he flourished in virtues and shone forth in merits, he performs offices of humility; lest, as if scattering dust to the wind, if without humility he had accumulated other virtues in his soul, he so showed himself humble and subject in the congregation of Brothers; that to the services of the Brothers, in which the holy youth was sometimes occupied, he showed himself easy and willing. For often he served the sick with pious solicitude, frequently received guests with a cheerful affection, sometimes with a composition of words and gestures preserved he discreetly performed the office of doorkeeper, to no offices however humble and vile did he show himself difficult or unwilling; sometimes with Martha solicitously serving in outward ministries, and sitting at the Lord's feet with Mary, neither day nor night did he cease from divine colloquies and prayer, carrying the Gospel of Christ or some sacred codex under his arm or on his breast or in his hands, intent on the reading of pious books and of Scripture always reading when he could, or meditating on what he had read, or ruminating on what he had heard and committing to memory. For there was in him a burning desire for wisdom, and he became so great a lover of the divine law, that with the Eunuch of Ethiopia, even placed in daily ministry, he did not cease, when he could, to read the sacred letters. For in him thus in pleasing interchange ardor of learning and desire of earning merit succeeded one another; that wondrously sometimes not diminished in act, he did not cease to perceive no less wisdom. For divine providence had conferred on him a docile heart and tenacious memory for faithfully guarding deposits, and an instructed tongue for effectively dispensing deposits. Hence without delay his heart became the storehouse of the sacred Law and the armory of the holy Scriptures.

[8] he is kindled with zeal against heretics: Through the same time of novitiate, being not unmindful or forgetful, but a zealot of the reproaches of heretics reproaching the Church of God, he so impressed on his mind faith especially and those things which pertain to the defense of faith and the impugnation of heretics, that as a more ardent champion of faith, he had wholly devoted himself to its service and against its enemies; so that whatever of his words and studies smelled of the truth of faith: and thus about the defense of that very faith, for which he wholly burned, he prevailed and advanced; that carrying on continual contention against its dire enemies, his long contest at length with triumphal martyrdom surpassing it, he happily consummated. For he desired to undergo death for this from the earliest times, it is known that he especially asked this of the Lord with attentive and frequent supplications, that he would not allow him to depart from this light, unless having taken up for it the cup of passion. Nor was he defrauded of his desire.

[9] But with the Lord disposing His lamp, which he so kindled, not to hide under a bushel, he preaches but in a short space of time to exalt on the candlestick of preaching; the dispensation of the divine words was entrusted to him; and with heavenly virtue accompanying his study, he was made a general preacher. But where as another Gideon he took up the trumpet of preaching, with what glorious clangor he sounded it, through Lombardy and Italy, exciting enemies and faithful, in many parts has been heard. For the sound of him went forth into all the land of the province of Lombardy, even at the City, and through no small part of Tuscany, and through all Romagna and the March of Ancona. For which cities or towns situated there did he not sometimes excite with devout clamors? the hearts of which peoples dwelling in the said places did he not shake, or strike the hearing? Everywhere in the mentioned parts was the odor of his holy reputation diffused, to some an odor of life unto life, with celebrated fame to others an odor of death unto death: everywhere his person was rendered remarkable, everywhere his name became celebrated. The ear hearing blessed him, and the eye seeing bore witness to him concerning his holy works, concerning the exaltation of the faith and victorious refutation of error. But how many and what fruits he bore to the salvation of souls or to the abundance of his own merits, He alone knows who numbers the multitude of the stars, to whom all things are bare and open. For if he is blessed who has borne the yoke of the Lord from his adolescence; how much more blessed, who as the youth Benjamin in an excess of sanctity and virginity, for a space of about thirty years dwelling in the college of Preachers, spent all the time and number of the days of his life studiously in divine services, up to the triumphal title of his passion. with diligent study, And that full days might be found in him, and that he might not have empty nights; the nocturnal silences, assigned to human rest, after a brief sleep he ran through in the studies of readings, and the time of sleep he occupied with devout prayers and sighs: but he spent the days in the benefit of souls, either by dwelling on daily and sedulous preachings, or by insisting on the hearing of confessions, or by confuting the pestiferous dogma of heretics with strong reasons; in which it is certain he shone with a special gift of grace. Thus therefore the Lord has equalized grace to grace, that the multitude of people flocking together from everywhere to the preaching showed the greatness of his grace. with the greatest concourse, For from cities and fortresses, with banners and sounding trumpets, they burst forth to meet him coming: sometimes also so many followed him departing, that scarcely could he be separated from them. Very often also, where he had determined to preach, the innumerable concourse of crowds, snatching the places in advance, oppressed him intolerably. Because of which the people of Milan, as a distinguished sign of devotion, in a cart fashioned of painted boards, borne not by the necks of animals, but by the shoulders of the faithful, placed the Saint, preserving him unharmed from the troublesome pressure of the multitude; and providing him a place suitable for preaching, more eminent than the rest. For thus must the husbandman be conducted, who was sowing the seed of truth against heresies, the seed of peace against hatreds, and against crimes the seed of justice. Hence many abjured heresies with Catholic truth inspected, many laying aside injuries put an end to discords, very many by confessing their sins hastened to penance. For He who ministered such seeds to the sower, brought forth such fruits more abundantly from such seeds; because of which labors seemed light to him and days few, from the greatness of divine love.

[10] As, moreover, for bearing whatever labors, the love of God and the joy brought back from the abundance of fruits strengthened him more strongly; so for undertaking whatever difficult things, supernal confidence, proved by many experiences, provoked him. and with confidence in God. For he so trusted in heavenly aid, that he believed, and truly; that there could scarcely be men of such hard neck in a city or fortress, whom he would not salubriously overturn their hearts, if there were time for his preaching to insist longer: Hence if (which most rarely happened) sometimes it occurred that, having entered a city or town, on the first or second preaching he did not have an abundant people; the aforesaid confidence being revealed, for the consolation of his companions he brought forward that Prophetic saying: "yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown": which not only once by him as by Jonah, nor only in one city, but many times and in many places is known to have been fulfilled. Jon. 3:4

ANNOTATIONS.

there, and, naming holy Virgins, Agnes, Catherine, Cecilia.

CHAPTER II.

Speech restored to a mute by S. Peter, things to come foretold, oil multiplied, disease sent on one feigning disease.

[11] But while his doctrine grew like rain, amid those showers of eloquence as if poured from heaven, with the Lord working with him and confirming the discourse with signs following, many miracles began to shine forth. For while on a certain day at Milan, before the doors of the church of S. Eustorgius he was preaching; to a certain young mute, brought to him by the devotion of the people, with his finger inserted into his mouth consecrated to confect the body of Christ, he restores speech to a mute: with the bond of his tongue loosed, he restored the benefit of speech: soon the boy, who for long had been silent, that is for ten years, asked what he had had in his mouth, said, "Your finger": and immediately bursting forth into abundant thanksgivings before all, newly opening his lips, he rendered calves to Christ; because of which the wicked lips of heretics should have been shut in confusion, but they as most shameless dogs were not confounded by the saving confusion and knew not how to blush: hence to the glory of his Saint the Lord renewed many signs and wonders.

[12] for someone bodily and spiritual health. By the merits of the servant of God a certain woman of Mantua, concerning whom very many were in despair, could likewise merit and hope to obtain pardon of sins. For placed in the peril of death, over a long space of time she had already lost the use of her tongue: going to her at request, that life might be able to enter into her through hearing, and death to exit through speech, with his hood reverently drawn back, he first pronounced "The Lord be with you," then he caused her first to hear the first reading of the Gospel according to John, and soon enjoined on her, as one speaking, to confess her sins: who beginning to use, either obedience or rather salutary grace, the stupefied bystanders happy emerged from the house, lest they should hear the sins of the one confessing: but afterwards she began to speak so strongly, that the general confession which she made at the end they were able to hear distinctly and understand even outside the house. Because of which his fame and grace was being increased not only in the aforesaid city, but everywhere daily through the fatherland, and was shining more diffusely. Nor wonder that these and many other things while he was living, the Lord deigned to work through him; for he freed many demoniacs and others vexed with various diseases by the touch alone or the sign of the Cross, as is proved by the attestations of very many worthy of faith. a

[13] Often also he went to preach at Cesena, where he was so gracious, that when his arrival was known by the people, a very great multitude ran out to meet him with such alacrity and celerity, that even noble and very honorable matrons, from excessive haste even without cloaks ran out; without which otherwise according to the custom of the country they did not dare to appear in public. When he was received by the people, he was led to the piazza of that city; where placed in a more elevated spot, with all sitting, he was at once compelled to propose the word of God. Having done this, he was led to his lodging, at the church of S. John b the Evangelist. When therefore the aforesaid Father on a certain day was making a transit through the city of Cesena, he frees another from a natta he encountered a noble youth of the aforesaid city, who was called John Blasius: who asked the holy man to cure him by touching him with his hand from a c natta, which he had had in his hand for ten years, which on account of the length of time had already been hardened for several years. But the man of God, saying this did not befit his merits, what they were asking, refused to do it. And when the devotion of the one asking pressed him on, having taken his hand, he made the sign of the Cross over the natta, and said: Trust in the Lord, son, because He will soon free you. And immediately both parted from each other: he, however, looking at his hand, with the swelling and hardness of the natta vanishing, found himself totally freed, giving thanks to God.

[14] Sometimes the holy man was lodging in the above-mentioned church, because the Brothers still did not have a place there d; and when on a certain day vegetables were being prepared for him, it happened that there was absolutely no oil in the Priest's house. Then B. Peter sent a boy to a certain noble of Cesena very familiar to him, he multiplies oil who was called Bonacursius, to send him oil for dinner: he, however, that year had had oil in a great jar, but in those days it had completely run out. He grieved that he could not send oil to the blessed man: but lest the boy should think that he asserted himself to lack oil out of ungenerosity, he said to him: Son, I am ashamed that I cannot assent to the request of my Father; because the oil, which I had had, is now exhausted: but go yourself to the vessel, that you may see the truth with your own eyes. The boy approached the jar, and found it full of oil, which before was empty, so that even from excessive abundance it overflowed. Seeing which, that man, giving thanks, called together the whole neighborhood to behold this miracle, and liberally ministered to the Blessed Father the oil miraculously sent to him, when he was in need.

[15] Now when he was about to go into Lombardy, and wanted to depart from Cesena; on a certain day, with the people of that city called together, devoutly he proposed to them the word of God; at the end of the sermon he said, with all the people hearing: But I, sons, depart from you, never again to see you; therefore I wish to foretell three things to you, which will infallibly be fulfilled: the first is, that after the coming Resurrection of the Lord next I shall be killed for the faith by heretics; for by them my death is ordained: the second, his death and, along with other things that the province of Romagna, which now enjoys peace, up to a short time will lie subject to many e disturbances: the third, that because of the sins of men in this region certain men will yet rule, whose tongue you f will not be able to understand, nor have familiarity with them. All of which, as the Saint had foretold, have been fulfilled.

[16] When B. Peter was Prior g of the convent of Piacenza, he so afflicted his body by abstaining, keeping vigil, praying, studying, laboring in other virtuous works, that the Brothers accused him before D. Matthew de Corigio, then Prætor, about this; affirming that he would kill himself before his time, as the same D. Matthew afterwards reported. There, however, he was held in the greatest reverence by the people: now it happened that on a certain day the wife of D. John Scotus, who had a special devotion toward him, came to him, that she might merit to receive a remedy by his sacred counsels on her tribulation. and foretells offspring to be born to a certain one. When she had set forth her anguishes to him, and that her husband had been expelled from the city because of the h disturbances of the fatherland, and had transferred himself to Montpellier i, and that there was no hope of peace from the people, and moreover that she lacked offspring; the man of God, with the Divine Spirit revealing, immediately said to her: Trust in the Lord, daughter, and be certain, because before a year is completed from this day, you will conceive and bear of your husband, who in the near future will return to Piacenza with peace, a son, who will yet be Lord of this city. After a few days peace was made there, which before seemed impossible: and the husband of that Lady returned with joy, to whom before a year was completed, as the man of God had foretold, was born a son whom he called k Albert, who after the courses of not a few years came to the state which had been prophesied through B. Peter.

[17] Brother William of Verona de Lavazanis, of the Order of Preachers, a religious and upright man, while he was young; on a certain day accompanied B. Peter, who was going to preach, to a certain church: and when the aforesaid Brother had opened a certain book of that church, suddenly a scorpion, which was there, stung his hand; to which sting pain and swelling immediately succeeded. And when he was pressed by the anguish of pain, B. Peter, hearing what had happened, came to the Brother; he heals one harmed by a scorpion. and making the sign of the Cross over the Brother's hand, said: Put, Brother, your foot on the scorpion, which fell to the ground, so that it may not further harm anyone, and trust in the Lord because you are freed. When he had carried out in effect what the Saint had commanded, suddenly that pain and swelling departed, as if he had not been injured by that sting.

[18] When B. Peter, ignited with zeal for faith and truth, was confuting the heretics in his disputations, and also was shining with evident miracles by the power of Christ; a certain heretic at Milan, inflamed with the zeal of malignity, having called together several heretics, said: This foolish people, who exhibit such reverence to Fr. Peter of Verona, among other things magnify him because he shines with miracles: I have therefore thought of confounding him, that his miracles may appear to be false, and the people may be ashamed, who commend him for the working of miracles. For I, while being wholly sound, will pretend to have a grave infirmity, and will beg him to restore health to me; he will sign and touch me, and I will show myself freed. And when the people will recount this miracle of his, I, on the contrary, will assert that I was in no way infirm, and you will bear testimony under oath, and by this means no one will give faith to his miracles any more. That speech of malignity pleased them, and they thought to confound B. Peter in this deception, whom they could not overcome in disputation of faith. That heretic therefore came to the church of the Brothers Preachers of Milan, he sends a fever on the heretic feigning disease, supporting himself with a staff, as if he could not stand on his feet; and to B. Peter with a weak and deceitful voice said: Holy Father, since I am perilously and most gravely infirm, and the remedies of physicians cannot profit me; I ask that you touch me with your hand, and by the aid of your merits grant me the benefit of health. Then the holy man, illuminated by the grace of the Holy Spirit, said: I ask my Lord Jesus Christ, that if you are infirm, he may restore health to you: but if you fraudulently feign infirmity, may he bestow infirmity on your body for the health of your soul. Immediately as he finished these words, a most grievous fever seized him, so that he could not stand on his feet, but was carried to his own house by the service of others. And when he had been placed in bed, and physicians had been called to him; with the remedies of medicine failing, by them it was judged that he was soon going to die. but again heals him, even as to the soul. Then vexation giving understanding to hearing, he with not feigned devotion asked B. Peter to come to him; to whom disclosing the fault of his malignity, and humbly confessing that he had sinned, having abjured heresy, he was immediately through the prayer and merits of B. Peter freed from infirmity of mind and body. And the heretics were confounded,

and iniquity lied to them, who strove to confound the man of God.

[19] On a certain day when he had encountered one of the foremost of the heretics, very sharp in malice and cavil, he makes another from garrulous a mute. that heretic invited him to the contest of disputation in an open place; and he did not refuse the fight, lest the bystanders, if he were to resist, should judge Peter confounded and convicted. Therefore when they had engaged in battle of words, the heretic made his sufficiently subtle arguments to prove his perfidy; but B. Peter, since he was unprepared, asked that some delay be granted to him for responding; which being given, with all waiting, the Holy One of God entered a church, because it was near, and before the altar of the B. Virgin he prayed more devoutly with tears, that He would provide for the defense of his true faith; and when some motion of hesitation arose in him, because of which he prayed more fervently and more devoutly, with all ambiguity removed, he felt himself solidified in the faith, with a voice heard from the image of the B. Virgin: I have prayed for you, Peter, that your faith may not fail. Thence therefore comforted, going out to the heretic he demanded from him that he repeat again the reasons he had brought forward; but he, by the power of God, was made so mute, that he could not utter even one word, and thus confounded he departed.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

A demon put to flight by S. Peter, the heretics driven from Florence, a foot restored to a certain one, consolation given from the cross by Christ, the illusions of heretics scattered.

[20] On a certain day B. Peter at Florence, with the people of the city called together in the piazza which is called the a New Market, was preaching the word of God to a great multitude. And when in the course of the sermon the man of God was fervently applying himself to the preaching, and the people were devoutly and reverently intent upon those things which were spoken by him; it happened that a boy of a certain noble of Florence, with a great b destrier of his Master, was approaching the place where B. Peter was preaching to the people. And behold, suddenly (perhaps by the procurement of the enemy of the human race, that the preaching of the man of God and the devotion of the people might be disturbed) the horse took up a swift course with his rider resisting, and immediately throwing him to the ground, ran with great velocity toward the people sitting in the piazza. The people, however, seeing the horse wishing to make a passage through the piazza, were terrified: but on account of the great pressure which was there, they could not turn aside, except those who were placed at the furthest edge. But seeing the people stirred with terror, he preserves those trampled by the horse unharmed. B. Peter, suddenly comforted by the Spirit of God, with his arm extended, fortified the people with the sign of the Cross, and crying with a great voice said: Let no one rise, let no one fear, and let no one turn aside: because the grace of Christ will provide aid, that no one be harmed. Then the horse with swift course leapt into the people; and from one end of the piazza to the other making a passage, placing his feet upon the heads, knees, kidneys and shoulders of men and women, in this manner trod underfoot a great part of the people, and thus passed through and departed. And when this was done, with diligent inquiry made among the people, it was found that by the grace of Christ working no one at all had been injured, as had been said beforehand by the man of God.

[21] he puts a demon to flight. On another occasion in the same city, with B. Peter preaching in the old forum, the enemy of the human race, envying his fruitfulness from the doctrine of his preaching, sought to impede him, but did not prevail: for appearing in the form of a most black horse, moving himself from the street of the iron-smiths, he came with most swift course to the beginning of the square of that same forum, that those hearing, terrified by its sight and course, might take flight; but with the sign of the Cross made by the man of God against him, suddenly he disappeared, harming no one: and thus the twisted serpent was frustrated of his hope, and whence he sought to distract them from attention to the word of God, thence by the miracle he made them more devout.

[22] Now at Florence there was no small number of those who were infected with that heresy of the Manichæans, asserting the devil as the creator of visible things; c against whom B. Peter, a distinguished fighter and Inquisitor of heretics, expels the heretics from Florence: vigorously fought: to certain nobles of the Rossi family and other Catholics exhibiting a banner marked with the Cross, that he himself with words and they with swords might wage the Lord's battle against heretics. The Catholics entering into combat with one another overcame the heretics beyond the river Arno, in the piazza d of S. Felicitas; and around the Arno in the place which is called the Well at S. Sixtus, not far distant from the convent of the Order, they compelled the same to depart from the city; lest putrid flesh should corrupt the rest of the body, and a diseased sheep corrupt the rest of the flock. Still the signs of victory persist in the said city, the signs of the Cross in sculpted stone and placed on a column; but also the very banner of the cross is carried on the anniversary of his natal day by men of a certain society, which is called of S. Peter Martyr, when they approach the church of the Brothers to offer lighted candles. The same society also is said to have been instituted by B. Peter Martyr, to which, since the Brothers do not retain possessions, many immovables have been bequeathed by testators, that from their revenues pittances e might be made for the Brothers of the said Convent of the Order of Preachers during the year.

[23] In the time when B. Peter was exercising the office of preaching through Italy most fruitfully, it happened that a certain young man, pricked by his preaching, approached him for the confession of his sins; who among other things confessed that out of some disturbance he had struck his mother with his foot. Saint Peter, rebuking him for the presumption of such a crime, among other things said for his terror, that the foot which had struck his mother deserved to be cut off; and having given him a salutary penance, he allowed him absolved to go. he restores a foot cut off: But the young man, long turning over in his mind B. Peter's word about the amputation of the foot, deceived by diabolic persuasion, having secretly taken a hatchet, cut off his foot in revenge for the crime. And when from excessive pain he was uttering cries, his father and mother and the rest of the family ran up. Hearing, however, that by B. Peter's word he had taken the occasion for proceeding to such a judgment, with all delay set aside, his father went to B. Peter, and set forth the sorrowful case; asking that he not refuse to see the sorrowful young man, and help him with prayers before the Lord. The pious Father, having taken a companion, came to him: and moved with pious compassion, and trusting in Christ's piety, with all who were present excluded, he retained the parents of the youth and his companion; and with knees bent most devoutly with many tears he invoked God's clemency; rising with great confidence toward God, he took the foot in his hands, and applying it to the leg and signing it with the sign of the Cross, suddenly he so healed it, as if he had never had any wound; yet as a sign of the miracle, a thin scar remained in the joint of the foot, entirely lacking any deformity. f

[24] When on account of the constancy of faith and the devotion with which B. Peter wholly burned, he was suffering many persecutions and molestations, it happened on a certain night that he slipped into such sadness of heart, that he altogether knew not what he was doing. And since it is written, "When we know not what we ought to do, this only we have as refuge, that we direct our eyes to Thee": on a certain day at Milan before the image of the Crucified, he prostrated himself with his whole heart with tears and groaning, and commending himself to Him said: Lord Jesus Christ, who knowest all things, Thou knowest that I have not done those things for which I should deserve to sustain such great anguishes. 2 Chron. 20:12 To whom immediately the image of the Crucified responded: Fr. Peter, and I, what have I done, that I should sustain the punishment of the cross? yet trust, because I am with thee and thou shalt come to Me with a crown of honor and glory. Then B. Peter, with all sadness removed, comforted by the heavenly voice, said: Thou art my God and I Thy servant, Thy will be done. in persecutions he receives consolation from Christ speaking from the cross: And from then on, terrified by no fear, with steadfast mind he tolerated persecutions and threats, and also perils of death. But lest this be hidden on account of B. Peter's humility, the Lord brought faithful witnesses to this revelation. For a certain devout Brother, standing at the door of the Chapter beside B. Peter, saw this, and heard the voice of the Crucified responding to B. Peter. Also to another Brother in the infirmary, devoutly insisting on prayer with his spirit rapt, the same hour the whole was divinely shown.

[25] On a certain day when B. Peter was making a journey through the territory of Milan, he found two men sowing their fields, of whom one was a Catholic, the other however a heretic. The Catholic at the beginning of the work was invoking the Lord for his aid; but the heretic was invoking the devil, whom he believed to have, as maker of visible things, the governance of earth and crops. And when they heard each other, he converts a heretic to the faith by sterility sent upon his field. and one reproved the other for his evil credulity; B. Peter came up, who by the nod of God was making a passage through there; who approaching them, and having heard the cause of the altercation, trusting in divine power and mercy, said to the heretic: On the part of our Lord Jesus Christ I offer myself as surety, that the field of this Catholic, sown in the name of Christ, will produce abundant fruit; but your field will produce absolutely no fruit; if you will promise me that

seeing this miracle, you will truly be converted to the faith of the Roman Church. With him promising that what Blessed Peter was demanding from him, he would fulfill, if what he had promised should come to pass; B. Peter continued the journey begun: but the field of the faithful man, by Christ's power working, brought forth abundant fruits: but the field of the heretic was of such sterility, that it brought forth neither grass nor leaf in that year: on account of which the heretic, as he had promised, was converted to the faith of Christ.

[26] In that time when B. Peter, for zeal of the faith, was running through the county of Milan, preaching and disputing indefatigably; a certain noble and faithful man, who was living in a certain castle of the said county, led by his charity, often received him in his lodging. But the heretics, who were dwelling in the said castle, having B. Peter hateful on account of the fervor of his zeal, were trying to turn that noble away from the familiarity of the servant of God, and from the rectitude of the faith. And when they had labored in vain for many days, one of those same heretics who was a g necromancer, by diabolic machination thought to pervert him from the faith, his friend, led from the faith by diabolic illusions, whom he could not change by false persuasions of words. By a certain trick of the devil he led him to the church of heretics which they had in the castle, in which they held their nefarious conventicles; and said to the companions present, to that faithful man: That you may know yourself deceived by that deceiver, Brother Peter of Verona, and that our faith is true, and the faith of the Roman Church is false; I ask the Lord, that in our presence he may miraculously show the truth to you. And immediately when he finished the words, a diabolic illusion was present: for a certain splendor as if sent from heaven appeared, which illuminated that whole church of heretics; after which the devil, transfigured in the aspect and form of a beautiful and venerable Lady, stood upon the altar, holding in her hands, as it seemed, a most beautiful boy; and calling the faithful man by his own name, said: You indeed were unworthy of my grace, because believing the preachings of that Brother Peter of Verona, the enemy of me and of my son whom I hold in my arms, you seemed to spurn my faithful, who are here present, and their pious and true doctrine: but because I am the mother of mercy, I am prepared to remit all things to you, if you are willing to dismiss Brother Peter, and adhere to these my faithful. Hearing and seeing these things, that man, not knowing how to discern between the machinations of the devil and the truth of the faith, ignorant that not every spirit is to be believed, immediately agreeing to the warnings of the evil one, whose cunning he did not know to recognize, with bent knees confessed he had erred through ignorance; and asking pardon, he was converted to the faith of the heretics. And so the vision of the evil one disappeared. Not many days after, it happened that B. Peter, making a passage through there, turned aside to the customary lodging. But that noble, receiving him with a sad countenance, indeed grieved that he had turned aside to him; but because it was late, he was ashamed to deny him lodging. But the man of God prudently noting this, recognized that he had been changed by the heretics: speaking to him apart, he found, as he had thought, that it was so. And when he had known him deceived by diabolic fraud, he thought by arguments and the aid of truth to bring back to the faith him who had been maddened by fraudulent diabolic illusion. And since he who wants to raise a prostrate man, ought in some way to incline himself to take hold of him; imitating the Apostle saying, "I became to the Jews a Jew, that I might gain the Jews"; using prudent counsel, he pretended, on account of those things which he had heard from him, as if in part they appeared reasonable, to waver somewhat: and said to him, that he willingly wished to hear them in their church; and if they should show him something by reasonable words or signs, he would faithfully adhere to them. 1 Cor. 9:10

[27] And he rejoicing if only he could gain so great a man, immediately secretly went to the heretics, asked them that early the following morning they should meet in the church, and pray the Lord to show Fr. Peter the truth, which he had deigned to show to him. The heretics rejoice, reckoning themselves blessed, if they could have propitious him whom they had as so very strong an impugner. That necromancer heretic said, with these detected and dissipated through the Most Holy Eucharist, he in no way doubted that the Blessed Virgin, who had appeared to that noble, would also visit Brother Peter for his sake, and would draw him to the faith of the good men. That night B. Peter spent almost sleepless, devoting himself to devotion and obsecrations, that Christ's piety might uncover the devil's machinations for the honor of Catholic truth. Now rising early in the morning, as if about to say matins, he went out of the house, and approached the Catholics' church to celebrate Mass; and before the people came for the Mass he was celebrating, he consecrated two hosts; of which he consumed one, and carrying the other secretly under his cope in a pyx, immediately going to his host, he said: It is good, that as had been said, they should hasten to the heretics' church. And when all the heretics, as they had arranged, had met: that necromancer heretic rising, and wickedly prostrating himself before the altar, said: I pray, Lord, that for Br. Peter, standing here, you would deign to open the truth of your faith. Then, as had been done before, by diabolic operation a not small light appeared, and in the form of a virgin holding a son in her lap the demon stood upon the altar and said: Fr. Peter, who have been contrary to me until now, I the mother of piety am prepared to obtain mercy for you from my son, if, the error of the Roman Church being left, you are willing to adhere to the fellowship of these my faithful. Then B. Peter brought forth the pyx in which he had placed the body of Christ, which he had borne under his cope, and opening it, said to him: if you are truly the mother of God, he brings back, with many others adore this your son. At this word and at the display of the body of Christ, the whole fantastic vision disappeared, with a terrible noise and stench, and the wall of the church of the malignant from top to bottom was split: but that noble, who had been seduced by the devil, with many others returned to the truth of the faith and to reverence for B. Peter: from which the heretics were vehemently confounded, and the followers of impiety and depravity.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER IV.

Speech restored to a mute by S. Peter. His sanctity made manifest from heaven. A cloud brought upon a serene sky: the office of Inquisitor conferred and exercised.

[28] a While a certain noble matron at Venice, in the church of the Brothers, was sitting at the feet of B. Peter for confession; a certain boy who had always been mute, running through the church, often came to her. And when the blessed man asked whether the boy belonged to her; she answered: Lord, he is my son concerning whom I suffer no small sadness, he restores speech to a mute: because he is mute, and has never been able to utter a word. Then the Saint, having conceived trust in God, called the boy to himself; and with his mouth opened, with his hand he drew out his tongue, and having made the sign of the Cross over it, said: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: and immediately the boy answered, Amen. And from then on he perfectly recovered the use of speech, which he did not lose all the time of his life. When the Brothers Preachers were dwelling at Venice in the church of B. Martin, it happened to B. Peter standing there, that a certain citizen held his innocent wife suspected of adultery: and when he wished to ascertain his suspicion by the trial of red-hot iron, and she was not injured at all by the touch of the fiery iron; he saves a woman in peril of death. whence he ought to have given glory to God, thence he increased the sin, thinking this had come by diabolic illusion: and from fury with his wife prostrate on the ground, and with a knife taken up he cut off her heels: and thus dismissing her, he immediately departed. When therefore she was awaiting the peril of near death, she called B. Peter, for whom she had a great devotion, with urgent prayers, that before death she might make confession of her sins to him, and merit to receive absolution from him. B. Peter arriving, hearing her confession, both conferred to her penitent soul the remedy of absolution, and obtained for her dying body the benefit of fullest health.

[29] Before the Brothers Preachers had a place at Ravenna, the Rector and clerics of the church of B. John the Baptist of the same city, received them in lodging out of reverence for the divine word, going to Ravenna to preach. It happened that on a certain evening in wintertime, B. Peter, for the sake of preaching entering Ravenna, turned aside to the aforesaid church: who, although he was entirely unknown, was nevertheless charitably received. And when he had been with the clerics in devout conference, he asked that in the morning they should give the signal with bells for preaching because he intended to preach to the people. And when the Clerics, on account of the malice of the weather, tried to persuade him to forgo the preaching, because they believed the people would absolutely not come, he said: Let the sign be given, as I have said, because, if it pleases God, I will absolutely preach. by heavenly shows his arrival at Ravenna and his sanctity are made known, On the following night, while B. Peter was resting in the chamber of the Brothers with his companion, and the Clerics had entered their beds to rest, and over the whole city a great snow was descending; above the bell-tower of the aforesaid church a very great burning and shining candle appeared, which caused no little wonder to all in the city who saw it. Very many immediately ran to the church, and excited with great clamor the sleeping Clerics, and asked why so great a candle had been placed on the bell-tower, and how it could have happened, that while it was snowing so strongly, the flame was not extinguished by the snow. The Clerics, seeing the prodigy, were amazed, since no man that night could have ascended the bell-tower. And when they could not know any other cause of this matter, they said: we know of no other cause to assign, except that this evening a certain Brother of the Order of Preachers turned aside to us, who seems a man of great sanctity and grace, who said that in the morning he wished to preach. Out of reverence, not wanting to disturb B. Peter, because on the preceding day he had been very tired, all returned to their own homes, and when morning came, returned with a multitude of people. Then B. Peter, according to the grace conferred on him by the Lord, preached the word of God to the people so devoutly and graciously, that the whole city was moved to devotion and the fruit of penance; because of which he stayed there for many days, devoting himself to preaching and the hearing of confessions, many are converted to penance. and acquiring many souls for the Lord, whose honor in his preachings he faithfully procured; and so from the fervor and splendor of his preaching, and the abundant fruit of souls, it manifestly appeared to all, what in the sign of the burning and shining candle had been congruously designated.

[30] When the heretical pestilence was sprouting in the province of Lombardy, and had already infected many cities with its pestilent contagion; the supreme Pontiff D. Innocent IV, noting how perilous the mixing of wolves was for sheep, to abolish the diabolic pestilence, providently delegated various Inquisitors from the Order of Preachers (as various dogs who could keep wolves off the flocks) in different parts of Lombardy. But since at Milan the heretics resided, not only many in number, but also great in secular power, sharp in fraudulence, Inquisitor of the faith constituted by Innocent IV, garrulous in eloquence, and full of diabolic knowledge; the same supreme Pontiff, knowing and understanding B. Peter to be a magnanimous man, who would not fear the multitude of enemies; considering also the constancy of his virtue, by which he would not yield even in a little to the constancy of his adversaries; knowing also his facundity, by which he would uncover the fallacies of the heretics; not ignorant moreover that he was fully instructed in worldly wisdom, by which he would reasonably confute the frivolous arguments of heretics; inasmuch as from boyhood he had associated among heretics, and how they perverted the sense of the Scriptures, and with what words they cloaked their wounded conscience, was taught by frequent battles and divine experiences; him, as a strong champion of the faith and so untiring a warrior of the Lord, he appointed in Milan and its county, and established as Inquisitor of heretical depravity with full authority granted. He therefore diligently exercising the office enjoined upon him, sought out and scattered the little foxes of Samson everywhere, granting them no rest, but wonderfully confounding all of them, and powerfully expelling them so that they could not resist the wisdom and spirit which spoke through him. In addition to this the blessed champion had a special certain trust against the enemies, infused from divine revelation. For when once, somewhat fearful of future and uncertain events, before the altar of the B. Virgin he was commending his contests to the Virgin; through the Virgin to the Virgin dozing was answered, and animated by the B. Virgin what through the son of the Virgin at the imminent time of the passion had been said to the other Peter: I have prayed for thee, Peter, that thy faith fail not b. Hence neither did the certain trust allow him to doubt, nor the untiring fervor allow him to be tepid, nor experience allow him to be timid; but like a most strong lion of beasts, fearing the approach of no one, many times he offered engagement to the enemies under such a condition, namely that they should lead with them whomever they could, from the whole army of the Scriptures, while he himself would be content with one soldier against them; trying and choosing B. Paul, as an unconquered champion against all perverters of the faith. He frequently also offered to cast himself into the fire against the heretics, he provokes the heretics: for establishing the truth of the faith, if they would consent to become his companions in the fire. Moreover being eager to expose his life not only to perils but to death for the faith, perhaps from divine revelation it was this, that so confidently and frequently he brought forward in the midst with prophetic spirit: his Martyrdom for concerning his happy martyrdom and also concerning the place of his proper burial, it is found that he foretold both to the Brothers in this manner: Know that I shall never die except through the hands of infidels; and doubt not, that it behooves me to be buried at Milan. But neither did he fear about his reward, and foretells his canonization: who was thus certain of his merit: for knowing in whom he had believed, not imprudently but confidently, just as the victory after battles, so the crown after the victory he arrogated to himself, so that he firmly knew and believed, that he would yet be named in litanies and that his feast would be written in calendars. O blessed man, for whom from the present life the future had already begun, and whose feet were already standing in the courts of the heavenly Jerusalem! and who still placed in corruptible flesh, was already tasting the first fruits of incorruptible glory and perpetual praise!

[31] When on a certain day at Milan B. Peter was examining a certain Bishop of the Cathari c, with many Bishops, Religious and a very great multitude of the city gathered for this spectacle; and the day both from the preaching and from the examination of the heretic had been drawn out in length, and the greatest heat afflicted all; that heresiarch, having found the moment for mockery, began to cry out before all: O perverse Peter, if you are so Holy, as this foolish people asserts you to be, why do you allow it to be so gravely afflicted by the heat, and do not ask God, that he would interpose some cloud, that this foolish people may not die from such heat? To whom when the athlete of the faith had confidently answered, that he would do what he had said, if he would promise that, with heresy abjured, he would immediately be converted to the faith; many of the Catholics began to be saddened over B. Peter's obligation, he brings a cloud over a serene sky: fearing that the Catholic faith from this might suffer confusion: and contrariwise many of the infidels rejoiced, expecting the man's confusion with joy, especially since in all the air no cloud, not even the smallest, appeared; accordingly, that he might promise, they harassed their Bishop with clamors. And when neither in this way could the pertinacity of the heretic, unwilling to bind himself, be broken or in any way softened; B. Peter, who neither on account of the joy of the infidels nor the fear of the faithful had been weakened, hoping in the Lord, said: That it may appear, that the good God of all things visible and invisible is creator and maker, I ask him, that for the consolation of the faithful believing in him and the confusion of unbelievers, he would deign to send us some little cloud, which interposed between the sun and the people, may be able to defend us from this heat. Which when from a certain eminent pulpit, with the sign of the Cross first made, he completed; soon the Lord made them out of a certain cloud as it were a tent, which with its shadow for a long d time offered a veil to the whole people, and increased the cause of exulting to the faithful and of insulting against the heretics.

[32] On another day, likewise appointed for disputing with the heretics, e with the Brothers dwelling nearby called from neighboring convents, the sons of darkness, more prudent than the sons of light, since they had been stripped of the weapons of truth, armed themselves with multitude; that him whom they could not overcome by reason, they might at least overcome by much talking. a garrulous heretic, There was present moreover, surrounded by their crowd, a certain man, whom they had chosen as defender of their perfidy, a loud and garrulous man, and instructed in malicious tricks of words. He when he had seen the champion of the faith standing with his companion, immediately prepared snares of words for his feet; and that he might make him fall unawares, began inopportunely and clamorously to insist, that he respond to what he had proposed.

With him crying out repeatedly, the man of God noting, with prayer made, the man of God noting, that it does not befit the servant of God to contend with shouts; and where there was no hearing, it would not profit to pour out words of truth and sobriety; mindful of the Lord's mercy, he wholly and devoutly betook himself to prayer, supplicating that the enemies might either justly blush as impious, and that deceitful lips might become mute, or that the sun of true understanding might rise upon them. Nor was there delay: he makes him speechless: soon one of two things, which he asked, he obtained, as the merits of each party demanded. For when the defender of the faith was confidently insisting against the adversary of truth, that he should still seek what he was seeking, the diabolic words so yielded to the divine power, that he who a little before was loquacious and garrulous, was suddenly so made as it were mute and speechless, that neither to ask nor to answer could he prevail to open his mouth for a single word: because of which the unfaithful companions of the same perfidious man were scattered from one another, not compunct, their hardness resisting. f

[33] Once it happened, with him traveling with the Bishop g of Piacenza, that he turned aside to the house of the noble man Lord Gaufredus h, Count of Lumello, whose son, named Henry, a swelling of the throat had so compressed, that he could neither speak nor breathe: because of which the parents, anxious about the imminent death of their son, and despairing of his life, on hearing of the arrival of Fr. Peter of Verona, quinsy is driven away with his garment applied: both hasten to meet him coming, and sorrowfully announce the boy about to die and solicitously commend him. With him approaching, with hands raised to heaven and the sign of the Cross made over him, the boy now devoted to death, for his so languishing neck, as a salutary remedy, applied his cape; and having received the blessing, he likewise received health. Which the father diligently noting, having bought him a new cape, he retained the old garment of such great virtue, which afterwards in no way failed him to his folly. In the course of time the same noble, burdened with vehement pain of the bowels, believing and fearing that the peril of death therefore threatened him, caused that same cape, which he had from then preserved, reverently to be brought; which being applied to his breast, soon he vomited forth a worm, having two heads and shaggy with the thickness of hair; and immediately obtained the effect of full health.

[34] While in the sight of the great the Lord magnified His Saint, he was no less affable to the poor and religious, and was held lovable with a special affection of devotion: to whom when frequently he was offering the grace of visitation, kindling flames of divine love among them, confirming the wavering with his speeches, comforting the slackened hands and strengthening the trembling knees, it happened that in a certain burg of the diocese of Milan, by name i Carate, he turned aside, as he was accustomed, to the house k of the Humiliati; where to a certain one of the Sisters named Carasia, who lay so destitute of bodily strength and had lain for seven years, he heals two contracted ones. that on account of any necessity whatever she neither had been able to rise nor was able, he was led by certain persons, trusting in his suffrage. Coming to her he so prayed: Lord, who healed the paralytic and raised up Lazarus, I beseech, that you deign to grant health to this woman also. Who immediately freed, that same evening rising from her pallet, in the morning ran to meet him returning; as long as she lived, namely for six years, persevering unharmed, fully restored to her former duties. That a similar thing happened at Milan is proved, where when a certain man named Acerbus for five years so remained contracted, that he was dragged along the ground in a grain-measure l, brought to B. Peter, and signed by him, immediately healed rose up. m A certain Brother, he pants for martyrdom. who was accustomed frequently to go with him to preaching, asked him to teach him some prayer: who said: This is my prayer, in which I am more affected and delighted: when I elevate the most sacred Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, or see it elevated by other Priests, I pray the Lord himself, that he would never allow me to depart from this life, except that I die for his Catholic faith, and I have made this prayer continually. [When on one occasion with Fr. Gerard of Trent, before the year of his passion, he made a passage near the castle of n Gathe, he said to his companion: This castle will be destroyed for the faith, and two Bishops of the heretics, Nazarius o and Desiderius, who are buried there, will be burned with fire: which was fully so in order afterwards done through the ministry of the Inquisitors, so that it was manifestly shown, that through him the Holy Spirit foretold true things. p

ANNOTATIONS.

p Hence begins part 2 of the Life according to Taëgius's division: we pursue the order of numbered Paragraphs, if anyone wishes to restore the ancient division, he will be able to do so by numbering here from Part 2, § I.

CHAPTER V.

Conspiracy for S. Peter's death, martyrdom, glory revealed, miracles before the canonization.

[35] Foreseeing therefore that the end of his passion was near, he began to carry out the received mandate of the supreme Pontiff so much more urgently, the more he saw the crown of justice laid up for him from the remainder, to be rendered on that day by the just judge. But the heretics, seeing and grieving, that the business of faith was thus being more vehemently prospered through Christ's champion, began to treat concerning his death with their supporters, judging themselves able to live peacefully, if their so powerful persecutor were removed from the earth. Nor was the hidden treatise of the enemies unknown to the Saint from certain relations of many; but he, as an intrepid fighter, neither feared what he had long thirsted for with burning desire, nor delayed in what he had confidently begun: knowing that he could be killed, but that killed he would by no means be conquered. Hence on Palm Sunday, fourteen days preceding his happy martyrdom, at Milan, before a copious multitude a of people, he preached, that he was certain that the heretics had plotted his death, and that money for him had been placed in deposit. But let them do, he said, what they wish, more than alive I have done, dead I will do against them. b Assigning to certain supporters of the heretics up to the octave of Easter a peremptory term, in which they should precisely obey the mandates of the Church, foretelling himself about to return on that same day, he went to the city of Como, where he was performing the office of Prior among his Brothers. c

[36] Meanwhile while the holy man stayed at Como, the solicitous heretics seek an opportunity, how they might hand him over to death. First therefore Stephen Confalonerius, from the village d of Albiate, diligent in the business, with Guidotto Sachella (who had promised twenty-five pounds for carrying out the wicked crime) went to S. Eustorgius

goes, a conspiracy is formed for his death that he might inquire when Fr. Peter was going to return from Como. Thence to the castle, which is called Glussiano, he met Manfred Clironus, and insinuated secretly the things done and treated at Milan by the accomplices of the crime, and at the same time invited him to the fellowship of the nefarious crime. The counsel is pleasing to Manfred above all; and together with Stephen, with no delay interposed, he sets out for Milan: where they immediately seek out Guidotto Sachella, to demand from him the promised moneys. And when they had not found him, without delay to Jacob Clusa, staying at the Jovian gate, who himself also had offered to give no small portion of moneys in perpetrating the diabolic wickedness, they hasten with swift course. Who most eager for the deed, when he had heard that only twenty pounds of Milanese coin were necessary for the business, said: I do not want such necessary work for us to be omitted for want of coin: for even a thousand pounds are at my disposal, if there should be need, whence I am altogether resolved to carry as much to Pavia, that I may cause Fr. Rayner, Inquisitor of the aforesaid city and diocese, likewise to be killed: go therefore to Glusiano, and I myself tomorrow without any doubt will be there, to deposit the price, which he is to receive, who shall bestow such and so great a work on us. Therefore without guile on the following day Jacob hastens to Glusiano, and having deposited the money with Fatius, an inhabitant of the aforesaid place, when he had so highly commended the business to Stephen and Manfred that nothing more could be done, he himself hastens to Pavia.

[37] But they, neglecting nothing, as those who were caring for the matter most of all, immediately summoning Carinus Balsamus to them, both with words and with reward invite him to perpetrate the crime: which he by no means refused, but demanded that help be given him by Albertinus Porrus from the village e of Lentate: and these things were all done during the holy days. With Easter past, The assassins go to Como to watch for him, Stephen and Manfred, with a day appointed with Carinus, together set out for Como, and turn aside to the lodging of Pasinus Graecus: whom Carinus following on the same day announces that Albertinus, because he had been condemned to exile, feared to go there; but in his own region, because Lentate is not far distant from f Barlassina, through which Fr. Peter must pass, he would await the opportunity of carrying out the business. Meanwhile therefore Carinus on individual days went to the house of the Brothers Preachers, lest perhaps the holy man should return to Milan without his knowing. Having therefore there contracted a stay of three days, on the fourth day when he had learned that in the early morning the man of God had taken up the journey, running quickly back to those hiring him, he demanded that a beast be shown to him, by which he might more quickly prevail to follow him departing. But Manfred did not assent, lest perhaps through the horse he might be betrayed. Therefore Carinus on foot undertakes the journey with swift course, lest he be frustrated of so great an opportunity of perpetrating the deed offered him. Nor was it difficult for him to overtake the one going before; since from quartan fever, in which he had long been laboring, he was very weak, and was proceeding with a very slow step.

[38] Therefore on Saturday, which is the end of Septuagesima, and which Saturday is called in Albis and g annotine Easter, the athlete of Christ, returning from his Convent to the fight at Milan, was eager to anticipate the given term. And when he was taking the middle of the journey, which place is near Barlassina, on the left side of the place, in a dense wood, that deadly Carinus, a heretic and cruel satellite of the heretics, induced, as has been said, by their prayers, and hired by the price of forty pounds, upon the Holy Man, continuing the journey of his salutary purpose, a wolf upon a lamb, a wild one upon a gentle one, an impious one upon a pious one, furious upon a meek one, unbridled upon a modest one, profane upon a just one, presumes the assault, exercises the attempt, intends death; and making of the Priest a victim, by whom, returning to Milan, he is killed on the way, assailing his sacred head with a wicked blade, and with the sword satiated with the blood of the just, doubling the blow, with dire wounds impressed upon him, not turning aside from the enemy, but offering himself forthwith as a victim, and sustaining the savage blows of the killer in patience; in the place of the passion, prostrate, he left him half-dead: and at Fr. Dominic, his companion, filling the air with pitiable voices by invoking aid, soon that executioner, turning himself, wounded him with four lethal wounds. pronouncing the Symbol of faith: Upon whom while he was inflicting such cruel blows, the holy man from the other side commends his spirit to the Lord, saying: "Into Thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." From the proclamation of the faith not desisting even in this article, the Symbol of the faith, which on account of the flatteries of his uncle as a boy he had not wanted to desert, on account of the straits of death, as a herald of the faith, he in no way was forgetful to confess; as that nefarious one himself, cheated of the defense of flight, afterwards captured by the faithful, aroused at the cries of Fr. Dominic, and Fr. Dominic, surviving for some days, afterwards reported. But while the Martyr of the Lord was still palpitating, the cruel lictor seized a knife, and thrusting it through the sides of the confessor, consummated his Blessed martyrdom.

[39] Thus therefore with the Septuagesima of this pilgrimage finished, the happy traveler came to the heavenly fatherland: thus as Martyr and Virgin he whitened his robe in the Albis: thus from the temporal Sabbath he passed to the eternal Sabbath. For the annotine Easter did not lack its lamb, since on it as an innocent lamb he is immolated. On the very day of his martyrdom, he deserved in a certain manner to be Confessor, Prophet, Martyr and Doctor: for on that same day, having made confession in the customary manner, he offered the sacrifice of praise; and confessing Christ's faith constantly amid torments, he taught the true faith, with a clear voice when he was suffering by professing the symbol of the faith and for the defense of the faith pouring out his blood; he joined himself to the number of Confessors, Doctors and Martyrs; he also merited to be joined to the fellowship of Prophets, with prophetic spirit foretelling what happened. For since at that time, as has been said, he was suffering quartan fever; when his companions said that he could not reach Milan that day, he answered: If we cannot reach the house of the Brothers, we can lodge at S. Simplicianus h, which was also done. the body is laid at S. Simplicianus, For when his sacred body was being borne to Milan in a wagon by the Brothers, with the lictor captured and bound following; the fame of such a crime flying, reaching Milan more swiftly, overturned the whole city with tumults and concourse of peoples: when the Prætor of Milan, astonished at the fear of a new disturbance, with the gates of the city closed, could not prevent, that there was so great a pressure of the people running together, that the Archbishop i also with his Clergy and very many Religious, meeting the Holy Martyr in procession, could scarcely reach the body. On account of which the Brothers could not lead it to the house that same day, but with it deposited at S. Simplicianus, it remained there that night with the Brothers assisting.

[40] by whose contact a sick woman is healed. On the same day of passion and death, a certain sick woman, by name Jacoba, eager to approach the body of the Saint, but for a long space of time on account of the pressure of the flowing people not permitted, that she might receive aid for her infirmity, which having been abandoned by physicians she had not been able to obtain; at length with difficulty introduced into the church of S. Simplicianus, where the body of the Martyr was lying; over her head, from which on account of the disease of fistula she had already lost several bones, causing the sign of the Cross to be made for her by the hand of the Martyr, she deserved to obtain the full benefit of health. parallel of the death of S. Peter and of Christ That also in this place must not be passed over, which makes the martyrdom of this Saint more solemn, and indicates it glorious among the martyrdoms of others: for his venerable passion bears a close image of the passion of Christ. For Christ suffered for the truth of the faith which He taught; Peter for the truth of the faith which he defended, drank the cup of passion. Christ suffered from the unbelieving people of the Jews; Peter from the unbelieving crowd of heretics. Christ is crucified in the paschal time, and in the same time Peter is killed. Christ when He was suffering said, "Into Thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit"; Peter taught the same words when he was being killed. Christ was handed over to be crucified for thirty pieces of silver, Peter was sold for forty pounds to be killed. Christ through his passion brought many to the faith, Peter through his death converted many of the heretics. as also the fruits following from the passion. Although the distinguished fighter had uprooted very much of the pestiferous dogma in life, yet after death, by his intervening merits and frequent flashing miracles, it was so extirpated, that very many left their error and flew to the bosom of the Holy Church: so that the city of Milan and its county, where so many conventicles of heretics resided, were so purged, that with others expelled, and others converted to the faith, no one dared to appear there any longer. Several of these also, worst and famous heresiarchs, having entered the Order of Preachers, with wonderful fervor persecuted heretics and their supporters. So Sampson, dying, killed more Philistines than he had killed when alive: so a grain of wheat falling on the ground, mortified by the hands of infidels, rises in an abundant ear: so a cluster, pressed in the winepress, abounds in copious liquor: so aromatics pounded in a mortar, diffuse their odor more fully: so a grain of mustard, crushed, shows its virtue more strongly.

[41] On the same day, in the monastery k of Ripoli placed near Florence, a certain nun observing him received into heaven while a certain nun was persisting in prayer, somewhat drowsy, she saw the B. Virgin sitting in glory on a lofty throne, and two Brothers Preachers ascending into heaven, placed beside her on this side and that. And when marveling she asked who they were; she heard a voice answering her: This is Fr. Peter of Verona, who in the sight of the Lord ascended gloriously like the smoke of aromatics. Which is not without significance, that Fr. Dominic, who was seen to ascend the heavens with him, yet was not heard to be named with him. For he who suffered with him, is believed to have ascended heaven with him, yet was not with him inscribed in the Catalog of Saints l. The said Sister therefore, fame afterwards teaching her, knowing that on one and the same day with the martyrdom of the Saint her vision coincided; she is freed from an inveterate disease: immediately taking up trust, devoted herself to the Martyr, and by devout prayers merited to be suddenly relieved of a certain old infirmity, and so the truth of the revelation was proved by the concord of time and the attainment of miraculous health, as by a double argument.

[42] lamps at his tomb are spontaneously lit: But that the sadness of the faithful, arisen from the removal of so great a champion, by the rising of a new light might be turned into full joy; the lamps, hanging at his venerable tomb in the church of S. Eustorgius, were many times divinely lit by themselves, without human care and ministry. Because it was very fitting, that he who had excellently shone with the fire and light of the faith, a singular miracle of fire and light should appear concerning him. Over the place also of his passion, often lights descending from heaven and ascending to heaven, many Religious and many others visibly saw: among which

lights they testified to having seen two brothers in the habit of the Preachers. For so it befitted the sanctity of the Martyr, that a frequent light descending from heaven, now as lamps, now instead of lamps kindling the air, should appear more evidently, both where the sacred body is laid and where the innocent blood was shed. And as in both places light has many times arisen, so in both places many divine miracles have shone forth. m

[42] Invoked, Peter restores the crushed boy to life: Furthermore after the Saint's glorious triumph, with the rosary of heaven, long closed, reopened through B. Peter's martyrdom, heavenly miracles shone more frequently, with which the Lord illustrated his holy Martyr. For the earth moistened by his rosy gore brought forth more abundant fruits, which with joy it brought into heaven, supported by the suffrages of the herald of the faith and martyr of Christ: which in various parts of the world and many provinces, through the evidence of signs, do not cease to shine forth n. A certain boy of Pavia, Conradinus by name, when he had grievously fallen among sharp beams with a push, and from the fall had been so grievously oppressed, that wholly destitute of motion and sense, as dead he was lamented by his mother; soon with earth applied to his breast, consecrated by the gore of the same Martyr, he so rose up alive and unharmed, that now giving joy to his mother, rejoicing he went immediately with his companions to play. A certain woman, named Sabina, of Lugano o in the diocese of Como, fever despaired of by physicians from the sharpness of fever, earth alone, over which the Martyr had been killed, freed; and sprinkled upon the face of the feverish one, it restored her to perfect health. But neither was that less evident, which was done in a certain woman p of the diocese of Milan, whose flesh a devouring cancer for many years with sedulous corrosion was devouring: who when she had been brought to the place of the martyrdom, rubbing her wounds with earth reddened by the blood of the Martyr, cancer, not only then lacked the new pain, which there she had not been able to bear before from the touch of cloth, but rather from the old she obtained swift and full health; by the power of the innocent blood; which indeed not only freed the sick from illnesses, but also those about to die from the gates of death.

[44] A certain widow, by name Mirana, staying in the parish of SS. Gervasius and Protasius of Milan, the virtuous blood of the Martyr made joyful over her son Leonetus. arthritis For when the boy had been so gravely afflicted with a certain drop, that the knots of his back seemed ready to dissolve from the swelling and pains, because of which by physicians it was believed he would become a hunchback; the mother anointed the place of pain with earth suffused with the gore of the Martyr; and with the son immediately freed, leaping outside the house, she calls together her neighbors and friends, to congratulate her on her son's health. A certain scholar when he was returning from q Magdalene to Montpellier, from a certain leap was so ruptured in the groin, that he was vexed with excessive pain and could not walk r. He at some time hearing it preached, that a certain woman placing earth sprinkled with the blood of B. Peter Mart. over the corrosion of cancer had been freed; said: and drives away hernia. Lord God, of that earth I have none, but Thou who hast given such virtue to that earth by the merits of B. Peter Mart., deign to give it also to this: Taking therefore some earth, with the sign of the cross and the invocation of B. Peter, he put it under the place, and was immediately healed. s

ANNOTATIONS.

p Flaminius says her name was Belsavera.

q Commonly called Sainte Baume, a place near Marseille in Provence, where the common opinion is that Magdalene lived in solitude.

r In the Lives of the Brothers the matter is more fully narrated in this manner: who on account of pain threw himself down beside a certain road, placing his legs up and head down, so that the intestines which had fallen into the Note: οσχεον scrotum oscheum might be returned to the belly. Which being done, with the pain somewhat mitigated, he went aided by his companions: but with the pain again growing stronger, he fell as if impotent and bloodless. Whence his companions, troubled, sought an animal upon which they might bring him back to the house. But the patient, remembering, that on the feast of B. Peter Martyr he had heard it preached, etc.

s It is added in the same place: And going with his companions to the altar of B. Peter, giving thanks, he related all things to the Brothers with an oath sworn.

CHAPTER VI.

S. Peter Martyr's Canonization.

[45] When therefore throughout Italy the evident miracles through the merits of B. Peter Martyr were growing more frequent and were brought to the Apostolic See, He is canonized by Innocent IV the supreme Pontiff Innocent IV, having learned of them through many worthy of faith, rejoicing with the exaltation of the faith and the proclamations of the new Martyr, and congratulating the honor of the Apostolic See, whose Inquisitor and champion the Lord had deigned so to magnify, caused his virginal innocence to be diligently examined, and the abundance of his merits carefully inquired: also the glory of his miracles diligently examined, both preceding and following the triumphal title of his passion. And because he manifestly knew that the growth of truth exceeded the fame, since things less than he found had been insinuated to him; by the common counsel of the Cardinals and Prelates all, who then resided at the Apostolic See, on the 9th day before the Kalends of April in the year of the Lord 1253, with the first year after the martyrdom itself not yet completed, at Perugia, in the piazza of the church of the FF. Preachers, with the clergy, people, and religious, nobles and magnates standing by in a numerous gathering, with some weeping abundantly from joy, with many others praising and the Saint lifting on high, with all rejoicing and keeping holiday, with not small solemnity and with a wonderful multitude of burning candles, and an exceptional array of sacred vestments, he decreed that he should be inscribed in the catalog of holy Martyrs. And because the day of his passion was the 8th day before the Ides of April, which frequently occurs among the paschal feasts, he ordered his feast on the 3rd of the Calends of May by all the faithful of the whole world to be devoutly and solemnly celebrated, as more expressly appears in the Apostolic letters directed to all Prelates of churches, which are of the tenor written below.

[46] Innocent, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to all venerable Archbishops and Bishops, and to beloved Abbots, Priors, Archpresbyters, Deans, Archdeacons, and other Prelates of Churches, to whom these letters shall come, greeting and Apostolic benediction. The rectitude of Christian faith, declared by great and frequent prodigies, now adorned with the new merit of a new Saint, shines with the splendor of recent signs; hitherto strengthened by many wonders, now

it is confirmed by the insignia of singular miracles. joy of the Church over the Martyrdom. Behold, from the present and modern champion of faith new and grand things come forth, and triumphal signs are made known: the voice of shed blood thunders, and the trumpet of distinguished Martyrdom sounds. The earth is not silent, sweating at the sprinkling of gore; the region resounds, endowed with a noble warrior, and the parricidal sword itself proclaims. These are the certain signs of sacred faith, these its fit testimonies, these its fit monuments; because of which the heavens have rejoiced, the earth with immense perception of joy likewise has exulted. A great cause of joy to mother Church, much matter of gladness has come to her; she has whence to sing a new song to the Lord, whence to bring a hymn of immense praise to God: the Catholic people have whence to applaud; and with hands raised to the Most High, let them jubilate with sonorous voices, and rejoice with glad minds: the Christian assembly has whence to sing devout songs to the Creator. For from the garden of faith recently to the table of the eternal King a sweet fruit has been brought: from the vine of the Church into the royal chalice an abundant liquor has newly flowed in; since the fertile branch, cut by the enemy's blade, had more moisture, because it cleaved more closely to the living vine.

[47] b From the flowery Order of Preachers a red rose has come forth, which offered to the royal sight brought in the sweetness of odor: from the fabric of this Church a stone has been chosen, which polished by pressure and beating, has been fittingly inserted in the supernal buildings. In the heavenly rose-garden also a pleasant flower, glowing with red color, has now been born in the world; and the glory of S. Peter and to the white college of Saints a new lily of cleanness has risen, whence has come a great joy in heaven, with all the Saints exulting and keeping solemnity. The cause of so great a feast, B. Peter, of the Order of Preachers, Lombard by origin, prudently considering, fled the fallacies of the deceitful world, and the byways of the flowing-away age, by whose flatteries anyone is harmed when he is soothed. When in the years of adolescence he had providently declined from these, choosing the safer path of life, that from slippery places, with his foot cautiously withdrawn, he might be able to walk with firm steps, he transferred himself wholly to divine services; turning all his studies to the observance of the Gospel institution, and directing all his actions, following the right and lucid path, namely the salutary Rule of the Order itself, through which he might be able to be ruled and directed, led and brought to the hoped-for rest after labor. In which for a space of about thirty years, supported by the crowd of virtues, with faith going before, with charity as companion, he so prevailed and advanced, about the defense of faith itself especially, for which he wholly burned; that exercising contest against its dire enemies with intrepid mind and fervent spirit, he yet happily consummated his long contest with triumphant martyrdom overcoming: and so Peter himself, firm, at length dashed upon the rock of passion, ascended worthily to be laureled at the rock which is Christ.

[48] c Furthermore, lest the sacred examples of his acts pass us by, let us relate some things from his life for the instruction and profit of those hearing. For he himself, the son of truth and the foster-child of goodness, conspicuous in conversation, remarkable in fame, and marvelous in opinion, is shown by the firm assertion of his Confessors to have shone with wondrous splendor of cleanness, to have guarded virginity entirely, to have had no corruption either of mind or of body, and to have felt the contact of no mortal crime. who by the perpetual innocence of life, And because the servant delicately nourished grows wanton against his Lord, he restrained his flesh by continuous sparingness of food and drink. And lest through the sloth of idleness he should lie open to hostile snares, in the justifications of the Lord he exercised himself assiduously; that with him wholly occupied about lawful things, unlawful things should have no place in him, and from spiritual wickednesses he should be safe. The nocturnal silences indeed, assigned to human rest, after a brief sleep, he ran through in the studies of readings, by zeal of souls and occupied the time of sleep with vigils; but he spent the day on the benefit of souls, either by insisting on sedulous preachings, or by insisting on the hearing of confessions, or by confuting the pestiferous heretical dogma with strong reasons, in which by a special gift of grace he is known to have shone. Moreover pleasing in devotion, gentle in humility, and distinguished with other virtues, calm in obedience, sweet in kindness, compassionate in piety, constant in patience, surpassing in charity, and in all things composed with sanctity of morals, he attracted others with the profuse aromatics of virtues. A fervent lover of the faith also, a special cultivator, a most ardent champion, he had so impressed it on his mind, had so given himself wholly in its service, that all his words and works smelled of the virtue of faith; whose sweetness his tongue, as a redundant honeycomb dripping copiously, always proffered its sweet teachings.

[49] For this, I say, desiring to undergo death, it is proved that he especially asked this from the Lord with attentive and frequent supplications, that He would not allow him to depart from this light, unless having taken up the cup of passion for it. Hence because such an athlete merited to carry back a special palm from so strenuous a battle into the d celibate homeland, signed beforehand with rosy garlands of victory; having obtained the palm of martyrdom, when from the city of Como, where he was Prior of the Brothers of his Order dwelling there, he was going to Milan, for carrying out the Inquisition against heretics committed to him by the Apostolic See; as in public preaching he had foretold, one of the believers of those heretics, induced by their prayer and price, upon him, continuing the journey of his salutary purpose, the deadly one leapt; a wolf upon a lamb, a wild one upon a gentle, an impious one upon a pious, furious upon a meek, unbridled upon a modest, profane upon a Saint, he presumes the sacrilegious assault, exercises the attempt, intends death. Assailing his sacred head with a sword cruelly, with dire wounds impressed upon him, and with the sword satiated with the blood of the just, the venerable one, not turning aside from the enemy, but offering himself forthwith as a victim, sustaining the savage blows of the cutter in patience, he left, with his spirit seeking the heavenly things, killed in the very place of passion. With that sacrilegious one inflicting the double blows on Christ's minister, he not murmuring with querulous voice, but bearing all things patiently, commended his spirit to the Lord, saying: "Into Thy hands, Lord, I commend my spirit." He also began to say the Symbol of faith, of which even in this article he did not cease to be the herald: as that nefarious one himself, who was captured by the faithful, and once Fr. Dominic, who was his companion, and was struck by the same lictor and survived for some days, afterwards related. Thus a grain of wheat falling into the earth, compressed by the hands of infidels and dead, rises in an abundant ear: thus a cluster trodden in the winepress, is received into heaven. abounds in copious liquor: thus wheat crushed on the threshing floor, with the chaff shaken out, is carried into the Lord's barn; thus aromatics pounded in a mortar, diffuse their odor more fully: thus, I say, the kingdom of heaven is snatched by the violent: thus through faith the lofty kingdoms are conquered by the Saints. O how distinguished a Martyrdom, which so glorious a title illustrates! For for the defense and exaltation of the Catholic Roman Church that venerable man bore a most bitter death. This man in the Church as a radiant star shone forth both with the light of faith and the grace of preaching: this man now in heaven, as a conspicuous luminary, both with the splendor of glory and the coruscation of many signs shines forth; because the Lord does not wish to hide his sanctity, nor to suppress in hidden the power of his merits, but to exalt him more manifestly among the shining candlesticks of the Saints, that to all who dwell in the house of the Church he may produce a clear light.

[50] in life For not even in life could he lie hidden, but that through the brightness of miracles he appeared. For the son of a certain Nobleman, who from the excessive and horrible swelling of his whole throat was unable either to speak or breathe, with hands raised to God and the sign of the Cross made over him, and with him taking his cape and placing it on the sick part, he healed. The same Nobleman also, afterwards burdened with a vehement twisting of the body, believing and fearing that therefore a peril of death was imminent to him, caused that same cape, which he had preserved, then reverently to be brought: which with it applied to his breast, he soon vomited forth a certain worm, having two heads and shaggy with the thickness of hair, full liberation following. To a certain young mute also, with his finger inserted into his mouth, and the ligament of his tongue loosed, he granted the benefit of speech. These things and many others, while he was living, the Lord deigned to work through him. and after death illustrious with miracles, After death however lamps, hanging at his venerable tomb, several times by themselves, without any human care and ministry, were divinely lit; because it was very fitting, that he who had excellently shone with the fire and light of faith, a singular miracle concerning him of fire and light should appear. But a certain man while he with others was depraving his sanctity and miracles; having taken a certain morsel under this obtestation, that it should not be able, if he was sinning concerning these, to swallow; he soon felt it so adhering to his throat, that he could neither lead it out nor bring it in. especially by the healings of the sick Wherefore he penitent, with the color of his face now changed, as if feeling already the outcome of near death, having made a vow within himself, that he would not henceforth loose his tongue to such things, was forthwith with it vomited out freed. A certain dropsical woman, coming to the place of his passion, with the aid of the man, with prayer poured out there soon received full health. Women possessed by demons for a long time the Martyr himself freed, with them cast out with much vomit of blood from the bodies. He expelled fevers, cured very many and diverse languors. He healed a finger of a certain left hand, from the disease of fistula deeply sunk in the hollowness of several holes, with wondrous consolidation. and raising of the dead, A certain boy moreover, so gravely oppressed from a fall, that wholly destitute of motion and sense he was lamented as dead; soon with earth applied to his breast, touched with the sacred gore of the same Martyr, rose up unharmed. A certain woman, whose flesh a devouring cancer with sedulous corrosion was devouring, with wounds anointed with this kind of earth was cured. Others too occupied with various infirmities, who approached his tomb in vehicles and other supports, thence afterwards with full health received, returned without any supports. Moreover a great multitude of heretics and their believers, when they noticed such efficacy of the faith, and by so many certain and open signs, as by certain crying heralds, were called to it, and could not, as it were, not obey so strong an urgency of them; to the light of the faith itself from the cloud of their error have been converted. What more? with these, I say, and many other glorious miracles, the Lord has magnified his Saint, and shown him to be venerated by all.

[51] with exultation of the Church Let the whole assembly of the faithful therefore rejoice, and let them sing songs of praise to God with a loud voice, that by its own, as coheirs of Christ, the heavenly mansions are possessed. Let mother Church exult, that her shoot, which she planted and tended in the field of faith, has been translated to the heavenly planting. Let the distinguished Order of Brothers Preachers rejoice, that for it a shining star has arisen, whose flashing rays are diffused in light for those pilgriming here. Let the false heretics blush, and the falsifiers of Gospel truth, that their lying fictions grow vile, and the Catholic

and Apostolic documents grow strong. Let their deceitful lips grow silent, and let their impudent foreheads fall down now confounded; since he, whose truthful instructions and salutary admonitions they refused, and upon whom they inflicted the punishment of death, now reigns in heaven among the ranks of the Blessed. And it is wonderful, since they openly see God's Church supported by such columns, surrounded by such walls, rising by such increments, fortified by such bulwarks, defended by such patrons, illustrated by such miracles; that nevertheless they walk in the darkness of night and the gloom of death, and that they do not cast the scales of blindness from their eyes, that they may see and follow the true light.

[52] he is inscribed in the catalog of saints. For the rest, because it is fitting that whom the Lord has magnified in heaven, the world should venerate, we have caused diligent inquiry to be made concerning the sanctity of his life and the truth of the miracles of the Martyr himself, and because after careful Inquisition, studious examination, and solemn discussion, we have discovered more and greater things concerning him than had been insinuated; him by the common counsel and assent of our Brothers and of all the Prelates then residing at the Apostolic See, trusting in the power of Almighty God, and by the authority of Peter and Paul his Apostles and ours, we have judged him to be inscribed in the Catalog of holy Martyrs. And therefore we admonish and attentively exhort your universality, by Apostolic writings to you by commanding mandating, that on the 3rd day before the Calends of May you celebrate his feast devoutly and solemnly, and cause it to be celebrated by your subjects with fitting veneration, that by his pious intercession you may be able both to be protected here from harmful things, and in the future to obtain eternal joys. And that to his venerable tomb a more ardent and abundant multitude of the Christian people may flow, and the festivity of the same Martyr may be more celebrated, to all truly penitent and confessed, who with reverence shall come there on the same feast annually about to seek his suffrages, trusting in the mercy of Almighty God and by the authority of the Blessed Peter and Paul his Apostles, forty-one days; but to those coming in individual years to the aforesaid tomb within the fifteen days of the same feast, 40 days of the penance enjoined upon them we mercifully relax. Given at Perugia on the 9th day before the Calends of April, in the 10th year of Our Pontificate. e

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER VII.

The feast of S. Peter and the canonical office prescribed by Innocent IV, the body elevated.

[53] Innocent IV But since many neglected to celebrate the solemnity of so great a Martyr, and others despised it; the supreme Pontiff Innocent IV, bearing this ill, through his letters directed to all Prelates of Churches and of Religious, commanded by mandating that the feast of the aforesaid Martyr, which the Roman Church celebrates with celebrity, they should celebrate with devotion and complete solemnity; and cause it to be celebrated by their subjects with fitting veneration. And the Matins Office with nine Lessons, and the day of his feast, they should cause to be written in the Calendars, with the expression of the Order of Preachers. (Now these letters the successor of the aforesaid Innocent, Alexander IV, in all things a renewed) of which this is the tenor:

[54] Innocent, bishop, servant of the servants of God, etc. As above to venerable Brothers. Great magnificences concerning B. Peter Martyr, of the Order of Preachers, Lombard by nation, through the shores everywhere of Italy have become known, and now even to the remote parts of the lands through universal notice have shone forth: who while he lived in the flesh, alien from the enticements and delicacies of the flesh, so virtuously for the Christian faith contended, that having pursued with steadfast mind the contest undertaken, at length from the enemies of the faith itself, he carried back a glorious triumph, with Martyrdom prevailing. The fame, I say, of this triumph went forth into almost all the land of the faithful, and to the far ends of the earth its bright signs shone forth. Now among the bright ranks of Saints shines a recent Martyr, he adorns S. Peter with various encomia: and in the firmament of the Church a new luminary now shines. O wondrous victory of the Martyr, in whom while the flesh is crushed, hope is strengthened; while the creature is seen to fail, it grows stronger; in whom then the great soldier of Christ prevails, when he is more sharply pressed; because truly then he more gloriously conquers the enemy, when amid atrocious passions he more constantly endures death. O how admirable a defense of the Catholic faith arises through the contests of Martyrs! For in their oppression and slaughter faith itself receives strength and vigor: because it is in no way diminished, when its champions are thus taken from it: rather then its state is rather raised up and strengthened, since they by dying thus are not lacking, but more than before they live and are present for God's defense; and then the lamp of faith shines more brightly, when the burning lamps of the Martyrs are bodily extinguished by the flames of tortures. Which plainly and clearly was shown in the passion of B. Peter Martyr himself: because after his glorious and memorable martyrdom, the faith so shone forth by the multitude of his miracles, that very many heretics and their believers, with the truth of this faith recognized by the showing of so many and such great signs, to its light from the darkness of their errors quickly returned. O how praiseworthy and honorable an Athlete, who not fearing the hostile encounters, for the law of his God perseveringly in the stadium, up to death, with invincible stability fought! O venerable man, and everywhere to be adorned with sonorous proclamations! For this man is the norm of religion, the splendor of cleanness, the glory of morals, the treasure of knowledge, the splendor of preaching, the ardor of charity, the wall of faith, the heap of graces, the mirror of virtues, and the aroma of fragrant sanctity; this the fear and trembling of heretics, alive he conquered their perfidy; and now killed by them, he frightens them more vehemently and confounds them, this bright star of heaven, worthy coheir of the heavenly kingdom, illustrious fellow-citizen of Martyrs, famous guest of the supernal table, and secure possessor of the supernal fatherland.

[55] Deservedly therefore the Catholic people ought to recall the memory of the reverend Martyr, and the whole Christian Church ought solemnly to celebrate his feast; lest so great a gift of God should seem received in vain, and the immense grace, which in this he has bestowed, not be recognized, by magnifying it with so distinguished a Martyr and by being fortified by the suffrage of so great a patron. And certainly since with his fellowship the universal choirs of the Blessed continually exult, it would be unbecoming and too reprehensible, if the faithful of Christ should not receive his solemnity and keep it reverently: for him whom the Lord has magnified on earth and exalted in heaven, we also ought both to extol with frequent praises and to honor with celebrated festivity; that bearing common joy concerning his magnificence and glory, with wish and voice and work as with a certain likewise singing triumph, we may rejoice in this with the colleges of the Saints, and may worthily merit his patronage. Wherefore wishing utterly, that the solemnity of the aforesaid B. Peter Martyr not be in any way neglected, whom we have formerly judged to be inscribed in the catalog of holy Martyrs by the common counsel and assent of our Brothers and of all the Prelates then residing at the Apostolic See with great joy, he prescribes his feast to all the Faithful as by our other letters we have more fully notified, destined to various provinces; we mandate by Apostolic writings strictly commanding to your universality, that considering attentively, that in the brightness of so great a Martyrdom the orthodox faith has shone forth with lofty titles, and the deadly dogma of heretics has fallen to the depths of confusion and ignominy, the feast of the same Martyr, which the Roman Church celebrates with celebrity, which also principally and studiously, on account of his distinguished martyrdom, we wish to be kept by all Catholics generally, you should celebrate with devotion and all solemnity, and cause to be celebrated by your subjects with fitting devotion, with the office of 9 lessons carrying out the Matins Office of the same Martyr entirely with nine lessons, and nonetheless the other Offices solemnly, as is fitting. But those who are not accustomed in the paschal time, in which the solemnity of the same Martyr is kept, to celebrate any feast with nine lessons; according to their customs and their usual manner, let them act concerning the Martyr himself. And lest forgetfulness of his festivity should ever be able to intervene, under a similar strictness we enjoin, that the day of his feast, which namely occurs on the 3rd day before the Calends of May, by writing it in your Calendars, there the name of the same Saint, with the specification of the Order of Preachers, you solicitously designate. And so may you strive efficaciously to execute all the premised things, that you may be able to have that precious Martyr with God as a sedulous helper. Given at b Anagni, on the 6th day before the Ides of August, in the 12th year of Our Pontificate.

[56] With B. Peter Martyr therefore canonized, the Lord deigned to illustrate him with many miracles. For very many laboring with various incommodities of infirmities, approaching his venerable tomb, obtained the remedies of health by the merits of B. Peter Martyr. the body is elevated, Wherefore the devotion of the faithful led the sacred body of the Martyr himself, which for more than a year had lain under the earth in a humble place, to be translated to a higher place. (Because of which the Brothers came to the provincial Chapter at Milan: for the general Chapter was not celebrated in the same year, on account of the passing, namely, of the Master of the Order, c Fr. John the German, who died after the feast of B. Michael, on which according to the Constitutions of the Order it ought not to be celebrated) the sacred body was raised: which was found so whole and intact, as if it had been buried on the same day. The Brothers, in the presence of the Lord Archbishop of Milan, Fr. Leo de Perego, a Milanese Patrician, of the Order of Minors, a most upright man and one ordering all things, carried the body of the holy Martyr upon a great pulpit, near the piazza of the church, with great reverence, and there, thus whole and intact, it was shown to all the people, and was supplicantly adored by them. On the following day it was placed in a plain marble chest, given as a gift to the Brothers by the d Abbot of S. Simplicianus, through the aforesaid Lord Archbishop, with the head laid apart in another place. For when B. Peter was still among men, and was holding conversation with the aforesaid Abbot, seeing the aforesaid chest, he said to that Abbot: This chest would be fit for the body of a Martyr. Whose words the aforesaid Abbot recalling to memory, learning of the translation of the holy Martyr, gave the aforesaid chest, as has been said, as a gift to the Brothers. The Commune of Milan, moreover, out of reverence for the holy Martyr, caused a very beautiful iron curtain, with eagles and lions, to be made around the above-mentioned chest. e

ANNOTATIONS.

and of Peter Martyr: for they had not yet begun to celebrate it themselves. In the same place is added the Bull of Clement V, directed to the Archbishop of Braga and to the Bishops established through the kingdom of Portugal, at Perugia 13 days before the Calends of April in the 2nd year of the Pontificate, that is, in the year of Christ 1266, by which both feasts are commended.

CHAPTER VIII.

Those violating the feast and vows made to S. Peter are punished.

[57] Concerning his miracles preceding and following the canonization, though very many are related to have flashed in various parts of the world, nevertheless those things are to be briefly touched which are written in his a Legend and in the book which is entitled Lives of the Brothers b; and also those things which by mandate of the Venerable Father Fr. Berengarius, c the 13th Master of the Order of FF. Preachers were collected and committed to writing, and also those which the Venerable P. Fr. Peter d Calo of Chioggia of the Order of Preachers collected in his great Legendary. In this work we shall follow that order of narration e which in the second book, in the description of the miracles of B. Dominic, we have preserved. Nor do I think that I have collected all the miracles which the Lord has worked through him: because I do not doubt that others have also been wrought by his merits, and are daily done, which have not come nor do come to my notice, because perhaps by the Brothers' negligence they have not been committed to writing. f When after B. Peter Mart.'s canonization, the feast at Milan was being solemnly celebrated, A tree cut down by a woodcutter on his feast day pours forth blood: a certain believer of the heretics sent his boy on the day of the aforesaid feast to the forest, to cut wood. And when he said that it was evil on the feast of so great a Martyr not to rest from such work; this unfaithful man, exasperating him, in contempt of the festivity compelled him to go. Who, fearing his master, proceeded; asking the Lord Jesus Christ, that in honor of the Saint, whose injury his master was procuring, he would deign to show some miracle. When therefore having taken an axe he wished to cut down an oak, at the first blow there came out of the oak so copious a flood of blood, that the iron and the haft and his hands and the earth for a great space were reddened with blood. Then he crying out immediately returned, and faithfully related what had been done. Many run with his master, and with the truth of the miracle inspected they had B. Peter Mart. in greater devotion, and that unbeliever was converted to devotion of the Saint and the truth of the Catholic faith.

[58] A certain young man from the city of Como, Gaufredus by name, while he reverently guarded a piece of cloth of the tunic of B. Peter Mart., and a certain heretic mockingly said to him, that if he believed him a Saint, he should throw the cloth itself into the fire; and, if it should happen not to be burned, without doubt he would believe him a Saint, and adhere to his faith. Soon he threw the cloth of the tunic of B. Peter Mart. onto burning coals: a heretic seeing his garment in the fire unharmed is converted: but unburnt by the fire itself it leaped back farther: then by itself returning over the coals, it wholly extinguished them burning and glowing. Then still with the unbeliever saying, Thus through all things will the cloth of my tunic do: with the cloth of the heretic placed on the coals brought on one side, and on the other the cloth of the holy Martyr; soon the cloth of the heretic, as it felt the heat of the fire, was wholly burned; but the cloth of S. Peter prevailed over the fire, and entirely extinguished the fire itself, so that not even one hair was burned. Seeing which the heretic returned to the way of truth, and made the miracle known to all.

[59] When certain Milanese citizens eating in common were wrangling about the Blessed Martyr, and one of them was depraving the sanctity of the Martyr and his miracles, a certain blasphemer against S. Peter is almost suffocated: having taken a certain morsel under this attestation, that he could not swallow it, if in this he should say false; he felt it soon so adhering to his throat, that he could neither bring it out nor bring it in. Wherefore immediately penitent, and now with the color of his face changed as if sensing the event of near death; having made a vow within himself, that he would not henceforth loosen his tongue to such things, he was immediately with it vomited out freed. Another noble Milanese also the Saint corrected from detraction: making his fingers grow stiff, that every man should fear and every tongue should confess the truth of the Catholic faith and the power of its defender, and in no way should they deprave the magnalia of signs. At Florence a certain young man, deceived by heretical depravity, when in the church of the Brothers of Florence with certain youths he was standing before a certain panel, on which the martyrdom of S. Peter was painted; seeing the lictor striking the Martyr with drawn sword, he burst into these words: Would that I had been there, another becomes mute: because I would have struck more strongly. Having said which, he was immediately made mute. When, being asked by his companions what was the matter, he was able to answer nothing, while he was being led home by them, seeing on the way a certain church of S. Michael, slipping from the hands of his companions, he entered it: and with knees bent he asked the holy Martyr in his heart, that he would pardon him: binding himself with a vow, as he could, that, if he should be freed, he would confess his sins and abjure every heresy. Then suddenly coming to the house of the Brothers, with heresy abjured he confessed his sins; with permission given to the Confessor, that he might preach this same thing to the people. And he himself, rising in public preaching, before all the multitude confessed all things. A certain man named Obizo, a believer of the heretics, when on the occasion of a certain heretical kinswoman of his, going to the church of the Brothers at Milan and to the tomb of B. Peter, he had seen two denarii there, another wanting to carry off money from his tomb grows stiff. taking them he said: It is good, that we drink these. And immediately he began to tremble all over, nor could he in any way move himself from the same place. Who, terrified, restored the aforesaid denarii in their place: and departing thence, considering B. Peter's power, he abandoned heresy, and was converted to the Catholic faith.

[60] In the province of Germany at Utrecht, certain women, seeing at the church of the FF. Preachers in honor of B. Peter Mart. a great concourse of peoples being made, to certain women speaking against S. Peter while they themselves were sitting in the square and spinning, said to those standing by: Behold, these Preachers have found every mode of gain; for that they may be able to heap up great money, and build wide palaces, they have now found a new Martyr. With them saying these and similar things, behold suddenly the thread was entirely stained with blood, and the fingers, with which the thread was twisted, a prodigious blood flows through the fingers: were soon filled with blood. Which they seeing and marveling, diligently wiped their fingers, lest perhaps it had come to them from a cut. But when they saw their fingers entirely whole, and saw the thread so bloody, trembling and penitent they began to say: Truly, because we have detracted from the blood of the precious Martyr, this prodigy of blood so stupendous has come to us. Running therefore to the house of the Brothers they set forth all things to the Prior, presenting the thread stained with blood. But the Prior at the urging of many, with a solemn sermon announced, related before all whatever had happened to the aforesaid women, and showed the bloody thread. But a certain teacher of the grammatical art, present at the same sermon, began maliciously to pervert that fact, and to say to those standing by: See, how and in what manner these Brothers deceive the hearts of the simple: because a certain other not believing suddenly fell into a fever. for with some silly women of their familiars they contrived, that they should dye that thread in some blood, and thus narrate what had miraculously happened. While he was saying these things, he immediately received the stroke of divine vengeance, and an attack of the strongest fevers rushing into him, with many looking on, so vexed him, that from the sermon itself he was carried to his own house between the hands of friends. But when the fever grew vehemently, he caused the aforesaid Prior to be summoned; and confessing his guilt, he vowed a vow to God and to B. Peter in the presence of the said Prior, that, if by his merits he should receive health, he would have him in special devotion, and henceforth not loosen his tongue to such things. Wondrous thing: As soon as he emitted the aforesaid vow, he received health entire.

[61] While the Brothers Preachers of the Convent of Gubbio in Tuscany had caused to be painted on the face of their church the martyrdom of B. Peter, how he had been killed by a heretic on behalf of the defense of the faith and Catholic truth, it happened that certain men of Gubbio on a certain day were passing by there: one of whom, informed by certain ill-thinking persons, seeing the picture, said: These Brothers cause to be painted the figure of that Fr. Peter, how he died, as if he had undergone martyrdom for the Christian faith: but I hold for certain, that he was killed not for the faith, but because of a certain bad woman. When he was rebuked by his companions for this blasphemy, he said: I ask God, that I be killed by the sword in the same way, another denying the Martyr is killed: as that man was killed, if he sustained passion for the faith.

But before the end of one month divine vengeance followed; for he fell into the hands of certain enemies, who, because they had been offended by him in words and deeds, wished to amputate his tongue; but because he would not show it to them to be cut, with drawn swords attacking him destitute of all help with many wounds, they killed him, and so for his blasphemy he bore such a death, as he had imprecated upon himself with his own mouth by detracting from B. Peter Mart., by the just judgment of God.

[62] Another in the same city of Gubbio, when he had heard from some the sanctity and miracles of B. Peter Mart. commended, blinded by the darkness of his mind, said: If Fr. Peter is a Saint, I ask God, that he cause me to die a bad death. another not believing the Saint is trampled by a horse: Within a month of the pronouncement of this sentence against himself, while a certain man was running on a horse through the road, and it was being cried by all that each might beware of the horse's rush; with others turning aside from the place of peril, who were in the road, that detractor of the holy Martyr, who was outside the road, suddenly at God's judgment urging him on, ran to the road, and as if he lacked hearing and sight, threw himself in the middle of the road against the running horse. The horse, however, dashed him to the ground with such force, that immediately in vengeance for his blasphemy he expired. When the Brothers Preachers of the aforesaid city of Gubbio on the vigil of the feast of B. Peter Mart. according to the country's custom, gave a signal with the bell in the evening, on account of the feast which was to be celebrated on the morrow; a certain man of great sanctity, Fr. Richard by name, who with his brother was dwelling in a cell on the mountain of the same city, which overlooks the place of the Preachers, taking ill the ringing of this kind, fearing that the Brothers from vain intention were doing this, said to his brother: It should be enough for those Brothers tomorrow on their feast to ring the bell, and not to make this evening display of their festivity. But at night while he was applying himself to prayer, another murmuring against the feast is reproved by the Saint himself, B. Peter Martyr appeared to him with a most beautiful aspect, in the habit of his Order, having a cape of black color, but covered on all sides with flashing golden roses, who reproved him for this kind of murmur, saying: Fr. Richard, I am that S. Peter, against whose reverence you have murmured unduly this evening: having said which he disappeared. And he humbly recognized his fault, and thereafter held B. Peter, Christ's Martyr, in the greatest reverence.

[63] In the city of Nicosia in Cyprus, there was a very noble Lady, wife of the prince of Galilee, who for almost fourteen years had been sterile, offspring by a vow made to S Peter obtained, with no small sadness of heart; who hearing on a certain day some miracles of B. Peter Mart. recited, having poured out prayer to him, vowed that, if he would obtain a son for her from the Lord, she would impose his name on him, and in due time, with life lasting, would give him to the Order of the Brothers of the Martyr himself. Within ten months of the vow being uttered she bore a son, on whom she imposed the name Peter. But after six months when she had ordered the aforesaid small son to be brought to her, and was holding him in her lap, seeing the son to be most beautiful, moved by vain affection gazing upon him, with it retracted he dies: said: Let B. Peter not take it ill, you will never be his Brother. Wondrous thing! Immediately as she uttered the words of the revocation of the vow, the boy who up to that hour had been healthy, was immediately infirm, and on that day departed from this light: and so the ingratitude deserved to lose him, whom the devotion had merited to receive. In the city of Ascoli in the March of Ancona, a certain Lady wife of a certain noble soldier, D. Jacob Bonhominis was called; when for several years she did not have a son, she devoted herself to B. Peter Mart., promising with the consent of her husband, that, if he would obtain a son for her from the Lord, she would never clothe him in any other habit than the habit of the Fr. Preachers; and with life lasting she would labor to the utmost of her power, that that son at the due age should enter the same Order. After a short time from the aforesaid promise, she conceived and bore a male. another dying from a similar cause But when the little boy had already completed a year and a half, and already clothes were to be made for him; seeing the boy to be most beautiful, the mother grieved over the made promise; thinking it unbecoming, that so fair a boy should wear the habit of religion: hence revoking what she had vowed, she clothed him with secular and delicate garments. But by the just judgment of God working, that from the punishment of the son the mother might recognize the fault of her ingratitude, after a few days he fell gravely ill. With all help of physicians failing, he began to labor in his last moments. The mother however, having recognized her fault, with much urgency of prayers for the liberation of her son turned to the aid of B. Peter Mart., promising that she would fulfill what she had vowed, if he would restore him to his former health. She immediately went to the place of the FF. Preachers with the little one taken, and with a great crowd of ladies: whom placing on the altar of B. Peter Mart., with many tears she commended to him. The prayer being finished the boy continuously expired: the mother however full of sadness held the little body of the son in her lap, to truly prove if he was truly dead. There gathered for this spectacle Brothers and many citizens: all of whom, together with the ladies who had come with the mother, judged and recognized him to be truly dead.

[64] The mother however said to the Brothers, Since B. Peter does not want him alive, with the mother doing penance, he comes back to life. receive him dead. While then the pit was being prepared, the ladies standing by induced the mother of the boy, to ask B. Peter for the resurrection of the boy. Who, with the strengths of her mind taken up, again placed the little body of the boy on the altar of the Martyr, and by herself and by all standing by a faithful and devout prayer was made. The prayer being finished, immediately the boy revived, with integral health received, and with all seeing he smiled, and took milk, and as he had been accustomed and knew how, began to speak. This distinguished miracle was known in all the city of Ascoli. But when the parents of the aforesaid boy after much time were eating in a certain estate of theirs, and offered the boy some fresh cheese which they had, on the vigil of B. Peter Mart., who had been accustomed willingly to eat fresh cheese; he as if disdaining it refused, and as he could, stammering said: I do not wish to eat cheese, because today is the vigil of B. Peter Mart. His parents however on that day were ignorant that this was the vigil; who sending immediately to the nearest church, found it so as the little boy affirmed. Inquiring from all the household, they found, that no one in the household had made mention of this vigil or feast before the boy; but meat and eggs against his custom he refused, saying, that such things were not lawful for him on account of the vigil of B. Peter Mart.

[65] In the same city of Ascoli there was a certain matron, by name Roman, who from her husband had borne four sons, A third likewise obtained, all of whom lived so short a time, that none of them had completed the fourth month: she sustained not a little sadness, both on account of the death of her sons, and because from this she became hateful to her husband. But hearing from certain Brothers it recited, that B. Peter Mart. had wonderfully helped a certain Lady in g Flanders, who had borne four dead sons, having conceived hope of his merits, she besought him with urgent prayers for her sadness. When after a little time she had conceived, fearing the past cases, she vowed a vow to B. Peter Mart. that if she should have a male son and if he should live, before seven years with life lasting she would clothe him in the habit of his Order, and at his time she would labor to the utmost of her power, that he should enter the aforesaid Order; to which vow her husband gave consent. The boy having been born therefore she called Peter; and when he had filled four months of his age, his parents firmly determined between themselves, with the purpose changed, to keep the son for themselves, and to give another to B. Peter Mart. according to the form previously promised: and on the same day the boy was gravely ill, and with the disease growing stronger for many days, he became dropsical. with the vow revoked by the parents When he could not be helped by the aid of medicine, it was judged by the physicians that he was either to die soon, or it was necessary for him to become humpbacked: he was sick for twenty-two months, within which he could neither walk nor support himself by himself, but always lay in bed. After these things, with B. Peter Mart.'s feast coming, a certain matron gave counsel to the mother of the boy, to ask B. Peter for the death of the son, who had languished for so long a time: for she said, with dropsy. it is better to weep for a son once dead than daily about to die. But his mother said: I believe B. Peter Mart. to be of such benignity, that he will more willingly obtain health for the boy, than death. But recognizing with tears her fault, she brought him to the altar of B. Peter Mart., and commended him with humble prayers. On that same day all the swelling entirely vanished from the boy's body, and within eight days perfectly healed he walked firmly and freely. But with five years completed from his birth, his father died; the mother however unwilling to lack the consolation of her son, determined not to keep what she had promised to B. Peter Mart. And on that same day in which she so confirmed her intent, the foot of her son so perilously swelled up, that the physicians doubted his cure. The grandmother of the boy rebuking her daughter for the change of purpose, together with her, with the swelling of the foot with the vow again uttered and confirmed, brought the boy to the altar of B. Peter Mart.; and when the Brothers had placed the pyx of the relics of B. Peter Mart. over the foot of the boy, immediately all pain and swelling receded, and the boy being freed walked before all present.

[66] After the aforesaid miracle, with a year and a half elapsed, the mother clothed the boy with the habit of the Order in her own house, as she had promised to B. Peter Mart.: which being done a certain kinsman of his harshly rebuked her, that she was willing to give her only son to the Brothers, and seizing the scapular of the boy, tore it; and induced the mother so much, that she gave consent, that her son should be clothed in secular habit. Then on that same day the boy with his habit changed went healthy to the schools, and being afflicted with the throat subsequently, is healed, but in the evening he returned with great swelling of the throat and with pain, and had his neck so twisted, that he could not hold his jaw except over his shoulder. The mother seeing this, recognized that this had come upon her as her punishment, because she had disposed not to keep the promise. It happened on a certain day, while a plaster should be placed over his throat, that Brothers Preachers had come for the sake of visitation; who rebuking the woman for such great instability of heart,

exhorted her, that with contrite heart and faithful purpose she should again invoke the aid of B. Peter Mart. With a vow made again by her with faith and great reverence, the Brothers in the name of B. Peter Mart. placed the plaster over the boy's throat. In the morning the physician was present, and with the ligatures untied the boy was found most fully freed from pain and swelling; with the physician judging, that that plaster, by natural power, could not in so brief a time confer health on that infirmity. With all giving thanks to God and to the Blessed Martyr, the mother of the boy was always steadfast in the promise.

Annotations

CHAPTER IX.

Those laboring with fever, dropsy and other diseases and defects healed through S. Peter's merits.

[67] abscesses are healed Two Brothers of the Order of Preachers, devoutly resorting to his suffrages, obtained the benefits of miraculous health. For when one from a certain vehement abscess, which he was suffering in his ribs, by the judgment of physicians could not be cured without incision, nor be cut without peril of death; since he was much frightened, he fled to the tomb of the Martyr: and when he committed his peril to the Blessed Martyr, before he presumed to ask, he was endowed with the benefit: for immediately with all swelling and the whole abscess he was cured, without peril and incision. Another when he was dropsical, dropsy, and could not with any medicines help himself, nor restore the natural heat to his stomach; in the Convent of Asti, before the altar of B. Peter Mart. praying, he obtained immediately the health of the whole body.

In the Convent of Bologna Fr. John Polonus was suffering from quartan fever. But when on the feast of B. Peter Mart. he was to make a sermon to the Clergy, quartan fever, and was expecting an attack that very night according to the course of the fever, he greatly feared, lest in the sermon enjoined upon him he should fail. Therefore having turned to the suffrages of Saint Peter Mart., he approached his altar with great devotion, praying that by his merits he might be aided, whose glory he had to preach: and so it was done, that the fever ceased that night; and afterwards never invaded him. abscess, A certain Brother in the Lyonese convent, when he lay sick almost unto death, and had on his neck an abscess, concerning which they doubted not a little; he asked with much devotion from the Master of the Order, who was then present, that he would cause the relics of B. Peter to be brought to him, because by his merits he firmly hoped to receive health. And when he had been signed with them, immediately he felt himself recovering fully freed.

[68] A certain Brother of the Cologne Convent had a swelling in his throat for two years so great, that it deformed him very much, and by the judgment of many was perilous. He placed in so great a peril promised B. Peter Mart., if he should cause that swelling to vanish, and free him from so great a peril, that he would daily say one Our Father in his honor. swelling Immediately therefore with the vow made that swelling began to subside, and suddenly vanished. All the Brothers of that house gave thanks to God and to B. Martyr, that he had fully restored health to the aforesaid Brother, for whom the suffrages of physicians could not profit. A certain Brother of the Order of Preachers when he had one of his knees so injured, that without the aid of a staff he could not walk, having made a vow and turning himself to the martyr, that he would make memory of him henceforth at Vespers and Lauds, if the Lord should have freed him by his merits, at once sensibly he perceived the effect. a fault of the knee and foot, Who afterwards perfectly healed did not cease to be mindful of him, and afterwards became a witness of his virtues. A certain Brother of Ascoli of the Order of Preachers, named Peter, had great pain and swelling in his foot; and with very many remedies of physicians applied, he could neither have better nor by himself stand or walk: but on the night of the feast of B. Peter Mart. with the aid of the Brothers he approached the altar of the Martyr himself to visit, and kissing the relics of the Martyr and with prayer poured out, was led to his cell: but after the first sleep waking up, he found himself totally freed.

[69] The Religious and Reverend Man Fr. Philip of Brescia, of the Order of FF. Minors, in immoderate heat in public preaching related; that when he was returning from Rome to Lombardy, and in the mountains of Tuscany was suffering from excessive heat, he said to his companion: If B. Peter Martyr, of the Order of Preachers, who while he was preaching at Milan in the greatest heat to the sweltering people obtained the refreshment of a cloud, should obtain a similar grace for us in so great a burning; I would narrate this miracle and others which I knew to yield to his praises, in public preaching to his glory. With words finished, what he asked, he obtained: for when before no trace of any little cloud appeared in the air, suddenly at God's nod, for the glory of His Martyr, a cloud appeared over those Brothers, which provided refreshment to them sweltering. The aforesaid Brother, however, doubtful of the miracle, said: a cloud is sent down. Pleasant and delightful would this cloud be to me, if it had come from a miracle; yet I think rather that it came from chance than from the operation of a miracle. With these words finished the cloud immediately wholly disappeared, and they were in a more vehement heat than they had been before. Then Fr. Philip, seeing God's judgment over him, humbly recognizing his fault, humbly prostrated himself at the feet of his companion, who was a Priest, and made confession of his incredulity and ingratitude; firmly promising that if B. Peter Mart. would again obtain grace for him, and would recall to his glory the cloud which he had lost through his intervening fault; he would venerably believe the miracle which had occurred, and would preach his honor and his own fault in public preaching, to the glory of God and the Martyr himself. Therefore with confession and prayer made and absolution received, the cloud continuously by B. Peter's grace returned, which pursuing them all day, with great refreshment overshadowed them in their journey.

[70] In the monastery of the great S. Angelus of Ascoli, Oppression of the heart is cured, which is under the care of the FF. Minors, a certain Sister, named Margaret, often suffered from a very grave defect of the heart; which frequently pressed her with such pain, that she could neither speak nor move; and she trembled so strongly, that she could not be held firm by six Sisters, without them trembling strongly with her, as if they themselves were suffering the same infirmity. But when she could be freed by no remedies of physicians; on a certain day while she was actually suffering that burden, and from anguish could not speak, she invoked B. Peter's aid. fistula, With a brief prayer completed, immediately she was freed from the infirmity, nor suffered it any longer. At another time, the said sister suffered a horrible fistula on the thumb of her right hand; for when she had three holes near the nail, and for one month under the care of physicians had gained nothing; the physicians fearing the corrosion of the whole hand, deliberated entirely to amputate the thumb. But one evening despairing of human help, she devoutly and faithfully invoked B. Peter Mart., that he would not permit her finger to be amputated. In the morning the physician was present, and loosing the bindings of the finger, found her most fully freed and the holes closed: who referring immense thanks to B. Peter Mart., did not feel that infirmity any further.

[71] a distorted bone of the shoulder, In the same monastery a certain Sister, by name Marina, suffered a pain of this kind for a long time: for the bone of her shoulder had so grown beyond all the bones, that when she raised her arm however lightly, she was tortured with such great pain, that she was almost always compelled to emit great roars, whence her life was useless and painful to herself and others. When therefore on a certain day she had raised her arm and was suffering the gravest pains, remembering how B. Peter Mart. freed the aforesaid Sister Margaret from the gravest infirmities, him in her heart, because for pain she could not speak, she most devoutly invoked: and while within herself she was thinking with devout and faithful mind concerning his virtue and merits, in her mind she began to turn over an imagination of this kind, that if she had any panel or little sheet, on which the image of B. Peter Mart. was painted, and if she placed it over the place of infirmity, B. Peter would obtain health for her from the Lord. Wondrous thing! Immediately when she firmed with deliberation and devotion to have that image, that bone, which so gravely afflicted her, was immediately brought back to its due manner and place; and with all pain ceasing, she received her former health; so that thereafter free from all burden of this kind, she exercised that arm without any pain, and like the rest, freely and lifted it.

[72] stone, When a certain Religious of Ascoli, named Fr. Transmundus, Chaplain of the aforesaid monastery, was most frequently and most gravely troubled by the passion of little stones; on a certain day while he was more gravely burdened than usual by this passion, he had recourse to the aid of B. Peter Mart., and having made within himself a vow (for then indeed he could not speak for pain) that if he would free him, he would cause his image to be painted, and annually on his feast would visit the church of the FF. Preachers with the offering of a candle, as long as he lived; immediately with all pain ceasing, he was perfectly and wholly healed from that infirmity. fever, A certain Abbot of the diocese of Poitiers, when he was grievously laboring with fevers, so that he feared to die from them, a certain Brother of the Order of Preachers, his kinsman, visited him, and said to him, that, if he would vow himself to God and to B. Peter, who had newly been killed in Lombardy for the faith of Christ, but not yet canonized, he would be freed from the fevers.

Who immediately fulfilling the exhortation of the Brother, caused a candle of his own length to be lit, before a certain altar in the church, in honor of B. Peter; and from then on he received entire health entirely from the fevers and from every infirmity. In the province of Germany a certain nun in the convent of a Eccebach, of the diocese of Constance, gout of the knee, of the Order of b S. Sixtus, suffered for a year and more a grave drop in her knee, so that she could not be freed by any remedy; and because she could not visit the tomb of B. Peter bodily (because it was not lawful on account of obedience nor was she able on account of infirmity) hearing that at c fourteen days' journey from that place Milan could be reached; she thought at least to visit the aforesaid tomb by a mental step and sedulous devotion, proposing to say one hundred Our Fathers daily for each day's journey, in honor of S. Peter Mart. Wondrous thing! When she had begun to make such days' journeys, successively always and gradually she began to have better health. But when she made the last day's journey, she arrived at the tomb with a mental procession on bent knees, as if she were before the tomb, she read the entire psalter with the greatest devotion: which being finished, she felt herself so freed from all infirmity, that now she felt only a little something; returning however in the manner in which she had gone, before she had completed all the days' journeys, she was entirely healed.

Annotations

CHAPTER X.

Various persons recalled to life through S. Peter's merits.

[73] In Flanders a certain woman, when she had already borne three sons dead, and was on this account held in hatred by her husband; invoked the aid of B. Peter Mart. a And when she had likewise borne a fourth dead, the mother taking the deceased son, they are raised, an infant born dead, betook herself wholly to asking S. Peter, praying with devout prayers, that he would raise her son. Scarcely had she completed the prayer; and behold the boy, who had been dead, appeared alive: whom when he was brought to baptism, when it had been determined that he should be called John, the Priest when he wished to say John, said Peter: hence thereafter he retained this name out of devotion to B. Peter. In the Province of France, in the city of Sens, a certain girl when in the water b of the river, into which she had fallen, for a long space of time c had lain hidden, at length dead from the river she was drawn out: of whose death there were four signs of certainty, namely the great space of time, the rigidity of the body, coldness, and blackness. Whom when they had carried her to the church of the FF. Preachers, a drowned girl, and had devoted her to the new Martyr Peter, immediately she was restored to her former life and health. d In the Province of Tuscany at Narni there was a certain matron, who had great devotion toward B. Peter Mart.: she found her son, of about three years, on a certain morning dead in bed: fearing however to tell her husband what had happened, lest perhaps he should become enraged against her, imputing this to her negligence; she sent her maidservant with the body of the boy to the church of the FF. Preachers, a suffocated boy. adjuring her that she should not disclose the case to anyone, but that with the people departing from the church she should place him under the altar of B. Peter Mart., so hiddenly nevertheless that he could be seen by no one. But she hoped and prayed faithfully, that B. Peter Martyr, within whose octaves this had happened, would restore her son alive and unharmed to her. But when her husband asked where the boy was, she pretended that she had sent the boy to the house of a certain kinswoman of hers for some medicine. But on the third day, while the Brothers of that Convent were sitting in the refectory for supper, that boy raised by the merits of B. Peter Mart., entered the refectory happy and cheerful. The Brothers, however, wondered how that little boy, whom many of them knew, was so alone, and thought that from forgetfulness he had been left after Vespers. They sent therefore a messenger to the mother, that she should send a maidservant for the boy, whom from forgetfulness she had left in the church. She with many others running to the house of the Brothers, both joyfully received the son, and faithfully narrated the miracle.

[74] A certain woman at Genoa, at the instigation of the devil, out of a certain despair, in her own house, with the door closed, with her own hands hanged herself, and for a great hour hung as dead on a beam. But when she was sought by some of the neighbors, a woman who had hanged herself, and to those knocking at the door no answer was given; looking through the cracks, they saw her hanging on the beam. Breaking in therefore by violence, with the rope cut they found her entirely dead. Then a certain elderly matron, who had great devotion toward B. Peter Mart., who also, when she was a young girl, had sometimes confessed to him, said to those standing by: As B. Peter Martyr preserved unharmed the man who took the fiery iron e in his hands as a testimony of his sanctity, so he can raise this miserable dead woman, if he will. And going to her house, she brought a certain particle of the cape of B. Peter Mart., which she had long kept out of devotion; and in his name placed it over her throat, with all who were present, devoutly and faithfully invoking B. Peter Mart. Immediately therefore with the prayer completed, and the cloth of the cape placed over the dead woman's throat; she who from her own malignity had been dead, from B. Peter's virtue and benignity rose up, giving glory to God and to B. Peter her Martyr, saying that all the time of her life she had never felt such sweetness in her throat, as when she came back to life, in the place where the aforesaid relics were applied.

[74] At Montpellier a certain noble having a wife, for many years, could not have sons of his wife. When he and his wife had humbly devoted themselves to B. Peter Mart., they obtained a son by the merits of B. Peter: who, when he came to the age of about five years, oppressed by a grave languor, died. The father indeed, though full of sadness, with a copious multitude of citizens, Religious and Clerics summoned, caused the body of the deceased boy to be carried to the church of the Brothers Preachers, where he was to be buried. a five-year-old boy, And when the body of the deceased lay in the bier, and the Clergy was pursuing the office of funeral, behold the mother of the deceased, accompanied by a crowd of matrons, against the custom of the country, overcome by excessive sadness and having conceived great hope in B. Peter Mart., entered the church; and approaching the altar of B. Peter Mart., with tearful prayers began to appeal to him, crying and beseeching, that either he should restore to her the son, whom she had obtained from God, or that he should recall her from this light, lest she be further a witness of the calamity, which had begun to oppress her husband. At her cry therefore the multitude of Brothers of all Orders there existing gathered, and moved by compassion for her overflowing sadness, all bent their knees, asking B. Peter Mart. that he would deign to succor such great grief. With a brief prayer made, the boy who lay dead, with a great multitude seeing, came back to life; immediately rising unharmed, he ran to his mother, saying: B. Peter Martyr, moved by your prayers, has obtained that I be raised.

[76] A certain young man in the same place was playing with boys on the street, and it happened that a certain man with a horse, on which he was sitting, was passing through that road by running, and when the other boys fled, that one alone did not know how to flee, or was unable to take it. another trampled by a horse And when the one who was on the horse could not rein in the horse, with a swift course it struck the boy, and with its fore feet crushed and broke the boy's head, and even placed its hind feet over the head: because of which the bone of the head was broken in several parts, and the boy immediately expired. But when the little body of the son had been carried with much sadness to the house of the mother, and great lamentation made over him, at length the mother was persuaded that she should cause him to be buried. But she, remembering the miracles of B. Peter Mart., which many the Lord had worked through him there in the surrounding parts, said: I do not want this little body to be handed over for burial, because I hope that B. Peter Martyr, toward whom I am affected with much devotion, will restore him to life and health. Then she caused that body to be brought to the church of the FF. Preachers, and she herself hastened there with a great crowd, and placed him before the altar of B. Peter Mart., and by her and others who were present, with devout prayer made, she caused the Fr. Prior to be called to her; whom she urgently asked, to bring the relics of B. Peter Mart. and place them over the body of the deceased; because she trusted in the Lord, that by the merits of B. Peter he would raise him. The Prior, however, conquered by the mother's prayers and tears, entered the sacristy, and clothed in sacred vestments, with much reverence brought the relics of the Saint, with which he touched the broken head of the boy: and immediately as he touched the fracture of the bone, the touched wound was consolidated. Seeing which, he touched the head through each fracture, and thus the head was consolidated with all seeing, as if it had never been broken: the boy however was still lacking life. Then the mother caused the relics to be applied over the body of the deceased; which being done, with Christ's virtue working, the boy who had been dead was integrally restored to life and health.

[77] In Castelnuovo distant six miles from Montpellier, a certain esquire came to the last extremities of life, and was judged dead by the bystanders; because all signs of death both in the eyes, and in the other members appeared. His wife however and parents and friends, weeping for him as dead, finally commended him to B. Peter Mart., a deceased soldier, vowing that, if he should restore him to life and former health, they themselves together with him would visit his altar and relics, with due oblations, on his next feast. Wondrous thing! Immediately with the vow made, he who had been dead, came back to life, sound and unharmed. Which miracle he and all the aforesaid, who saw this, in the said feast confessed before Brothers and all present, to the praise of God and His Martyr. A certain Lady at Montpellier, her nursing son f died, some days before the feast of B. Peter Mart., concerning whose death

she could not be consoled. and an infant: Hearing therefore from the bystanders, who had come to console her, that the feast of B. Peter was to be next, who worked no small miracles over the dead; with tears and groans, of which she was full, she invoked the same Martyr, vowing to him that if he would raise her son, she would carry him with a burial-cloth and a waxen image to his altar. Wondrous thing! as soon as the vow was made, the infant resuscitated and cheerful and clapping with his hands, began to smile at his mother: who within its Octaves completing the vow, and narrating the miracle to all, devoutly presented her son before his altar.

[78] In the year 1307 g there was in the same place a certain man sick with continuous fever even to death, who finally with the disease growing stronger was by the bystanders reputed dead: whence for a long space his face was veiled, a man extinguished by fever, and meanwhile the parents were thinking about the shroud and candles. His wife however continuously invoked B. Peter with tears and sighs. And when the parents and friends wished to place him in a burial-cloth, and the wife refused to move from the place (who was next to him, always invoking the said Saint), he who had been dead, came back to life sound and cheerful; and the shroud, in which he was to be wrapped, he devoutly brought to the altar of B. Peter Mart.; and adoring his relics with many present, happily returned home. In the same year the son of a certain woman, gravely ill, died, around the twilight of night. Seeing which the mother all night invoked B. Mart. Peter, that God through his merits would restore her son. And behold around dawn the boy opened his eyes, and asked for food to eat. Whom the mother, with all present, who had seen him dead and resuscitated, with the vow which she had made and with the shroud, brought to the altar of B. Peter, narrating the miracle to the Brothers, giving thanks to God.

[79] h In the year 1312 around the feast of Pentecost a certain woman, having her son sick unto death, when the infirmity in him had grown stronger, finally with him dead was desolate with her husband, and as it were wounded by a dire wound. Then she began to invoke B. Peter Mart., with many tears and strong cries and sighs, and a dead boy. that through his merits God would raise her son. And when from those standing by she would not and could not receive any consolation, but more and more was praying such things; with a vow being made by them, suddenly he who had been dead, and had been wholly cold for a long space of time, came back to life; and with parents and friends he came to his relics, and faithfully narrated the miracle to the Brothers. At the same time in the castle of Melgoris, likewise another man six miles distant from Montpellier, a certain woman had a married son, laboring with a grave infirmity, from which finally he died. When after many vows which she had made for her son, loving him as her only, he did not recover; with maternal bowels moved, with knees bent and hands clasped pouring out groans and laments, as if destitute of all consolation of her son, she invoked B. Peter Martyr and cried out, that he would restore her son to her; since she in no way doubted his mercy, and knew that he had aided many in a similar case. Wondrous thing! With a vow made of bringing a shroud and candles of those who are handed over for burial, as is the custom, to his relics; suddenly he who had been dead came back to life. The mother indeed rejoicing and marveling at such a great benefit given to her, with the aforesaid son of hers came to the relics of B. Peter Mart. offering there what she had vowed, giving thanks to God and the holy Martyr. i

[80] and two infants: In the year 1314, the infant son of Peter de Galbato, a merchant, was sick with a mortal sickness, from which finally he died. The father therefore and mother, because of the feast of B. Peter Mart. which they had seen kept by the Brothers and Sisters; and the great and infinite miracles, which they had seen and heard done through him; began to invoke his suffrages with great tears, vowing to him a shroud, an image and candles. And when he had not immediately raised their son, the parents of the father and mother, wearied from such a delay, began to say to the father and mother. Why do we not proceed? why is he not carried for burial? what do you wish to do? Then the father and mother, still weeping for the resurrection of their son, and praying to B. Peter Mart., said: We truly believe and trust, that God will restore him to us through the merits of B. Peter Mart. And while they were dwelling in these words, with parents and friends not ceasing to weep, and beseeching B. Peter Mart., suddenly the aforesaid infant came back to life. And the father and mother on the vigil of the Holy Cross, as they had vowed, brought the son to the relics of the Martyr himself, offering what they had vowed at his tomb, giving thanks to God and the blessed Martyr.

[81] In the year 1319 the day before the Calends of March, a certain infant was born dead, according to the statement of the midwife and father, and grandmother and other matrons, who were present. Hence they placed him aside. of whom one was born dead, The grandmother seeing the father's grief, made a vow to God and to B. Peter Mart., that if she should obtain from God that the son come back to life, so much as that he could be baptized, she would bring him baptized to his altar. The father therefore, with knees bent, hands clasped, with tears and the greatest devotion, did not cease to pray B. Peter Mart. And behold the infant began to move his right foot a little: seeing which the father and grandmother crying out besought B. Peter, that he would consummate the miracle which he had begun, by restoring life to the infant. And while they persisted in prayer, he moved his right hand, and afterwards opened his eyes, and moved his whole body; and with him baptized, when the mother had risen from childbirth, they brought the infant sound and unharmed, with the grandmother and other parents and friends, to the altar of B. Peter Mart., referring thanks to God and the Saint.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER XI.

Ease of childbirth granted to women in labor through S. Peter's merits, offspring given eyes and a hand, some preserved in the peril of death.

[82] The Saint invoked grants easy childbirth to a woman in labor In the year 1307 the wife of John de Cabanis of Montpellier, a delicate young woman, began to have pains of childbirth, so that the infant thrust out his whole arm. And when the pains grew stronger and tortured her unto death, because the infant was dead; with physicians and other persons called, having no counsel and aid from them, as if dead by all she was judged. At midnight her parents hastily sent for the water of the relics of B. Peter Mart.; and invoking him with tears, they placed that water in her mouth, and with no small violence made her swallow; because she seemed as if dead. Which being done immediately the dead infant without injury to the mother went out, and the mother came back to life, who had seemed dead. On the following day her mother with feet bare and muddy, because it had rained and was raining, came with the vow which she had promised to the relics of the Saint, and narrated the miracle to her Confessor and to the Brothers: afterwards the daughter came with the vow to visit the relics of the Holy Martyr, about to give thanks to God and the Saint. At the same time and year a certain Lady began to have pains of childbirth of a dead fetus, which she had in her womb, and with midwives and other women called, and physicians and surgeons, and very many others, from whom she hoped aid, when she could have it from none, the Ladies assisting the parents of the said lady, seeing her as if dead, likewise to another: said: Why do you not run to B. Peter Mart., who two days ago, as you know, freed a certain woman from a similar peril? Which those hearing, with her as if dead, invoked S. Peter with tears and sighs, in the deep night vowing to him, that, if he should free her from the peril of death, with feet bare and all things set aside, they would immediately come with the vow which they had made, to his relics. Wondrous thing! immediately the dead infant, which was putrid, went out in the morning with arms excoriated; at whose going out such a stench arose, that no person could remain with the mother, however familiar, friendly and near she was to her. And so with the infant brought forth, she was freed from the peril of death: the Ladies immediately after Mass completed the vow which they had made, coming to the relics of B. Peter Mart., and narrating the miracle to the praise of God and the Saint.

[83] and to another, whose first offspring, with a hand A certain woman of Montpellier, for four years was so ill with paralysis, and contracted from the navel upwards, that she could not rise from bed, nor go out without great help: in which time she had three sons; and when she was to bear the first son, she became black, like a black cloth, so that by the bystanders she was judged dead. When she in her heart and the bystanders invoked B. Peter Mart., she bore a son lacking one hand. Who when she had recovered, wished to see the infant, and seeing him having only one hand, again invoked B. Peter Mart., imploring his suffrages with the greatest tears. Wondrous thing! Suddenly another hand was given to the infant, as sound and beautiful as the other. When the same had conceived another and the time of bearing had approached, she was in the same state as before. endows another with eyes, And when she had borne an infant without eyes, and had seen him so deprived,

with B. Peter Mart. invoked and a vow made to him, suddenly the most beautiful eyes were given to the infant. A third time she conceived, and it happened as before, and she bore a daughter with all the members, but thin, deformed and scabby, and as if wholly alien from nature, so that even a leper would seem a horrible monster. a third she cleanses from scab: Who invoked B. Peter Mart. with tears, and made the greatest devotion, so that the mother was totally freed from her infirmity, and her daughter was made most beautiful, and changed into a new creature. The said woman related these things, in the year 1305 coming to the relics of B. Peter Mart. with the three aforesaid infants and with her parents and friends, to adore them. The Brothers, who were showing them the relics, hearing which, restores the back of the head to another's offspring: glorified God and the Saint Martyr. In the same place a certain woman bore a son, but deformed, having only the front part of the head up to the ears inclusively, having nothing of the back part: seeing which the mother, remembering the miracles which there B. Peter Martyr had worked, began to invoke him with the greatest tears. While she was holding the boy next to her in bed, with the door of the chamber closed, a Brother Preacher entered her chamber, beautiful in aspect and grave in gait and of great reverence; and he blessed the son whom she was holding next to her, and immediately disappeared. Soon the mother saw the son whole in head, yellow in color and beautiful in aspect, whom the mother presented to the Prior and Brothers of the said Convent of Montpellier, that he might preach this miracle to the people. A certain woman when she had come to childbirth, bore a piece of flesh, having no likeness of any animal or man. Seeing which very sad, she betook herself to the aid of B. Peter Mart., he reforms a shapeless fetus: whom she had in special devotion. With prayer and vow emitted to him, immediately by God's power from that flesh the body of the boy was formed integrally and perfectly.

[84] A certain woman, Mary by name, in the city of Metz, had borne seven sons, some dead in childbirth, others half-alive, who did not live much after baptism received. It happened that a certain Brother of the Order of Preachers, her kinsman, he takes away the difficulty of childbirth was sent from the provincial Chapter, and was assigned to that Convent. And while kinsmen and friends rejoiced at the Brother's return, the said woman wept most bitterly. But when the Brother asked her the cause of such great weeping, she, having taken up her spirit, said: I am miserably pregnant, and expect a miserable birth. To whom the Brother said, Do not fear, but trust in God's goodness and the merits of the new Martyr Peter of our Order, and commend yourself in your childbirth to him with devotion; and promise that if you bear a male, you will cause him to be named Peter, and annually you will present him with honorable oblations at the altar of B. Peter Mart.; and you will observe his feast, and hear the office concerning him and the sermon: and thus be secure, that he will free you from the peril; and to the son, whom you carry in your womb, he will give life, and preserve him. She hearing these things, cheered, and firmly adhering to the Brother's words and not hesitating at all, with her sadness put off and changed into joy, said: All the things which you have said I vow to do. When the time of bearing came, she brought forth a most easy childbirth, and bore a male alive, and at the reception of baptism caused him to be named Peter from B. Peter: now that boy was exceedingly gracious. This miracle indeed was so celebrated that it was divulged throughout the city of Metz, so much that women from then on laboring in childbirth began to invoke B. Peter of the Order of Preachers.

[85] offspring granted to a sterile woman Another certain Lady, who for a long time could not have a son, for this grace invoked B. Peter Mart. with many vows and devout prayers. After not much time she bore a son, having on his head and shoulders scars, in those places namely in which B. Peter was wounded, when by the heretics for the defense of the Catholic faith he was killed: so that by this kind of scars it was shown, that that son had been obtained by the merits of the Blessed Martyr. But one day the aforesaid Lady harshly rebuked for a certain fault a nurse, whom she had in the house; because of which that woman was most strongly provoked, and wishing to inflict great displeasure on the Lady, wished to kill the boy in revenge, so that the mother might be filled with the greatest sadness. But lest she could be seen to be culpable, she placed in the boy's ear an ear of wheat, which she so inserted internally into the ear, that it in no way appeared. The boy began incessantly to lament and be very sick, he heals but because he could not nor knew how to speak, it could not be known by others, what he had; and thus it came about, that brought to his last extremities after a few days, he was thought soon to die. Meanwhile the mother of the boy did not cease to invoke B. Peter Mart.: on a certain night, while he seemed altogether to be dying, and over his little bed the mother with some others was keeping vigil; suddenly B. Peter Martyr was present, in the habit of the Order of Preachers and in reverend appearance: who placed two fingers in the boy's ear, and with them seeing from the ear drew out the ear of wheat and placed it on the boy's cheek and departed, and immediately the boy was perfectly healed and that miserable woman, having seen this miracle, recognized her fault with many tears, and humbly asked for pardon, which she obtained without difficulty.

[86] When a certain man from Ascoli, named Jacob Ravonis, promises a boy to an infertile woman when for many years he could not have a son, together with his wife, yet with much urgency of prayers, humbly and faithfully asked B. Peter Mart. for grace for obtaining a son. Therefore on a certain night B. Peter Martyr, in the habit of the Order of Preachers, appeared in dreams to the wife of the aforesaid man, holding a boy in his hands and saying: I am that S. Peter, whom you have daily besought to have a son: and because you have pressed me so with prayers, I have obtained from the Lord what you asked: and offering her the little boy, said: Receive the son, whom you asked. After a space of nine months the aforesaid woman bore a male son; and with the days of conception diligently computed, she found, that from the night of the vision up to the day of childbirth the space of nine months, with no day exceeding or falling short, coincided.

[87] A certain boy was so brought to his last extremities by a most grave fever, that it could scarcely be discerned whether any heat remained in his chest and any in his mouth, and now he was being mourned by his parents as if dead: commended by a vow through his mother to the holy Martyr, he heals a boy and devoutly measured according to the custom of the country, he soon recovered heat and breath, and a little after full health. A certain noble of Gubbio in the province of Tuscany, Raynerius by name, gravely infirm, after a long sickness believed himself to be entirely dying. But when on the vigil of B. Peter Mart. after None, and men near death: it had been judged by the physicians by common counsel, that on that very day he was to die; the mother of the sick man urgently asked the Brothers, that they should commend her son, despaired of by the physicians, to B. Peter, whose solemnity was at hand. The Prior indeed, with the Brothers called together, deliberated with them with common agreement, that all the Brothers should abstain generally in bread and water at supper, and with devout prayers for his liberation they should invoke B. Peter Mart. On the following night, B. Peter appeared to a certain devout Brother praying, saying: Behold, Brother, I have obtained for you all what you have asked. In the morning the Brothers went to the house of that noble, and found him out of bed sound and unharmed.

[88] A certain boy of Bergamo, William by name, about seven years old, playing on the floor of a certain tower with other boys, pushed incautiously by one of them, fell from the high floor: whose head was so strongly struck, that the bone of the head being broken in a great part, was bent inward, and twisted: so that, where before was a prominence of bone, now was made in the opposite direction a great concavity. likewise a crushed boy, He was placed in bed with great lamentation, because he was the son of an honorable man, who at that time was the great advocate of the Roman Curia. But the best physicians of the city of Bergamo were summoned, to the number of twelve; of all of whom the one opinion was, that no remedy of medicine could avail him. With all the senses of the body and speech lost in him, he was thought soon to die, and therefore with no remedy of medicine at all applied, they departed. A certain honorable and devout matron, Oremplasia by name, to whom the care of the boy pertained, seeing that the remedies of bodily medicine were lacking, had recourse to B. Peter Mart. with faithful devotion, and with a vow made, that, if he should free the boy, she would devoutly and honorably visit his tomb with the boy himself at Milan; the boy, who from evening until the following morning had been so despaired of by the physicians, rose sound and unharmed from the bed, asked for food and ate, having absolutely no judgment of any injury or scar. A great multitude of people was witness of this miracle. With the first feast of the holy Martyr himself approaching, which was in the year of the Lord 1312, the aforesaid Lady fulfilled all that she had promised, faithfully narrating all that the Lord had done. and a man. In the province of Provence Arnold de Marast of Altovillari, laboring in his last extremities made a vow, as he could, that he would visit the tomb of the Martyr, if by the merits of the holy Martyr health should be granted him. And when he had felt the manifest suffrages of the vow before he who was vowing could complete the words, and a little after had obtained full health; he what he had vowed, with not without much labor humbly and devoutly paid.

CHAPTER XII.

Fevers, dropsy, paralysis driven away through S. Peter.

[89] A certain man, Henry by name, Hungarian by nation, when with the miracles of the Martyr becoming more frequent and by the relation of many spread far and wide, after a long pilgrimage from a Pessiensi, a city of Hungary, he had come to Milan: A certain man with a vow made he frees from fever: since he was so afflicted with fevers, that while the paroxysm lasted he saw absolutely nothing, having made a vow, that he would go to the place in which the body of the holy Martyr rests, if through him the Lord would grant the benefit of health; immediately freed, he faithfully and devoutly fulfilled what he had vowed. A certain boy, having fevers for a year and a half, likewise a boy, on a certain day while he was suffering those fevers most strongly with the heat, his parents vowed him to B. Peter Mart. The boy, immediately with the vow emitted by the parents, rose feeling himself freed, and immediately asked, that he be brought to B. Peter's memorial in his church, which he did. A certain Cleric of Trier, vexed by indescribable pain of the head to the point of madness, devoted himself to B. Peter Mart.:

and immediately was wonderfully healed. and a Cleric; In the city of Ascoli a certain soldier, who was called D. Jacob Bonhominis, concerning whom mention was made above b, for many days labored with continuous fever. a soldier who from continuous And when the fever grew stronger day by day, one evening the most distinguished physician of the city, with signs diligently considered and his conditions, said to his household members, that he utterly despaired of his health, since he saw in him manifest signs of death, which by the aid of medicine could not be opposed. But seeing all remedies of medicine to be lacking to him, he had recourse to B. Peter with much devotion. On that same night, while he was placed between sleep and waking, he saw three in the habit of Preachers entering his chamber; of whom one, who among them seemed of greater age and reverence, greeted him saying: Peace to you, trust in the Lord, because you will soon be freed. Having said this with his hand he touched his face, then his chest and his whole body to the feet: which done he disappeared, and he immediately rising made sound, rendered not undevout thanks to God and His Martyr.

[90] A certain young man in the same city, Gandulph by name, for many days with continuous fever labored so gravely, that by the judgment of the physicians he was wholly despaired of life. His parents, when they believed him altogether dying, caused all the funeral things to be prepared. But when brought to his last extremities he had lost sight, hearing, and a young man already near death speech and all bodily sense and strength; his mother and wife, with much devotion and tears, with hair bared and loosed, with feet bare and hands tied behind the back, with a great crowd of Ladies joined to them, approaching the house of the FFr. Preachers, visited the altar of B. Peter Mart., about to implore his aid faithfully. While these things were being done thus, that sick man, who had so burdened remained at home, opening his eyes sat up in bed, and seeing the bystanders weeping, said: Let no one weep for me, because I am freed; for B. Peter Martyr appeared to me in the habit of the FF. Preachers, with most joyful face and reverence, and said to me placing his hand on my face, be secure because from this sickness you will not die. Having said which he asked for food and received it, and with food taken he was freed from the fevers. With diligent inquiry and estimation made, it was found, that he had said the aforesaid words, when his mother and wife were in devout prayer before the altar of B. Peter Martyr.

[91] Another certain young man of the same city, Philip de Polegia by name, and another feverish man vehemently burdened with continuous fever, on a certain evening humbly devoted himself to B. Peter Mart., whom he had in great devotion, promising to offer a candle at his altar if he should free him from the fevers. But when that night in those fevers he had fallen asleep, it seemed to him in dreams, that B. Peter Martyr was calling him from his bed, saying: Rise, come to my church with me, and you will receive health: and having taken his hand he raised him, and led him to his altar, and ordered one Brother, who was present there, to give the sick man some of the wine, which was there in a vessel prepared for the sacrifice. And when he had drunk a little of the wine, he led him back to the bed saying: Trust son, because you will soon receive health. Immediately he, awakening, felt himself much relieved: but in the morning he caused a candle to be offered at his altar, who was immediately freed from that sickness. The same young man at another time suffered a similar infirmity: but with prayer made to B. Peter Mart. for his liberation, at night he saw in dreams that B. Peter, in countenance so splendid, that from excessive brightness of his face he could not look on his face: B. Peter opening the pyx which he held in his hand, and taking the ointment which was in it, anointed him through his whole body; and immediately disappeared, and he found himself perfectly healed.

[92] A certain woman, Cara by name, of c Lignano in the Milanese diocese, he heals a woman laboring with dropsy. was so burdened and swollen with the dropsical disease, that to S. Peter's tomb she could scarcely be carried or led. With prayer poured out there, with all heaviness and swelling laid aside she was immediately cured, so that made light and slender, she could go freely and expeditely by herself, who before was carried by another's help. In the city of Majorca, a certain young man d Dominic by name, suffered quartan fever for almost a year, who likewise fell into dropsy, because of which his whole body he had inflated, so that through the house he could not go without the support of a staff: at length with the disease growing stronger and his throat now inflated, likewise another at Majorca he so lost the use of speech, that he could take no food or drink; because of which the physician judged him as if dead. His wife, fearing his judgment, said: Commend yourself to B. Peter the new Martyr, vowing that all the time of your life you will fast his vigil. Which the sick man hearing, nodded to his wife, to carry a candle of his own size to the altar of the Martyr. When this had been done, the sick man opened his mouth, and expelling bloody and thick putridity in great quantity, began to speak, and so was cured; namely from the infirmity of the throat and from dropsy and quartan fever, giving not undevout thanks to God and to S. Peter His Martyr.

[93] and another at Compostela: There was in the city of Compostela, where the venerable body of B. James the Apostle rests, a certain young man Benedict by name, who came to such an infirmity, that by those seeing him he was believed entirely near to death, for his legs were inflated in the manner of bags, his belly as if pregnant; his face however was of such horror, that like a monster it struck fear into those looking on; especially since his eyes emerging seemed to come out of his body, and with his whole body inflated as if a fistula, and now he could scarcely even move himself on a staff. He then in such a way burdened, on e a certain evening supporting himself as he could, came to the house of a certain devout man, who used to shave the Brothers, and from his wife with many present asked alms. The woman, moved by piety and wonder, said: A pit, rather, than food would be needed for you: nevertheless acquiesce to my counsel, and go to the house of the FF. Preachers, and there confessing your sins pray devoutly to B. Peter the new Martyr: for I am sure, that, if you pray well, you will immediately be restored to your former health. These things the devout woman asserted with full faith, having already experienced many times the virtue of B. Peter Mart. in herself: but the sick man, having received bread and butter from the woman, promised that he would do what he had said. But on that day which he had promised he did not fulfill: but in the morning of the following day, coming to the house of the Brothers, while the outer door was still closed, he placed himself beside the gate and slept. While he slept, a certain venerable Brother Preacher appeared to him in dreams, covered him with his cape, and holding him by the right hand led him into the church: he found himself awake at the interior door of the church, on the steps, perfectly sound and cheerful of heart. Wondrous thing! Inflated and immovable, made sound and swift, he immediately ran to the said woman: and in that neighborhood, before those who on the preceding day had seen him almost dead, he said: Behold what you said to me I have fulfilled, see what B. Peter by his merits has worked concerning me. The woman indeed taking hold of the young man's leg, now indeed perfectly healed, but in testimony of so great a miracle still livid, with her husband and neighbors present, who the preceding day had seen him sick in the neighborhood, before all near the church of B. James exclaimed: Behold the miracles of our God, behold the wonders: yesterday inflated, failing in sense, word, and step, almost dead, without swelling unharmed he praises God. Many of our Brothers saw this young man sound, and likewise more than five hundred men of the same city saw him sick.

[94] another hunchbacked at the same time, A certain matron of S. Anatolia, dwelling at Ascoli, Beatrice by name, who having become dropsical had so swelled, that she could neither walk, nor stand, nor even turn herself in bed, unless she were turned by another: the bones of her chest also with the greatest pain projected outside to such an extent, that she seemed to have become hunchbacked; she had also so lost all the strength of her right arm, as if it were withered. For a space of three months therefore tortured with immense pains, and destitute of the members of the whole body, when the physicians despaired of her health, she thought herself nearer to death than to health: which also was thought by others, who knew her. On a certain day, when she had invoked divine aid with devout prayers, she specially commended herself to B. Peter Mart. On the following night falling asleep she saw in dreams, that she was being led to a certain palace, which was most beautiful in sight, where many wonders were shown to her: she found, however, a most beautiful altar, beside which was sitting a certain most handsome man, clothed in white garments, who at her arrival was preparing himself for Mass, and with her present celebrated; with this finished he handed to the matron a most beautiful garment saying: Put on this garment, and you will immediately receive health. Who awakening, found herself integrally freed, but this was around the feast of the Lord's Nativity: to whom he appears: yet she was not a little troubled in mind, because she was ignorant of the name of her liberator. With the feast of B. Peter Mart. approaching and matrons saying that they wished to fast the vigil of B. Peter Mart., she responded: I have so many fasts to do, that I cannot fast that vigil, for twice in the week she fasted. On the night she saw in dreams B. Peter Mart. in the habit of Preachers saying to her: Know me to be S. Peter Mart. who appeared to you in white garments, and gave you a garment and obtained for you the benefit of health: since you have so received from me so great a benefit of health, it ought not to be difficult or painful for you, to fast my vigil. Which said he disappeared, and she as long as she lived fasted the vigil of B. Peter Mart.

[95] A certain boy of Parma four years old, had the stone, which afflicted him with the greatest torments, from which, as had been judged by the physicians, except by incision he could not be freed. he frees a boy from the stone, And when on the morrow he was to be cut, his mother urgently asked B. Peter Mart., that he should succor him in so great a peril; promising, that if he should free him from the peril of death, she would cause his altar at Milan to be covered with a decent altar-cloth. On the following night while the boy slept, B. Peter stood by him in the habit of his Order and opening his hand gave him the stone, saying: Close son your hand and keep

the little stone, because you are sound: which done he disappeared. In the morning the physician was present, to cut the boy, as had been arranged; and when he had been roused from sleep, he saw the physician and said: It is not necessary for you to labor further about me, because at night a certain Brother of the Order of Preachers appeared to me, who drew the stone out of my body without any injury, and closed it in my hand saying, that I was totally freed; and opening his hand, which sleeping he had closed and had held closed until that hour, he offered to his mother and the physician the stone, which he truly had in his hand. The mother and physician and all who were present, seeing that the boy was integrally healed, rendered thanks to God and to B. Peter Mart. For they knew, that B. Peter Mart. had freed him; when his mother on the preceding day, with much faith and devotion, had devoted herself to the same Martyr. She herself sent the stone and altar-cloth to Milan as she had vowed, and narrated the miracle to the glory of God and His martyr.

[96] A certain woman, Agatha by name, was a paralytic at Venice, women from paralysis, who with one side lost, while she lay in a certain dwelling of a certain matron, in the parish of S. John in Bragola, supported for two years and a half; fearing lest to her hostess and others, who extended to her the hand of mercy, she might be too burdensome, and it might turn into weariness (because to gird herself for sitting, while she ate, she could not), she obtained with many prayers that she be brought to a certain hospital. Where not finding the hospitaler, necessarily brought back to the former place, very desolate and afflicted, for three days she awaited the help of the new Martyr, to whom she had devoted herself. On the fourth day as day dawned she saw a certain Brother Preacher while dozing, who asserting himself a physician, took her hand, which hung withered beside the little bed, promising her the benefit of full health. And she awakened with joy, feeling that what had been promised to her was fulfilled, asked that a little tunic be given to her by a certain woman. While as if sound she was freely clothing herself, and joyfully said she had been miraculously healed; another woman seeing and hearing these things, stirred by the astonishment of the miracle, could not wait until she should be clothed, but immediately hastening to the lady of the house, announced to her that Agatha was healed. While she stupefied runs to see, and this one already clothed runs to meet her: the whole neighborhood runs together, stirred on all sides by the aforesaid woman, and thus eagerly multiple thanks are referred to God and the Martyr. And she who had received the benefit of health, not content to refer thanks with words only, applied her hand to strong things; and with fingers newly healed taking a spindle, in the course of time acquired two purples, offering one at Venice to the altar of the Holy Martyr, and sending the other to Milan to his tomb.

[97] A certain Ascolan woman, Aurelia by name, had a little son, who on completing eighteen months became paralytic. and two boys likewise paralytic: With all help of physicians failing, the boy always had worse and a trembling of all members; he rolled his eyes horribly, shook his head, twisted his mouth almost to his ear, and daily presented signs of death. This continuing for a long time, all seeing the boy were moved to marvelous compassion. The mother of the boy having recourse to the aid of B. Peter Mart., with much confidence brought her son to his altar. With the relics of B. Peter Mart. applied by a certain Brother over the boy's face and little body, he was immediately by God's grace freed from all sickness. A certain boy, named Soldus, of Ascoli, the son of a certain nobleman, who was called John Guillelmi, a paralytic from infancy, could neither walk, nor stand upright by himself, although he had come to that age in which boys are accustomed to walk. On a certain day therefore the mother of the boy, by the counsel of a physician, was making a bath with certain medicinal herbs: but before she placed him in the bath, she devoutly commended him to B. Peter Mart.; in the hearing of her husband, who was present, asking that he should obtain such health from the Lord, that at least up to a year he might be able to walk. Which her husband hearing, rebuked her saying: Unfaithfully you pray, who have assigned such a term to so precious a Martyr; do you not believe him to be of such merit with God, that he can immediately free him? Let us call to us the boy, and in the name of B. Peter Mart. let him rise and come to us. He was sitting opposite the parents next to another wall of the house. And when the mother had called him in the name of B. Peter Martyr, immediately the paralytic boy, who had never walked, rose, and cheerful without support went to his mother, expeditely and freely as if he had long been accustomed to walk; and from then, having no trace of paralysis, he walked thereafter sound and unharmed. The bath, which was being prepared for his flesh by the counsel of the physician, having seen the boy's health, was poured out.

[98] Not long after the aforesaid miracle, the mother of the aforementioned boy incurred a perilous infirmity: for in her right breast from the worst humors were generated two very hard stones, round and as large as two eggs of a hen, which tortured her for many days. he drives away glands from the breasts. When by the aid of medicine it could not otherwise be helped except by the remedy of incision, so that those stones could be removed from the breast; her husband considering that she was being exposed to the peril of death, on a certain evening with much devotion invoked B. Peter Mart., that he would free her from the aforesaid infirmity by another manner. In the morning, suddenly those very hard glands vanished, and that lady obtained the benefit of perfect cure by B. Peter's merits, rendering not undevout thanks to God and the Martyr.

ANNOTATIONS.

b See above no. 63.

CHAPTER XIII.

The contracted, those laboring with cancer, mania, epilepsy healed through S. Peter's merits.

[99] In the diocese of Como at a Suricum, a village on Lake Como, when a certain Lemasius by name, of the house of the Bishop of Como, falling from on high, had been so broken, that with no supports of medicine availing him, for six years he could not walk without two supports; having made a vow to the holy Martyr, he approached his tomb without any support, freed. he heals three contracted Where paying what he had vowed, with four companions, he testified the truth of the miracle under oath. A certain woman, named Vindis, of b Vallentina valley of the Milanese diocese; when for a long time lacking the use of the whole left side she could not rise from bed, a vow having been made to God and His martyr that she would go to his tomb, and would offer a waxen foot, if he should bestow on her the remedy of liberation; immediately freed, she forced the people of that country to weep from joy and wonder. In honor of the Martyr a certain church was built in the place of the martyrdom, in which next to the altar of the same church a twofold grace was miraculously conferred on a certain Marliano c de Burgo. For when for three months he could neither rise from bed, nor move himself comfortably, nor turn himself in bed, and for fifteen years had been ensnared in the errors of the Cathari; brought there in hope of salvation, he both obtained the health of the body, and with his mind illumined by supernal light, was converted to the truth of the faith.

[100] A certain boy of Terzano of the Milanese diocese, Aligisetus by name, when he had been brought to B. Peter's tomb by his mother, with prayers poured out to the Martyr, as he knew, obtained the health of hand and foot and the whole right side, to a certain one he restores the use of side, hand and foot which he had lost. Another certain d boy of Leventina valley, named Soldaninus, not brought but offered to the same place by his mother; who at first had been wholly contracted and hunchbacked, afterwards became sound and unharmed and upright, came on his own feet, led by his mother, and as he had vowed to the Holy Martyr, was offered. At the same church a certain girl, named Sabina, of Novara, led by her mother, when she had her hand so contracted, that from the constriction of the fingers she pierced her palm with her nails, placed over the tomb of the Martyr, extended her hand restored to former health. to a girl the use of a hand, With the son of a certain soldier brought to the church of the FFr. Preachers in the city of e Limerick, to visit the Martyr's relics, with them seen immediately was given back to him the ability of walking, to a boy the use of the feet. which he had lost: and so to his mother, to whom he had before been a burden and weariness, he was made afterwards a companion and consolation of the journey. A certain woman in the city of Ascoli, to another an arm. Illuminata by name, had a daughter of five years, who had so wholly lost the strength of her arm from weakness of the nerves, that with that arm for the space of many days she could not help herself; but if she was lifted by another or was extended, with it let go, it immediately fell as if she had her nerves cut, with the girl cooperating with all her effort to sustain the arm. But seeing the mother all the medicines, which she had tried, to avail in nothing, she brought her to the altar of B. Peter Mart. Where when through the Brothers the Martyr's relics had been placed over the sick arm, immediately at their touch the girl lifted the hand and arm by herself freely, restored to integral health.

[101] Those laboring with the disease of abscesses and fistulas, B. Peter Martyr invoked restored to former health. Of which that evident and wondrous one ought not to be silent, which in a certain poor man of Milan, he takes away the disease of fistula, who was called Jacob de Cornaredo, was openly shown. For when he had the finger of his left hand with the disease of fistula in seven places deeply sunk in the hollowness of very many holes, and also the other foot deformed with vehement swelling, and the leg of the same foot putrefied with flowing flesh, so that he could scarcely go to any place, where he might ask alms from passers-by, unless supported by two staves under his armpits: having heard that through the new Martyr so many benefits were granted, with hope of obtaining health he came somehow to the Saint's tomb; where with prayer poured out with tears, he felt himself freed. For the holes of his finger were blocked and healed with wondrous consolidation; the foot laid aside its swelling; and the leg, with the putridity thrown off, was covered with a salutary scar: and so, he who before could not walk,

was made capable for both and restored to the office of his members. In the person of a certain Æmilia of Pavia a similar miracle manifestly shone forth: for after she kissed the monument of the Martyr, she was immediately cured from a certain fistulous abscess, with the holes closed on all sides, through which the sanies of the same abscess had long not ceased to flow.

[102] likewise scrofula, A certain girl of Lugano of the diocese of Como, Jacobetta by name, when on account of a certain scrofula, exceeding the size of a nut, she had one of her arms not a little deformed; with the benefits granted through her Martyr by Christ heard, prostrate on the ground, beseeching that as she believed him to be truly a Saint, so the Lord would deign to free her; she was so miraculously healed, that within three days she was freed from the scrofulae which she had borne for ten years, nor did she find any trace of it, praising God in His holy Martyr. There was at Ascoli a certain woman, Sermita by name, whose finger of her left hand with the greatest pain a fistula was corroding: who when in vain she applied medicines, she betook herself to B. Peter's aid. and a fistula: With the prayer completed, the benefit of health was so integrally and wondrously granted, that with all pain, swelling and wound excluded, from her mind all memory of the former infirmity was excluded. On the third day, however, it came back to her memory, that she had suffered that infirmity: and seeing herself so fully cured, she gave thanks to God and her Martyr; and the reverence which she had had toward the Martyr himself, she henceforth increased as much as she could.

[103] The above-mentioned woman entered a certain bath, which is called Holy Water, with others. And when inside the bath alone she had gone beyond the others, he frees a woman from drowning: believing there was no peril there; she placed both feet in a certain pit: and suddenly descending into it, she was submerged up to her mouth in the whirlpool. Therefore terrified from the peril, made as if dead, when she saw around her such great depth of water, she believed without doubt she was being submerged: she was so alienated from the horror of death suddenly, that she did not know to invoke the aid of any Saint. But there was not far in the same bath a certain companion of hers, who seeing her placed in the peril of death, began to be very sad: but terrified with feminine fear, she did not presume to approach to help her, fearing lest she too should be drowned. But whom with hands she could not help, with prayer she helped: for knowing her to have great devotion toward B. Peter Mart., with a faithful voice she cried out saying: Saint Peter, help your devout one. And immediately as she completed those words, the woman who was in the pit, manifestly felt two human hands placed under her feet, which lifting her from the ground, and carrying her through the bath, led her to the place, where the waters were less deep. Which being done the aforesaid hands never appeared: hence there was no doubt to anyone, but that B. Peter was the one who freed his devout one from the peril of death.

[104] He heals others from Cancer, At Ferrara the nephew of D. Herigerius of the Beltrami Filacampi, of the quarter of S. Nicolaus, near the ankle f of the foot, labored with the infirmity of cancer for a long time, not being able to have any remedy of salvation through medicine or physician. Finally by the counsel of physicians it was determined, that the foot ought to be amputated, otherwise the leg would putrefy. Night coming on before the day, on which this was to be done, two Brothers Preachers appeared to him vigilant, one of whom took his leg with his hand and loosed the bandages with which it was bound, and having made the sign of the Cross said: Know, son, that you are fully healed. Then the boy said: Lord, who are you, who have conferred such a benefit on me? To whom the Brother said, I am Fr. Peter of the Order of Preachers, who for the defense of the faith was killed. And when he was giving thanks to the Brother, the Brother said to him, You ought, son, to recount the miracle, and know that this morning your foot was to be amputated. In the morning the physician came with his kinsmen, carrying iron tools for the amputation of the foot. Then the physician, taking the boy's leg in his hands, saw it healed from infirmity. But the boy said, What do you wish to do? They answered him: We wish to amputate your foot. Who answered: It is not necessary, because the holy Martyr Peter of the Order of FF. Preachers has healed me. And this miracle became known in all the quarter, and Master John of Ferrara saw that boy, carrying a waxen leg with his kinsmen to the church of the FF. Preachers to the altar of B. Peter Mart. perfectly healed.

[105] A certain Ascolan citizen, John Grassus by name, for several years was so wholly deprived of all sense and discretion, that all in his house were afraid to dwell with him at night, from mania, because of his excesses. For he broke all the utensils of the house, and with remedies applied by physicians he always grew worse. And when that madness had grown daily for several years, on the vigil of B. Peter Mart. in the evening he was led to the church, by his kinsmen and neighbors, with much trouble; and by force before the altar of B. Peter was held through that night, and with much urgency of prayers by his friends commended to the Blessed Martyr. God however working through B. Peter's merits, on that night his sense was so integrally restored to him, that henceforth freed from that sickness of foolishness, with sound mind he conversed discreetly with his family and all others.

[106] It happened in the Châlons g city of France, that a certain religious woman was so gravely vexed with the falling sickness, from epilepsy that in a day sometimes five times, sometimes seven times and sometimes eight times she would endure the aforesaid disease in a horrible manner. It happened, however, that when she had heard it preached concerning B. Peter Mart., and how God had deigned to work many miracles through him, she approached the church of the FF. Preachers, and humbly prostrate before the altar of B. Peter Mart., she wholly betook herself to prayer, in this manner: O Blessed Peter, glorious Martyr, deign to pour out prayers for me to the Lord, for whose faith you bore the most bitter death, that He by your merits may deign to free me from this infirmity, if it is expedient to the utility of my soul. Scarcely had she completed this kind of prayer, she felt a certain good disposition, otherwise untried, in her body, a sign of integral health: hence with immense joy she said to one of the bystanders: I believe that from my infirmity by the merits of B. Peter the glorious Martyr, I am fully freed. Which also was done. Hence she felt neither it nor the rest of its relics ever even a little: as she devoutly and humbly reported to the Prior of Châlons, who had long been her Confessor, marveling at such a sudden cure. Many other persons also from a similar disease, in the aforesaid city, were fully freed by B. Peter's merits. A certain boy, laboring with the falling sickness, brought to the altar of B. Peter Mart. by his parents, and with a vow made for him, was most fully freed. A certain young lady of Montpellier, in the year 1306, suffered cardiac passion or epilepsy, according to the different judgments of different physicians, because of which she sometimes seemed dead, and her parents could not marry her off, nor did anyone wish to take her as wife. from cardiac passion, With a vow made by her parents and friends to God and to B. Peter Mart. on his feast in the deep of night she was led to his altar, fearing lest in the day the infirmity should seize her, and so confound them. When therefore she was before the altar of B. Peter, suddenly the horrendous infirmity invaded her: who when she had fallen to the ground, and had been lifted by her parents as if dead, the Sacristan running brought B. Peter's relics, and applying them to her mouth and heart, and breast and belly, touched all these things with them: and suddenly to the Brothers and others who were standing by, she said: Know that B. Peter has cured me, and from now I shall not suffer this infirmity. And so it was: because married she had several sons, and never suffered it again.

[107] from lethargy In the kingdom of Bohemia there was a certain lethargic woman, so that she could in no way be aroused. And when by her friends a vow was made to B. Peter Mart., in the presence of the Prior and four FFr. Preachers; immediately as if awaking from sleep, she confessed to the said Prior, and said, she had seen a most hideous person, who was throttling her; but a certain one in the habit of the FF. Preachers expelled him, and the free woman restored to her former health. from vomiting of blood. A certain man of Campitium, Rufinus by name, was gravely infirm: for the vein of his chest being broken was incessantly pouring out blood. For six days and nights with the vein continuously flowing, he devoutly invoked B. Peter Mart. for his aid: who was so suddenly healed, that between the prayer poured out and the liberation received there was absolutely no interval h. And when he had given himself to sleep, he saw a certain Brother in the habit of Preachers, thick-faced and i brown, whom he thought to be the companion of B. Peter Mart., Brother Dominic (as truly he had been of such form), who from the passion offered him palms full of blood, with a certain sweet ointment, saying: The blood is still fresh, come therefore to the fresh blood of S. Peter: who awakening resolved to visit the tomb of B. Peter Mart. in praise of thanksgiving.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER XIV.

Diseases and difficulty of childbirth through water consecrated to S. Peter's Relics removed in Ireland: demoniacs freed.

[108] Drinking this water he recovers from a mortal disease, In the province of Ireland in the a Laonian diocese a certain noble woman, Illicia by name, had so lost the use of tongue and of all her members, and the heat of a living person, that now she seemed dead. Who when for two days had stood in such mortification, presenting in herself almost all the signs of death, and hair shirt and those things which are necessary for a funeral were being prepared for her; after she tasted of the virtuous water, which had been consecrated by contact with the Martyr's relics,

she immediately recovered speech and all the lost senses, and vital heat was restored and at length perfect liberation followed. a certain man from a swelling of the leg In a certain village of the aforesaid province b of the Eloriensian diocese, a certain Elias by name, from a vehement swelling of foot and leg, was so gravely tortured with intolerable pain, that he could neither rest nor go nor take food. But when in such anguish he had fasted for two days, for three days at length tasting of the water which had been consecrated by contact with the Martyr's relics, on the first day indeed much, on the second more, on the third he felt and exclaimed that he was entirely freed: and with the same water washing the place of pain, immediately from all pain he rested, walked strongly, and took food with joy. Wherefore the inhabitants of that village, moved with immense wonder, with the Clerics entered the church, and with bells rung, devoutly sang Te Deum laudamus, to the glory of the holy Martyr Peter, and of God who alone does great wonders. In the same province, in the diocese of Limerick the wife of a certain John Donevola, when with speech already lost she seemed to anticipate death with sobs, by drinking the same salutary water, was at once restored to the office of speaking and to health.

[109] many from various diseases, Another woman in the same city, after drinking the aforesaid water, vomiting a not small quantity of filth, was freed from a certain sudden peril of death. Another with a similar name, namely Laetitia, is called, that also her husband with joy might rejoice over her health, through a similar drink and vomit from a certain old sickness, of which she had already despaired, obtained full health. c Not of less wonder was the liberation of a certain boy, from a certain village d of the Imlacensian diocese in the aforesaid province: for when he was so deformed by swelling through the whole body, that to see was horrible, and his death rather than life was desired by his parents, who had already ceased to hope for his health, with the salutary water, which had been consecrated by contact with the relics of the Holy Martyr, washed by his mother, and some drops of it tasted, immediately suddenly he subsided and was restored to unhoped-for health by the merits of the glorious Martyr. A certain boy in the aforesaid province and named diocese, Henry e by name, when before the table of a certain noble he was playing in his house and village, was suddenly seized by a certain sickness and prostrated on the ground, his tongue thrusting out of his mouth in length, so sharply biting it internally swelling from pain, that after a little it seemed not the tongue of a man, but of a horse from its greatness. And when the bystanders feared it would in a short time be cut by itself by the constriction of the teeth, nor could they in any way place it back inside; at length with difficulty into his mouth, with the swelling impeding, they cast a little of the Martyr's water. Which when they had done with night already at hand, the same evening he drew back his tongue, lacking all inflation, and spoke expeditely, and with full health received with joy took food. Which seeing those who were present, surrounded with astonishment, they believed it not useless to reserve such and so wonderful a water. f

[110] A certain woman, wife of a certain Robert Palmifer, in Ireland, when she had drunk of the above-mentioned water of B. Peter Mart. in difficulty of childbirth, it seemed to her to surpass all sweetness of honey: and the same conferred upon her what exceeds the power of both, namely easily and continuously giving birth. In the same province of Ireland three g women, who with many pains and grave anguishes were tortured in childbirth, through the same water easy childbirth is obtained: afterwards easily and lightly gave birth, through a similar drink of the water and the merits of the Holy Martyr. In the Laonian diocese also of the aforesaid province, a certain woman named Christina, wife of Gilbert the Englishman, was suddenly freed from a similar peril through a similar miracle. A certain Basilia, wife of John surnamed Epoes, when she had remained so vehemently swollen after childbirth, that she believed she was about to bear again; with the above-mentioned water with devotion and faith received, immediately the aforesaid swelling and the fear of death departed from her together. A certain boy having a very great inflation in neck and throat, when he had drunk of the water which was of the washing of the vessel, where B. Peter Mart.'s relics had been placed, immediately began to vomit all that sanies, so that within three days he was most fully and perfectly freed. A certain Lady, named h Everborga, in the aforesaid province of Ireland, not forgetful that the above-mentioned water, consecrated to B. Peter Mart.'s relics, had freed her firstborn, named Peter, from the danger of death; when she had similarly reserved it, she was more wondrously preserved by the Lord. For when by chance a fire having broken out, and the vessel is preserved unharmed from the fire had consumed the houses which Peter her husband had in the diocese of Limerick; among the very ashes of the fire a wooden vessel, in which the above-mentioned water had been placed, in a certain wonderful manner was found whole and incorrupt: and when it had been transferred to another vessel, the first immediately was reduced to ashes. Which evidently taught, for whose grace the original vessel had been preserved in its integrity.

[111] A certain matron, named Girolda, wife of Jacob de Valesina, when for fourteen years she had been possessed by unclean spirits, a demoniac is freed, coming to a certain Priest said: I am demoniac and the evil spirit vexes me. Soon the terrified Priest fleeing entered the sacristy, and carrying a certain book in which conjurations of demons were and a stole hidden under his cape, with good company returned to the woman. Who as soon as she saw him, said: Worst thief, where have you gone? But when the Priest made the adjurations and brought no cure, she came to B. Peter, while he was still living, asking to be helped by him. To whom he with a prophetic voice answered: Trust daughter, do not despair: because although what you ask I cannot accomplish at present, yet the time will come, in which what you ask you will fully obtain from me. Which was also done: as S. Peter while living had foretold: for after his passion coming to the Martyr's tomb, she perfectly obtained from the dead the liberation from the infestation of demons promised by the living, though with much shedding of blood. Another also, Herbona, i of Bethegno, possessed by demons for six years, with the possessors resisting, as strong armed men guarding her court, was scarcely dragged to the tomb of the sacred body. Where when with much difficulty she was detained, concerning one of those holding her, who was a believer of heretics, the demons were speaking and said: You who are ours, why do you detain us? And so that by confounding him they might drive him away, they published his hidden crimes saying: Did we not lead you to that place and that, where you committed such and such sins? At length the besiegers of the besieged, compelled to leave her, adjured by the merits of the Martyr, left the woman as if dead, tearing her much. The aforesaid unbeliever, called Conrad de Landriano, who had come to this, that he might mock the Saint's miracles; considering, that truly they were demons, thus aware of his secrets; and that he was a true Saint, who expelled such in such a manner; by the way of God's wonderful mercy, was converted to the light of Catholic truth.

[112] A certain man named Roba de Meda, when even to his clothes in the game of dice he had lost all, returning home in the evening, when with a lit lamp he approached his bed; seeing himself wrapped in such vile clothes and considering himself to have lost so much, A gambler who had vowed himself to demons, from excessive despair began to invoke demons, and to commit himself to them with nefarious mouth. And immediately three demons were present, who throwing the lamp onto the floor, seized him by the throat and so strongly constricted him, that he could in no way speak. When they were harassing him very much, those who were in the lower part of the house ascending to him, said: What is it, what are you doing O Roba. To whom the demons answered: Go in your peace, and enter your beds. And they believing it to be the voice of the aforesaid man, immediately returned. With them departing, he began to be much more strongly harassed by the demons. Which they recognizing, immediately called a Priest. Who when he had adjured the demons through B. Peter Mart., is rescued from their power. two immediately went out. On the following day he was led to the tomb of B. Peter Mart. To whom Fr. William de Vercelli approaching, when he had begun to rebuke the demon, the demon calling him whom he had never seen by name, said: Fr. William, for you I will never go out, because this one is ours, and does our works. And when he had asked him, by what name he was called; he answered Belcephas: but when he had been adjured through B. Peter Mart., throwing the sick man on the ground, soon he went out. He himself perfectly healed received salutary penance for the sins committed. likewise a woman. A certain woman named Euphemia, of the place k of Cortinago of the Milanese diocese, for seven years was vexed by demons. But when she had been led to B. Peter's tomb, the demons began to vex her more, and through her mouth with all hearing to cry: Mariola, Mariola: Petrine, Petrine. Then the demons going out left her as if dead. But afterwards she rose fully healed. They asserted, however, that on Sundays and feast days and especially when Mass was being celebrated, the demons vexed her more.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER XV.

Red-hot iron innocuously handled through S. Peter's merits, fire extinguished, tempest calmed, etc.

[113] For fuller knowledge of what above a was said, concerning the man who took red-hot iron in testimony of B. Peter Mart.'s sanctity, in his own hands without harm, it is to be known, that in the year 1316, in the city of Genoa there was a certain man of Piacenza, faithful and innocent, who had great devotion toward B. Peter Mart.,

and he was there in the service of a certain merchant. With B. Peter Mart.'s feast approaching, In testimony of S. Peter's sanctity, that devout man said to his master with great joy, that the feast of the glorious Martyr was to be next: his master, however, although he had B. Peter Mart. in great devotion, wishing in jest to tempt him, said: See what you say, because perhaps he was not so holy as you assert. To whom he responded: I thus hold without doubt that he is holy, that there is not such great peril in the world, to which, when it might be expedient, I would not expose myself for the testimony of his sanctity. Then his master said, red-hot iron is held by an unharmed hand if you wish to touch red-hot iron with your hand, it will then appear that he was a Saint. And when he with a joyful mind gave assent, he taking a certain rod of steel placed it in the fire; and when it was totally red-hot, wishing to test his devotion, he placed it before him. Who joyfully taking the red-hot iron in his hands, in the public square with many standing by, held it long without any injury. Again they placed the iron before many, who had gathered for the spectacle, and offered it to him when it was perfectly red-hot: who faithfully taking it in his hand, in testimony of B. Peter Mart.'s sanctity held it so long until it had almost cooled: thus he remained entirely unharmed, so that not even a trace of burning appeared on his hands. Those present seeing this miracle, going to the house of the FF. Preachers, to the reverence honor and glory of God and the blessed Martyr, narrated to the Brothers and people what had happened.

[114] In the city of b Arras next to the house of the FF. Preachers, merchants and sellers of salable wood were staying; where when there was a very great pile of wood worth a thousand Parisian pounds, a fire is extinguished through his Relics fire was applied to the said wood, from it a vehement flame went out, the wind also drove the flames into the church and house of the Brothers so much, that it lit the cross which was placed on the head of the church. And now the Brothers were despairing that their house could be freed from the fire: but a certain Converse Brother placed the relics of B. Peter Mart. at a certain window of the Dormitory as a shield of safety against the flames: at the very placing the contrary wind blew the flames to the other side so strongly, that that house remained entirely unharmed, except for the ignition of that Cross, which had been made before the placing of the relics. All these things that Brother related under the testimony of many Brothers, who saw this.

[115] In the convent of Besançon of the Province of France, when a certain novice was tempted manifoldly concerning the faith, and was being strengthened by his Prior in many ways; and admonished by him insisted on prayer; on a certain night it was shown to him, that he should more often say this prayer: O God, who justifiest the impious and dost not wish the death of sinners, and a certain one doubting in the faith thy servant, trusting in thy mercy, benignly protect with thy aid and assiduous protection preserve, that he may continually serve thee, and by no temptations be separated from thee, through Christ, etc. Which prayer however he had never seen or heard, or believed to be written anywhere, which in the said vision he so ruminated, that he learned it by heart. And when he had narrated this to the Prior, he learned that it was written in the Missal to be said for the tempted. From this he was very much strengthened: but not fully did all that temptation depart. He said therefore that prayer more often and devoutly. In those days a certain Brother had brought Relics of a cloth dipped in the blood of B. Peter Mart. which miraculously had come out from a certain particle of the tunic, in which the same Saint for the faith of Christ received martyrdom, whence several of the citizens of Besançon coming with much devotion asked, that the crystal ampulla, in which the said relics were, be suffused with wine: and many drinking were cured of their infirmities. But when on a certain day the said novice was assisting at Mass, and was incredulous of these miracles; with blood flowing from them he is confirmed a certain woman came asking that the said vinage be made for her. While therefore the Brother had inclined the little vessel, in which the said relics were placed, toward the vessel which the woman had brought, so that it might receive the wine; suddenly from that little vessel many drops, upon the silken cloth which was on the altar, fell: but one drop so strongly adhered to the little vessel, that with a cloth frequently applied over it could not be dried. Seeing which, that Brother, by God's mercy, for the confirmation of himself and others, thinking that a miracle had been done, giving thanks to God, was freed from his former temptation. The aforesaid miracle was made known in all that city.

[116] A certain ship while in the middle of the sea was almost suffering shipwreck, The Saint invoked calms a tempest: shaken by the savagery of winds and the inundation of waves, and all who were on the ship were oppressed by the dark gloom of night, various ones sought the suffrages of various Saints. But when no sign of their liberation appeared, and they were fearing very much to perish; a certain Genoese by nation, with silence made, thus addressed them, saying: Men, Brothers, have you not heard, that a certain one of the Order of Preachers, named Fr. Peter, for the defense of the Catholic faith was recently killed by heretics, and that the Lord has shown many signs through him? Now therefore let us devoutly implore his aid, because I hope, that we will by no means be cheated of our petition. All assent, invoking B. Peter for their aid with devout prayers. With them thus praying, soon the yard of the ship, on which the sail is hung, was seen full of lit candles, so that by the wondrous brilliance of those candles with all obscurity put to flight, the dark night was changed into the clearest day: and looking they saw a certain one in the habit of Preachers, standing on the sail, about whom there was no doubt to anyone that it was B. Peter. And immediately the wind ceased, the sea became quiet, and a great tranquility was made. When therefore the aforesaid sailors had come unharmed to Genoa, they went to the house of the FF. Preachers: and rendering thanks to God and B. Peter Mart., they faithfully narrated to the same Brothers the sequence of the miracle. On a certain occasion when the subprior of the Convent of c Utrecht in Germany, was taking certain very beautiful and great stones in a certain ship; he saves a ship in shipwreck. unexpectedly it adhered to a certain shore, so that it could in no way be moved. With the sailors departing, because pushing it all together they could in no way move it, and they thought the ship was lost; the Subprior with all removed placed his hand on the ship, and lightly pushing it, said: In the name of S. Peter Mart., in whose honor we are carrying these stones, go. Immediately the ship moved most swiftly, went away from the shore whole and unharmed; upon which the sailors ascending, safe and happy returned to their homes.

ANNOTATIONS.

a Namely no. 74.

April III: 30. April

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