CONCERNING ST. PETER, BISHOP OF VERCELLI IN ITALY.
AROUND THE YEAR 1010.
CommentaryPeter, Bishop of Vercelli in Italy (Saint)
I.B.
[1] At Vercelli, a celebrated city of Piedmont, St. Peter, a Bishop of that city, is venerated on the Ides of February with a double Office. Ferrari mentions him in the General Catalogue of Saints and in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy. The feast of St. Peter, Bishop of Vercelli. This eulogy of him is found in the Chronological History of the Piedmontese Region by Francesco Agostino, Bishop of Saluzzo, chapter 10, on the state of Vercelli and the series of its Bishops: St. Peter, the third of this name, who out of devotion visited Palestine, was bound with chains and fetters by the Saracens and thrust into prison: but freed through the agency of St. Boninus, he returned to his Church and by certain messengers summoned the same Boninus to the governance of the abbey of St. Michael of Lucedio. He died, illustrious for the praise of sanctity, on the Ides of February, which day is celebrated with public offices of the Church of Vercelli. Ferrari says that this Peter was not the third but the second of that name.
[2] Concerning him, these three Lessons for the second Nocturn are recited in the Church of Vercelli, Life from the Offices, as is evident from the Offices printed there in the year 1581. Lesson IV. Peter, Bishop of Vercelli, thirsting for the heavenly homeland, roused himself in the episcopal office by distinguished pursuits of religion to every outstanding exercise of Christian piety. captured in Egypt by the Saracens, Once, led by the religious desire of a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he came to Babylon: at which time the Christian forces received a great defeat from the King of Babylon: in which he himself with many others was captured. And so, bound with chains and fetters, he was thrust into prison: he learns by divine means that he will be freed, where, pouring forth tears and unceasingly praying to God, he learned by divine admonition that in that region there was a holy man named Bononius, through whose agency he would be freed.
[3] Lesson V. Therefore, roused by divine help to the hope of liberation, he humbly entreated Blessed Bononius to come to him: which was done through the agency of St. Bononius, who, having observed his religious piety and learned the reason why he and the other Christians were in chains in that place, did not cease to bring aid to him and to them. For first he obtained from the guard that access into the prison should be opened for him to console them: then, having entreated the King's courtiers, who had the greatest influence with him, he brought it about that Bishop Peter and the other Christians were freed from custody. Wherefore, given permission to depart, whom he takes with him, the blessed Bishop, that he might be better instructed in every exercise of holy discipline, took that monk, well trained in the pursuits of religion, with him as a companion and associate.
[4] Lesson VI. The Bishop, therefore, embarking on a ship with Bononius and the other Christians, they visit Jerusalem: came to Jerusalem. Where, wholly given to the study of meditation, he reverently venerated in person, first the Lord's sepulcher, then the rest of those sacred monuments of His deeds, and each holy place which, in his absence, he had worshiped with inner piety.
[5] These same things are narrated in the Life of St. Bononius on August 30. He was a native of Bologna, and embraced the monastic life there at St. Stephen's: thence he went to Egypt and lived in the wilderness around Babylon, a city of Egypt, famous for miracles, even at Alexandria. At length he obtained freedom for Bishop Peter and the other captives through the patronage of the Queen and the courtiers. Then the following things befell both him and St. Peter the Bishop: Having embarked on a ship, after they had crossed the sea, he first led them to Jerusalem, then to Mount Sinai... After visiting these places, he made for Constantinople, [they had previously visited Mount Sinai together; taken for spies at Constantinople,] where, when they had landed at the shore, they were brought before the Emperor as persons from whom treachery might be feared, and by his command were committed to custody before he had allowed himself to be informed who they were and why they had come. When afterward he learned of their innocence, through reports from worshippers of God in that city, he not only released them but also, pitying their lot, dismissed them with gifts from the treasury and with clothing as well. Therefore, having again boarded a ship, when each had happily returned to his own homeland, then kindly dismissed: Bishop Peter too was restored to his See, over which he presided for a long time afterward. Moreover, Bononius, the servant of God, returned to Mount Sinai, etc.
[6] It is said in the same Life that St. Bononius died in the year 1026. The same is asserted in the history of his miracles by a contemporary writer, who professes the age of each. that he himself saw many of the things he relates, and that those things not seen by him he heard from truthful and faithful men, confirmed by the testimony of many. From this, a conjecture can be made about the age of St. Peter. Ferrari in the General Catalogue of Saints notes that he died in the year 1010. The same is held by Francesco Agostino, Bishop of Saluzzo, cited above, who writes Boninus for Bononius, and says that the abbey of St. Michael of Lucedio, situated near the fortress of Crescentino in the diocese of Vercelli, is now called St. Januarius, on account of the body of St. Januarius brought there from Rome. Concerning St. Bononius, or Boninus, more elsewhere.