CONCERNING ST. PETER THE CONFESSOR,
AT ASTI IN LOMBARDY.
Notice of the cult communicated by Philip Malabayla.
Peter, Confessor, at Asti in Lombardy (St.)
D. P., BY PHILIP MALABAYLA.
When our Philip Alegambe, most well known by the Library of the Writers of the Society of Jesus published by him, had commended that same Library, collected by him at Rome in the year 1643, to his friend John Bollandus, to be printed by the Antwerp presses; in turn he bestowed on him all his effort, A church, built under the name of the Saint, toward collecting from wherever he could the Acts of the Saints. To one so disposed it was easy to contract a friendship with the Lord Philip Malabayla, Visitor general through Italy of the Congregation of St. Bernard (which they call the Feuillants), already long intent on a like study; to whom it was a pleasure to have found one to whom he might commit his lucubrations on that argument, more worthily to be inserted into our work, than if separately to the press they were committed. Some of these we have already given, now we add one, collected from the monuments of the Cathedral church of Asti, the Knights of Malta and also of the church built under the very name of St. Peter himself, and of the Knights of Malta possessing that same church with the Saint's body. Among these however, and their writers, Bosio and others, you will not marvel that almost nothing is known about him; if you understand, that he died long before the Order came into that possession, being intent rather on doing things than on writing them; whence we cannot even divine the century in which that Peter lived, much less the year in which he died; and it only occurs to opine, that he is more ancient than the 11th century. But thus about him Malabayla.
[2] If that diligence, which in venerating their Saints at common expense the ancient people of Asti employed, had been employed by any of them in writing the Acts of those same Saints, in every part they would have consulted for their memory and veneration: nor would there be need, for one wishing to set forth the Acts of any of them, for their glory and that of God, and of the holy Sepulchre, and for the example of others, laboriously to collect from various monuments only some things, out of the many which are worthy of eternal memory. Which in writing the Lives of other Saints we have for the most part done; and at present for those about to treat of this St. Peter, it is incumbent to do. For whose veneration with how great piety and liberality the ancestors provided, the church, built and dedicated under his name, openly demonstrates: it demonstrates besides the zeal, under an annual census. with which they provided for the service of this church. Since indeed first in it a Provostship with the necessary attendance, then the recently erected military Order of the Hospitallers of St. John, they so instituted, that in a fitting number those could serve in the divine offices. Whence also some years after, the church of the Soldiers of the Holy Sepulchre, who with those same Hospitallers had united into one Order, to the very church of St. Peter they themselves consented to be united in the year 1169, in the 2nd Indiction, in the month of June; with this law, however, that yearly on the day of the Assumption of the Bl. Virgin, under which title the Cathedral of Asti is consecrated, one Bezant (this was a gold coin of the Greek Emperors) with one candle, Tradition holds, that Peter was of a noble family, they should offer to the same Cathedral; and to public supplications, whenever in them the Canons of that church proceeded, they should be bound to be present. There demonstrate finally the estates, with which they enriched that church, so opulent and ample, that it is held the head of the Great Priory of Lombardy.
[3] And nevertheless so far were the Acts of the Saint himself not commended to the memory of posterity; yet he is painted as a digger with a hoe or if they were, so far not preserved; that what follows, only safely we can report. The first of these will be, that he was of the family of de Cucarvii, as in the most ancient Breviary of the Cathedral is read; or, as the public notes have it, and is commonly brought forth, of Conzavii. The same notes furthermore make it clear, that this family was one of the chief of the town of Castagnole, distant four miles from the city; then indeed of Asti, but now of the jurisdiction of Montferrat. But whether this Saint was brought forth at Asti, or at Castagnole, is uncertain. That he was a rural man, whereby it is believed he drew out water for a monastery begun to be built, is indicated by the form, in which we see him painted; namely with a girded garment, let down a little below the knees, and a hoe in his hands. Although some affirm the painted-on hoe is in memory of a miracle, which alone we have received as handed down to memory about him, and confirmed by the thing itself still existing.
[4] While this holy Peter dwelt among mortals, there had been begun to be built in the suburb of holy Mary the New by the people of Asti a monastery of Nuns, long sought in vain. of the Benedictine institute, with a church of St. Seraphia, Virgin and Martyr. And already from the foundations the walls were rising; when to the Overseers of this work it is announced, that in diverse places within the enclosure, for the use of a well, the earth deeply dug out and carried away, yet in no place a spring was found, or an indication of moisture appeared. This matter reduced them into no few straits: for the monastery could not stand, destitute of that element; which unless it overflows, never seems to suffice. To another place to transfer it was altogether inconvenient, because, besides the loss of the expenses already made, not easily could another place, equally opportune, be either found or procured. When therefore they could not explain what counsel to take, there was not lacking one who proposed, that to the already experienced power of the prayers of this servant of God they should have recourse. Which when they had splendidly done, he himself came to the place, and having prayed God, that to his handmaids he would not deny a thing so necessary to human life; took the hoe, and dug a pit: in which when at once there appeared water, turning to the workmen; "Here a well hollow out," he says; "nor fear, lest the Lord ever allow the water to fail." When they had begun to execute this, they dug not deeply, and with the vein abundantly springing forth, they formed a well of small depth. Which well thereafter of St. Peter is even now called: and the water itself both to the healthy beyond the rest most salubrious; and to the sick, for the sake of devotion coming from everywhere, or sending, is openly profitable.
[5] It is handed down besides that by the same Saint was built of St. Peter of Conzavia called: to which pertain some estates, existing in the field of Castagnole; and as is commonly believed, by the same Saint attributed to that same Hospital: which with all its rights and goods was then to that same church united; which church, before a shrine of Diana, to the most blessed Virgin, deservedly compared to Diana or the Moon (because the grace, of which she was full, in the night of sins or tribulations, shows itself a day) by the ancient people of Asti once had been dedicated. But when in it the body of this St. Peter had been buried, and the sacred ministers appointed to his service, far too narrow seemed its capacity, and that there he was buried, and the form little apt (namely round, with a roof likewise round and columned) for the divine ministries to be performed or offices to be celebrated, a new church continuously is raised: into which from the former between two columns access lies open: and by this means from two one church stood, called St. Peter of Conzavia, and with the title of the great Priory of Lombardy, as we said, distinguished.
[6] where he is painted between the Apostles Peter and Paul, But that his death happened on the very nativity day of the Princes of the Apostles is held for certain: and therefore in the panel, placed on the major altar, in the midst the effigy of this holy Peter stands, on the right holy Peter, on the left holy Paul painted: that those visiting that church, to the veneration of the holy Apostles, to whom that day is especially consecrated, and to invoke their protection, might at the same time also be moved. By which also it was provided; lest the name of holy Peter should bring the opinion, that this temple was dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle: to whom far off in the very city a proper temple, called St. Peter of the Street, stood built. and the Relics are decently enclosed and kept. The body finally of this St. Peter the Confessor, in the high altar of that same his church is believed enclosed. The Head and arm, enclosed in gilded bronze cases, are kept separately, to be exhibited to the pious kissing them in veneration.