Hello all, Happy feast day to all born, baptized and married today Happy feast day to all Deacons, Seminarians, Priests, Bishops, Monks, Nuns, Religious Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus. Happy feast day to all named Peter and parents of all named Peter Happy feast day to all Clerics of the ‘Society of Jesus’ popularly known to us as ‘Jesuits’ Happy feast day to all devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially all who recite Her Most Holy Rosary with True devotion Happy feast day to all 35 Doctors of the Catholic Church Happy feast day to all who study the Catechism of the Catholic Church Happy feast day to all Catholic Missionaries and all who write Catechisms, especially the Catholic Press world-wide Today (December 21) marks the liturgical memorial of Saint Peter Canisius He is also called Peter Kanis He is often called Peter Kannees He is also known as Peter Kanys He is known as Petrus Kanis He is also referred to as Saint Petrus Canisius He is known by many as the “Hammer of Protestantism” He is popularly known as the “Second Apostle of Germany” He is also referred to as Saint Petrus Canisius He was born on the 8th of May 1521 in Nijmegen, Duchy of Guelders, Netherlands In the University of Cologne, he met Blessed Peter Faber, who was one of the co founders of the “Society of Jesus” popularly known as Jesuit along with Saint Ignatius Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier Saint Peter Canisius became the first Dutchman to join the “Society of Jesus” in 1543. Through his work in the order he became one of the most influential Catholics of his time. He supervised the founding and maintenance of the early German Jesuit Colleges, often with little resources at hand. Because of his frequent travels between the colleges, a tedious and dangerous occupation at the time, he became known as the Second Apostle of Germany. Peter Canisius also exerted a strong influence on Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I; he ceaselessly reminded Ferdinand of the imminent danger to his soul should he concede more rights to Protestants in return for their military support. When Peter Canisius sensed a very real danger of Ferdinands son and heir, King Maximilian, openly declaring himself a Protestant, Saint Peter convinced Emperor Ferdinand to threaten disinheritance to his son Maximilian if he should go ahead and desert the Catholic Faith. King Ferdinand ordered Peter and his companions to write a catechism to enlighten the ignorant and strengthen the Catholic Faithful. Peter approached Christian doctrine in two parts: Wisdom and Justice. The first issue of the Catechism appeared in the year 1555 and was an immediate success! Peter produced two more versions; one for middle school students and the other for young children. During his life, his Catechism of the Catholic Church went through 200 editions and was translated into 12 languages! Peter begged Pope Saint Pius V (who was the 225th Vicar of Christ since the pontificate of Saint Peter the Apostle) to send yearly subsidies to the Catholic printers of Germany, and to permit German scholars to edit Roman manuscripts. Peter was responsible for the creation of the Catholic Press. The people, the king, and the Pope all wanted to make Peter Canisius the bishop of Vienna, but Peter declined vigorously. He declined the offer in order to continue his tireless travelling and teachings! Peter Canisius was an influential teacher and preacher, especially through his German Catechism, which was a book that defined the basic principles of Catholicism in the German language and found many readers in German-speaking countries. However, he was administrator of the Diocese of Vienna from 1554 to 1555 and main pulpit spokesman in Augsburg Cathedral from 1559 to 1568, where he strongly witnessed to his faith on three or four occasions each week. Peter Canisius’ preaching was said to have been so convincing that it attracted hundreds of Protestants back to the old faith. He was one of the main theologians at the Colloquy of Worms in 1557. By the time Peter Canisius left Germany in 1590, the Jesuit order in Germany had evolved from almost nothing into a powerful tool of the Counter Reformation. He spent the last 20 years of his life in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he founded the Jesuit preparatory school, the Collège Saint Michel, that prepared generations of young men for careers and future university studies, and under cantonal administration continues to exist as a coeducational preparatory institution. Peter Canisius lived in the age of Reformation and dedicated much of his work to the clarification of the Catholic faith in light of the emergence of the new Protestant doctrines. His lasting contribution is his three catechisms, which he published in Latin and German, which became widespread and popular in Catholic regions. In his fight with German Protestantism, he requested much more flexibility from Rome. -------------------------- Peter Canisius often said: If you treat them right, the Germans will give you everything. Many err in matters of faith, but without arrogance. An honest explanation of the Catholic faith would be much more effective than a polemical attack against reformers. Peter Canisius rejected Catholic attacks against Calvin and Melanchton with the words: With words like these, we don’t cure patients, we make them incurable! ------------------------------------ Peter Canisius was very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He taught that while there are many roads leading to Jesus Christ, the veneration to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the best way to get to him Peter‘s sermons and letters document a clear preoccupation with veneration the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under the heading prayer Saint Peter explains that: The “Ave Maria” and the “Hail Mary”, is the basis for Catholic Marian piety. Less known are his Marian books, in which he published prayers and contemplative texts. Saint Peter Canisius is credited with adding to the “Hail Mary” the sentence “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners”! Eleven years later the sentence “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners” was included in the Catechism of the Council of Trent of 1566! Theologically, Peter Canisius defended Roman Catholic Mariology, in his 1577 book, De Maria Virgine Incomparabili et Dei Genitrice Sacrosancta Libri Quinque. At age 70, he suffered a paralytic seizure, but he continued to preach and write with the aid of a secretary until his death in his hometown on December 21, 1597. Peter Canisius died on the 21st of December 1597 (aged 76) Soon after his death reports spread of the miraculous help obtained by invoking his name! His tomb was visited by pilgrims. The “Society of Jesus” decided to urge his beatification. Peter Canisius was beatified and given the “degree of heroic virtues” in 1864, Rome by Pope Pius IX (who was the 255th Bishop of Rome since the pontificate of Saint Peter the Apostle) Blessed Peter Canisius was canonized and pronounced as “Saint Peter Canisius” on the 21st of May 1925, Rome by Pope Pius XI (who was the 259th Servant of God since the pontificate of Saint Peter the Apostle) Saint Peter Canisius was also declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI His feast day was included in the General Roman Calendar in 1926, for celebration on 27 April. In the year 1969 the feast day was moved to the 21st of December, the anniversary of his death and so the normal day for celebrating a Saints entry into heaven. Saint Peter Canisius was an important Jesuit who fought against the spread of Protestantism in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, (Czech Republic), and Switzerland. The restoration of the Catholic Church in Germany after the Reformation is attributed to his work. He is the Patron Saint of the Catholic press He is also the Patron Saint of Germany He is invoked by all who write Catechisms ------------------------------------------- Let us pray that through the works, spiritual direction, spiritual maturity and intercession of Saint Peter Canisius, we may in this group find the spiritual motivation to win our souls for God. Amen Summary of the life history of Saint Peter Canisius can be viewed by clicking the photo of the Saint in our groups photo section. Saint of the day would be communicated to you as promptly and consistently as humanly possible, by Gods grace. May we all in this group and beyond this group, Christians and non Christians alike, Catholics and non Catholics alike, be saved from the fires of hell and lifted up into heaven after our stay here on this exile. Amen May our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of Saint Peter Canisius and all other Saints before and after him, through Gods Divine Mercy strengthen our souls, open out the way for us all, and above all, intoxicate us with HIS love. Amen May Christ make us into blazing fires to enkindle the earth with the heavenly fire HE brought us. Amen Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we give you our lives and our salvation. Jesus we love you, all we have is yours, yours we are and yours we want to be, please do with us whatever you will. Amen Jesus, Mary we love you, please save our souls. Amen God bless you and grant your heart’s desire. Amen Saint Peter Canisius, pray for us. Amen. ----------------------------------------------------- For a brief on our Saint of Today, please the link below: https://youtube/watch?v=Hu0593CmEzc ---------------------------------------------------- For homily on his former feast day April 27th, please the link below https://youtube/watch?v=WmOuUDi4OxE
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:08:45 +0000
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