Caught with ladies in his bedroom: St. Peter of Verona

Tonight, I flipped open at random my new book, St. Dominic's Family (TAN), and I came across the following biography. The story was so great that I wanted to share it with the rest of you. Now I had read of St. Peter of Verona before, in St. Louis de Montfort's Secret of the Rosary. St. Louis lays particular emphasis on St. Peter's final act as he lay dying on the ground. He was so revered for his sanctity that he was canonized one year after his death in 1253.

I think that we also see in Peter some inspiration for those of us who were raised outside of the Faith.

"More remarkable than his death is the record of his life. Born of heretical parents, and surrounded during his whole childhood with the most harmful theories and practices, Peter preserved a purity of faith and morals which was nothing short of miraculous. Continually ridiculed and harangued by his relatives, he remained untarnished in both body and soul."

Notice how he leaves the world with nary a care for its pomps and vanities; he scorns wealth, marriage, and a worldly career:

"Sent to Bologna to the university at the age of fifteen, he met St. Dominic, and instantly, with no backward glances at the wealth and power he was foregoing, threw himself at the saint's feet and begged admission to the Order."

This story has to make the top ten of all time greatest. Look at what happens to him next:

"While still a student, Peter underwent a severe trial. He was publicly reprimanded and placed on punishment because a brother, passing Peter's cell late at night, thought he heard women's voices in the room. The voices were those of angels, who frequently visited the saint: but in his humility he thought it better to accept the punishment and say nothing about it. He was sent to another convent to do penance, and his ordination was delayed. Peter prayed and found great strength in prayer: but, being human, he felt the disgrace keenly, and he one day complained to our Lord:


" 'Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent of this: why dost Thou permit them to believe it of me?'

A sorrowful voice replied from the crucifix:

" 'And I, Peter, what have I done that they should do this to Me?'

"Peter complained no more. The truth was eventually discovered, and Peter, reinstated in the community, resumed his studies. He prayed daily for the happiness of dying a martyr's death.

"Sold like his Master for thirty pieces of silver, Peter was ambushed and killed on the road to Milan. He went to his death singing, which is the traditional Dominican way to enter heaven. Undaunted by the threats of the heretics, he walked along singing the Easter Sequence, and fell unprotesting beneath the blows of the assassins. One of his murders, touched by grace at the sight of a saint, was converted, eventually took the Dominican habit, and was popularly known as 'Blessed' Carino. To him as to us, Peter had pointed out the way to heaven when he traced on the dust of the road, in his own blood, the creed that had lighted his path: 'Credo in unum Deum.' "

Is there anything in this man's life to be believed? Wow.

(As I write this, I'm listening to the Easter Sequence. And where is that piece of Gregorian Chant today, which he sang as he went to his death? Who knows it? Who has heard it in the New Mass of Paul VI? I mean, really heard it, not a miserable English translation of it, but the beautiful Latin poetry which St. Peter sang? Could we sing it? What wisdom, what brilliance, when most of the Sequences were cut from the new rite of the Mass!)




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