Saint of the Week

          We continue our Pastor Column series “Saint of the Week,” and our Saint of the Week this week is Saint Peter Chrysologus.  This bishop and Doctor of the Church was born in the year 380 and died in 450, and his Memorial is July 30.

Saint Peter was born at Imola, in modern-day Italy.   He was baptized, educated, and ordained a deacon by Cornelius, Bishop of Imola, and after ordination, he soon came to merit being called “Chrysologus” (which means “golden-word”) because of his exceptional oratorical eloquence. 

In 433, Pope Sixtus III consecrated him Bishop of Ravenna. He practiced many corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and served his flock with utmost diligence and care.  He fought against the last vestiges of paganism and other abuses that had sprouted among his people, cautioning them especially against indecent dancing.  “Anyone who wishes to frolic with the devil,” he said, “cannot rejoice with Christ.”  

Later in life and in his ministry, he came to share the confidence of Pope Saint Leo the Great, and he also enjoyed the patronage of the Empress Galla Placidia.  After the condemnation of the heretic Eutyches by the Synod of Constantinople, in the year 448, Saint Peter counseled Eutyches (who had asked for his support at the Synod) to avoid causing division and instead to learn from the other heretics who were crushed when they hurled themselves against the Rock of Peter. 

He died at Imola in 450, and in 1729, he was declared to be a Doctor of the Church, largely as a result of his simple, practical, and clear sermons which have come down to us, nearly all dealing with Gospel subjects.

A collection of 176 of his homilies was made by Felix, Bishop of Ravenna.   Some are interpolations, and several other homilies known to have been written by the saint are included in other collections under different names.  They are in a great measure explanatory of Biblical texts and are brief and concise.   He has explained beautifully the mystery of the Incarnation, the heresies

of Arius and Eutyches, and the Apostles’ Creed, and he dedicated a series of homilies to the Blessed Virgin and also to Saint John the Baptist.  

          Saint Peter Chrysologus…pray for us.             

~ Fr. Lewis