St. Peter Martyr

April 29

1205-52

 Born at Verona, Italy, of parents who had embraced Catharism, he was educated at a Catholic school and at the University of Bologna and was accepted into the Dominicans by St. Dominic. He became well known in Lombardy for his preaching, was banished for a time when he was falsely accused of receiving women in his cell, but was cleared, and in about 1234 was appointed inquisitor of northern Italy, which was a hotbed of Catharists. He attracted huge crowds with his preaching but made enemies for his activities as inquisitor, and while returning from Como was attacked and murdered near Barassina on April 6 by a Catharist assassin named Carino. Peter was canonized by Pope Innocent IV as Peter of Verona.


VIEW ANOTHER IMAGE OF THE MARTYR WITH DONORS AND ST. AUGUSTINE BY IL BERGOGNONE, c. 1500