APRIL 29
SAINT PETER THE MARTYR
The Liturgical Year - Dom Guéranger
The hero deputed this day, by the Church, to greet
our Risen Lord, was so valiant in the Good Fight, that Martyrdom is part of his
name. He is known as Peter the Martyr; so that we cannot speak of him, without
raising the echo of victory. He was put to death by heretics, and is the grand
tribute paid to our Redeemer by the 13th Century. Never was there a triumph
hailed with greater enthusiasm than this. The Martyrdom of St. Thomas of
Canterbury excited the admiration of the Faithful of the preceding Century, for
nothing was so dear to our Forefathers as the Liberty of the Church; the
Martyrdom of St. Peter was celebrated with a like intensity of praise and joy.
Let us hearken to the fervid eloquence of the great Pontiff, Innocent the
Fourth, who thus begins the Bull of the Martyr's Canonization: The truth of the
Christian Faith, manifested, as it has been, by great and frequent miracles, is
now beautified by the new merit of a new Saint. — Lo! a combatant of these our
own times comes, bringing us new and great and triumphant signs. The voice of
his blood shed (for Christ) is heard, and the fame of his Martyrdom is
trumpeted, through the world. The land is not silent that sweateth with his
blood; the country that produced so noble a warrior resounds with his praise;
yea, the very sword that did the deed of parricide proclaims his glory. Mother
Church has great reason to rejoice, and abundant matter for gladness; she has cause
to sing a new canticle to the Lord, and a hymn of fervent praise to her God:
the Christian people has cause to give forth devout songs to its Creator. A
sweet fruit, gathered in the garden of Faith, has been set upon the table of
the Eternal King: a grape-bunch, taken from the vineyard of the Church, has
filled the royal cup with new wine. The flourishing Order of Preachers has
produced a red rose, whose sweetness is most grateful to the King; and from the
Church here on earth, there has been taken a stone, which, after being cut and
polished, has deserved a place of honour in the temple of heaven.
Such was
the language wherewith the supreme Pontiff spoke of the new Martyr, and the
people responded by celebrating his Feast with extraordinary devotion. It was
kept as were the ancient Festivals, that is, all servile work was forbidden
upon it. The Churches served by the Fathers of the Dominican Order were crowded
on his Feast; and the Faithful took little branches with them, that they might
be blessed, in memory of the Triumph of Peter the Martyr. This custom is still
observed; and the branches blessed by the Dominicans, on this day, are
venerated as being a protection to the houses where they are kept.
How are
we to account for all this fervent devotion of the people towards St. Peter? It
was because he died in defence of the Faith; and nothing was so dear to the
Christians of those days as Faith. Peter had received the charge to take up all
the heretics, who, at that time, were causing great disturbance and scandal in
the country round about Milan. They were called Cathari, but, in reality, were
Manicheans; their teachings were detestable, and their lives of the most
immoral kind. Peter fulfilled his duty with a firmness and equity, which soon
secured him the hatred of the heretics; and when he fell a victim to his holy
courage, a cry of admiration and gratitude was heard throughout Christendom.
Nothing could be more devoid of truth, than the accusations brought, by the
enemies of the Church and their indiscreet abettors, against the measures
formerly decreed by the public law of Catholic nations, in order to foil the
efforts made by evil-minded men to injure the true Faith. In those times, no
tribunal was so popular as that whose office it was to protect the Faith, and
to put down all them that attacked it. It was to the Order of St. Dominic that
this office was mainly intrusted; and well may they be proud of the honour of
having so long held one so beneficial to the salvation of mankind. How many of
its members have met with a glorious death in the exercise of their stern duty!
St. Peter is the first of the Martyrs given by the Order for this holy cause:
his name, however, heads a long list of others, who were his Brethren in
Religion, his successors in the defence of the Faith, and his followers to
martyrdom. The coercive measures that were once, and successfully, used to
defend the Faithful from heretical teachers, have long since ceased to be used:
but for us Catholics, our judgment of them must surely be that of the Church.
She bids us today honour as a Martyr one of her Saints, who was put to death
whilst resisting the wolves that threatened the sheep of Christ's fold; should
we not be guilty of disrespect to our Mother, if we dared to condemn what she
so highly approves? Far, then, be from us that cowardly truckling to the spirit
of the age, which would make us ashamed of the courageous efforts made by our forefathers
for the preservation of the Faith! Far from us that childish readiness to
believe the calumnies of Protestants against an Institution which they
naturally detest! Far from us that deplorable con fusion of ideas which puts
truth and error on an equality, and, from the fact that error can have no
rights, concludes that truth can claim none!
The following is the
account given us by the Church of the virtues and heroism of St. Peter the
Martyr.
Peter was born at Verona, of parents who were
infected with the heresy of the Manichees; but he himself, almost from his very
infancy, fought against heresies. When he was seven years old, he was one day
asked by an uncle, who was a heretic, what they taught him at the school he
went tot He answered, that they taught him the Symbol of the Christian Faith.
His father and uncle did all they could, both by promises and threats, to shake
the firmness of his faith: but all to no purpose. When old enough, he went to
Bologna, in order to prosecute his studies. Whilst there, he was called by the
Holy Ghost to a life of perfection, and obeyed the call by entering into the
Order of St. Dominic.
Great
were his virtues as a Religious man. So careful was he to keep both body and
soul from whatsoever could sully their purity, that his conscience never
accused him of committing a mortal sin. He mortified his body by fasting and
watching, and applied his mind to the contemplation of heavenly things. He
laboured incessantly for the salvation of souls, and was gifted with a special
grace for refuting heretics. He was so earnest when preaching, that people used
to go in crowds to hear him, and numerous were the conversions that ensued.
The ardour
of his faith was such, that he wished he might die for it, and earnestly did he
beg that favour from God. This death, which he foretold a short time before in
one of his sermons, was inflicted on him by the heretics. Whilst returning from
Como to Milan, in the discharge of the duties of the holy Inquisition, he was
attacked by a wicked assassin, who struck him twice on the head with a sword.
The Symbol of faith, which he had confessed with manly courage when but a
child, he now began to recite with his dying lips; and having received another
wound in his side, he went to receive a Martyr's palm in heaven, in the year of
our Lord twelve hundred and fifty-two. Numerous miracles attested his sanctity,
and his name was enrolled the following year by Innocent the Fourth, in the
list of the Martyrs.
The following Antiphons
and Responsory are taken from the Dominican Breviary.
Ant. There rises a light from smoke, and a rose from the midst of briars:
Peter, the Doctor and Martyr, is born of infidel parents.
Ant. A soldier once in the ranks of the Order of Preach ers, he now is joined
to the troop of the heavenly army.
Ant. His mind angelic, his tongue fruitful, his life apostolic, his death
most precious.
R. Whilst in search of Samson’s foxes, he is slain by the wicked: the
lictor strikes the holy head, the blood of the just man is shed: * Thus he
holds the palm of triumph, whilst dying for the faith.
V. The brave soldier is unconquered: at the hour of death, he courageously
confesses the faith, for which he suffers. * Thus he holds the palm of triumph,
whilst dying for the faith.
The victory was thine, O Peter! and thy zeal for
the defence of holy Faith was rewarded. Thou ardently desiredst to shed thy
blood for the holiest of causes, and, by such a sacrifice, to confirm the
Faithful of Christ in their religion. Our Lord satisfied thy desire; he would
even have thy martyrdom be in the festive Season of the Resurrection of our
Divine Lamb, that his glory might add lustre to the beauty of thy holocaust.
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St. Peter Martyr Altarpiece (detail) by Fra Angelico - Credo in Unum
Deum, I believe in one God…
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When
the death-blow fell upon thy venerable head, and thy generous blood was flowing
from the wounds, thou didst write on the ground the first words of the Creed,
for whose holy truth thou wast giving thy life.
Protector of the
Christian people! what other motive hadst thou, in all thy labours, but
charity? What else but a desire to defend the weak from danger, induced thee
not only to preach against error, but to drive its teachers from the flock How many simple souls, who were receiving
divine truth from the teaching of the Church, have been deceived by the lying sophistry
of heretical doctrine, and have lost the Faith? Surely, the Church would do her
utmost to ward off such dangers from her children: she would do all she could
to defend them from enemies, who were bent on destroying the glorious
inheritance, which had been handed down to them by millions of Martyrs! She
knew the strange tendency that often exists in the heart of fallen man to love
error; whereas Truth, though of itself unchanging, is not sure of its remaining
firmly in the mind, unless it be defended by learning or by faith. As to
learning, there are but few who possess it; and as to faith, error is ever
conspiring against, and, of course, with the appearance of truth. In the
Christian Ages, it would have been deemed, not only criminal, but absurd, to
grant to error the liberty which is due only to truth; and they that were in
authority, considered it a duty to keep the weak from danger, by removing from
them all occasions of a fall, — just as the father of a family keeps his
children from coming in contact with wicked companions, who could easily impose
on their inexperience, and lead them to evil under the name of good.
Obtain
for us, O holy Martyr, a keen appreciation of the precious gift of Faith, —
that element which keeps us in the way of salvation. May we zealously do
everything that lies in our power to preserve it, both in ourselves and in them
that are under our care. The love of this holy Faith has grown cold in so many
hearts; and frequent intercourse with heretics or free-thinkers has made them
think and speak of matters of Faith in a very loose way. Pray for them, O
Peter, that they may recover that fearless love of the Truths of Religion,
which should be one of the chief traits of the Christian character. If they be
living in a country, where the modern system is introduced of treating all
Religions alike, that is, of giving equal rights to error and to truth, — let
them be all the more courageous in professing the truth, and detesting the
errors opposed to the truth. Pray for us, O holy Martyr, that there may be
enkindled within us an ardent love of that Faith, without which, it is
impossible to please God. Pray that we may become all earnestness in this duty,
which is of vital importance to salvation; — that thus our Faith may daily gain
strength within us, till at length we shall merit to see in heaven, what we
have believed unhesitatingly on earth.
MASS
ST PETER OF VERONA, MARTYR
Double
– Red vestments
INTROITUS - Psalm 63: 3
Protexisti me, Deus, a convéntu malignántium, allelúia: a multitúdine
operántium iniquitátem, allelúia, allelúia. Ps. 63. 2. Exáudi,
Deus, oratiónem meam cum déprecor: a timóre inimíci éripe ánimam meam. Gloria
Patri.
Thou last protected me, O God, from the assembly of the malignant,
alleluia: from the multitude of the workers of iniquity, alleluia.
alleluia. Ps. Hear, O God, my prayers, when I make supplication to Thee: deliver
my soul from the fear of the enemy Glory be to the Father.
ORATIO
Praesta quæsumus omnípotens Deus: ut beáti Petri Mártyris tui fidem
cóngrua devotióne sectémur; qui, pro ejúsdem fidei dilatatióne, martyrii palmam
méruit obtinére. Per Dóminum.
COLLECT
Grant we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we may honor the faith of
blessed Peter, Thy martyr, with fitting devotion, as he by the spread of the
same faith was found worthy to obtain the palm of martyrdom. Through our Lord.
EPISTLE - Wisdom 5: 1-5
Then shall the just stand with great constancy against those that have
afflicted them and taken away their labours. These seeing it, shall be troubled
with terrible fear, and shall be amazed at the suddenness of their unexpected
salvation, saying within themselves, repenting, and groaning for anguish of
spirit: These are they whom we had some time in derision and for a parable of
reproach. We fools esteemed their life madness and their end without honour;
behold how they are numbered among the children of God, and their lot is among
the Saints.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 88: 6
Alleluia, alleluia. V. The heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord;
and Thy truth in the Church of the saints. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA - Psalm 20: 4
Alleluia. O Lord, Thou halt set on his head a crown of precious stones.
Alleluia.
EVANGELIUM - John 15: 1-7
In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discipulis Suis: Ego sum Vitis vera: etr
Pater Meus agriocola est. Omnem palmitem in Me non ferentem fructum, tollet
cum: et omnem, qui fert fructum, purgabit eum, ut fructum plus afferat. Jam vos
mundi estis propter sermonem, quem locutus sum vobis. Manete in Me: ut Ego in
vobis. Sicut palmes non potest ferre fructum a semitipso nisi manserit in vite:
sic nec vos, nisi in Me maseritis. Ego sum Vitis, vos palmites: qui manet in
Me, et Ego in eo, hic fert fructum multum: quia sine Me nihil postestis facere.
Si quia in Me non manserit, mittetur foras sicut palmes, et arescet et
colligent eum, et in ignem mittent, et ardet. Si manseritis in Me, et verba Mea
in vobis manserint: qudcumque volueritis, peretis, et fiat vobis.
The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John
At that time, The Lord said to His disciples: I am the true Vine; and My
Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me, that beareth not fruit, He will
take away: and every one that beareth fruit, He will purge it, that it may
bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean by reason of the word, which I have
spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of
itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in
Me. I am the Vine: you the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the
same beareth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. If any one abide
not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall
gather him up, and case him into the fire, and be burneth. If you abide in Me,
and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be
done unto you.
OFFERTORIUM - Psalm 88: 6
Confitebuntur Cœli mirabília tua, Dómine, et veritátem tuam in ecclésia
sanctórum, allelúia, allelúia.
OFFERTORY
The Heavens shall confess Thy wonders, O Lord, and Thy truth in the
church of the saints, alleluia, alleluia.
SECRETA
Preces, quas tibi, Dómine, offérimus intercedénte beáto Petro Mártyre
tuo, cleménter inténde: et propugnatóres fidei sub tua protectióne custódi. Per
Dominum.
SECRET
Graciously give ear, O Lord, to the prayers we offer Thee, and, through
the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy martyr, keep under Thy protection those
who defend the Faith. Through our Lord.
PREFACE OF EASTER
It is truly meet and just, right and availing unto salvation that at all
times, but more especially at this season, we should extol Thy glory, O Lord,
when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the true Lamb that hath taken
away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath overcome our death, and by rising
again hath restored our life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with
Thrones and Dominations, and with all the heavenly hosts, we sing a hymn to Thy
glory, saying without ceasing:
COMMUNIO - Psalm 63: 11
Laetabitur justus in Dómino, et sperábit in eo: et laudabúntur omnes
recti corde, allelúia, allelúia.
COMMUNION
The just shall rejoice in the Lord, and shall hope in Him: and all the
upright in heart shall be praised, alleluia, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNIO
Fideles tuos, Dómine, custódiant sacraménta, quæ súmpsimus: et
intercedénte beáto Petro Mártyre tuo, contra omnes advérsos tueántur incúrsus.
Per Dominum.
POSTCOMMUNION
May the sacraments which we have received, keep Thy faithful, O Lord,
and, by the intercession of blessed Peter, Thy martyr, guard them against all
assaults of the enemy. Through our Lord.
