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Peter Martyr of Verona " as not the first Dominican
to die in the cause of truth, but so greatly ,vas he revered
for his sanctity that he was canonized the year after his
death; hence he became the type of fearless apostle of the
Order.
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. 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. He was present at the
death of St. Dominic, and shared in the legacy of primitive
zeal and courage passed to the sons of a saint.
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
had 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.
Peter
soon became a celebrated preacher and engaged in disputes
with the heretics all over northern Italy. Many miracles
were worked through his prayers, to the rage of the heretics.
In one city, a prominent man had been won to heresy, because
the devil, taking the appearance of the Blessed Mother,
appeared at the heretics' meetings and encouraged him to
join them. Peter, determined to win the man back to the
truth, went to the meeting of the heretics, and, when the
devil appeared in his disguise, held up a small pyx in which
he had placed a consecrated Host. "If you are the Mother
of God," cried Peter, "adore your Son!" The
devil fled in dismay, and many heretics were converted.
Enraged by Peter's success, his enemies made plans to destroy
him.
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 murderers, 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."
(Source
: Dorcy, Marie Jean. St. Dominic's Family. Tan
Books and Publishers, 1983)
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