Saint Peter Canisius

Life story

Peter Canisius was born in 1521 in Nijmegen, in today's Netherlands, and studied at Cologne and Leuven. In 1543, at Mainz, he met Peter Faber, one of the first companions of Ignatius of Loyola, and joined the Society of Jesus soon afterwards. He was ordained in 1546 and spent most of his life in German-speaking regions. The Society had been approved only in 1540, so he belonged to its first generation of members.

He attended the Council of Trent as a theologian, then was sent to teach and preach at Ingolstadt, Vienna and many other cities, at a time when Catholicism in those lands was under heavy pressure from the Reformation. In 1556 he became the first provincial superior of the Upper German province. He helped found or develop Jesuit colleges at Prague, Munich, Dillingen, Fribourg and elsewhere.

He is best known for three catechisms published between 1555 and 1558: a full Summa doctrinae christianae and two shorter versions for students and for small children. They were reprinted and translated so often that in many places the word catechism was simply replaced by his name.

In his last years he lived at Fribourg in Switzerland, still teaching and writing despite failing health. He died there on 21 December 1597 and was buried in the Jesuit church of St Michael. He was canonised and named a Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

Works and witness

• Joined the Jesuits in 1543 after meeting Peter Faber at Mainz
• Took part in the Council of Trent as a theologian
• First provincial superior of the Upper German Jesuit province from 1556
• Wrote three catechisms printed between 1555 and 1558, widely used
• Helped found Jesuit colleges, including the one at Fribourg

Saints from the same country

Saint Titus Brandsma, Saint Willibrord, Saint Ambrose, Saint Hildegard of Bingen

References

• Martyrologium Romanum
• Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
• Peter Canisius, Summa doctrinae christianae

Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.