St. Peter Canisius
Feast day: December 21
Born in the Netherlands, Peter was educated at Cologne and Mainz, where he studied theology. In 1543, he joined the Society of Jesus and founded a Jesuit community in Cologne. He was well known for his preaching, his defense of Catholic doctrine, and his resistance to Protestantism. He took part in the Council of Trent and was an important figure in the post-conciliar Catholic revival in Europe. A brilliant theologian, Peter was the author of several catechisms, including the Summa Doctrinae Christianae, published in 1555. Canonized in 1925, he was also named a Doctor of the Church at the same time.
Collect
O God, who for the defense of the Catholic faith
made the Priest Saint Peter Canisius
strong in virtue and in learning,
grant, through his intercession,
that those who seek the truth
may joyfully find you, their God,
and that your faithful people
may persevere in confessing you.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
