Saint Peter Canisius

Saint Peter Canisius , 1521-97, Dutch Jesuit, Doctor of the Church, b. Nijmegen. He spent his life traveling widely strengthening wavering Roman Catholics, preaching, and instructing. He was one of the most vigorous of the Catholic preachers in the regions affected by Lutheranism, above all in W and S Germany. St. Peter wrote much; his catechism was especially important and was one of the earliest popular expositions of the faith. Feast: Apr. 27.

Canisius, St Peter (1521–97), Jesuit theologian. He founded a Jesuit colony at Cologne and attacked the Protestant views of Abp. Hermann of Wied. From 1549 he worked in Bavaria, Vienna, and Prague. He compiled a number of popular catechisms. In 1556 he became Provincial of Upper Germany and to him more than any other was due the success of the Counter-Reformation in the S. German lands. Feast day, 21 Dec. (formerly 27 Apr.).

Canisius, Peter, St (1521–97). Jesuit theologian and controversialist. His interest in education led him to publish, in 1555, the first of three catechisms, the second (and perhaps most influential) of which appeared in 1556. In 1925 he was both canonized and, on the strength of his catechetical writings, declared a Doctor of the Church. Feast day, 21 Dec.