The Saints: St. Peter Canisius

1521 - 1597

Feast – Dec. 21

Born in Holland, Peter first studied law in Germany but turned to theology and entered the Society of Jesus in 1543. Known for his preaching, he assisted at the Council of Trent and was an important figure in the post-conciliar Catholic revival. As Jesuit provincial in southern Germany, Austria and Bohemia, he started schools, colleges and seminaries. Peter is credited more than anyone else with keeping the south German peoples Catholic. He was canonized and named a doctor of the church in 1925.