Saint Peter Chrysologist

Saint Peter Chrysologist, Peter “of the golden words”, as this is exactly the meaning of his surname, given wisely by the people and by which he became known forever. He was born in Imola, a province of Ravenna, not far from Rome, in the year 380. Son of Christian parents, he was educated in the faith and was soon ordained a deacon.

Counselor and preacher

Considered one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Church, he was frequently assisted by the Roman empress Galla Plácida and her children. She made him her personal advisor and, in 424, influenced him to become archdeacon of Ravenna. At a time when the city was the capital of the Roman Empire in the West and also the ecclesiastical metropolis. Later, the Roman emperor himself, Valentinian III, son of Galla Placida, appointed him to be bishop of Ravenna.

Bishopric and works

In 433, Pedro Crisologus became the first Western bishop to occupy this diocese, being personally consecrated by Pope Schisto III. Pedro Crisólogo wrote, in total, one hundred and seventy-six homilies of a popular nature, through which dogmas and liturgies were explained in a simple, direct, objective and very attractive way, providing countless conversions. He also defended the authority of the Pope, then, Leo I, the Great, on the Monophysite issue, which preached Christ in one nature. This heresy, coming from the East, spread dangerously, but was resolved in the councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon.

Death and veneration

Pedro Crisólogo died in his hometown, on an unknown date. Some historians say it was on July 31, 451, but he is venerated by the Church on July 30, 450, the most likely date of his death. The authorship of his famous sermons, rich in doctrine, gave him another title, that of Doctor of the Church, granted in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. Saint Peter Crisologus, even today, is considered a model of contact with the people and an example of love for preaching the Gospel, the ideal of a pastor for the Church.

Source: Canção Nova