Today is the feast of St. Peter Canisius (1521 - 1597), SJ. He was "foremost among zealous missionaries who saved half of Germany for the Faith" - A Summary of Catholic History. A Jesuit, he was well trained at the Universities of Cologne and Louvain, and indefatigable in preaching, writing (his catechisms "came in all sizes"), and teaching -- from imperial diets down to the littlest children -- and this through all the Swiss cantons (many of which were antagonistic to Catholicism) and Germany (which was at the time under the influence of the Lutheranizing Emperor Maximilian II). Fearless, he was also patient and moderate. Excessive severity rubbed him the wrong way, and thus he didn't like to travel with St. Charles Borromeo, whom he called the "Iron Man." He patiently and graciously met every argument to Catholicism, which he answered, and followed faithfully the reform of the Council of Trent, down to enforcing oaths of obedience (to the pope) from bishops and professors. See, he felt that those ministering and teaching in the Catholic Church should adhere to all her beliefs and teachings. What a concept!
"St. Peter Canisius, hard-working rather than brilliant, was an example capable of imitation, and he was imitated." - A Summary of Catholic History. St. Peter Canisius, doctor of the Church, pray for us.
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