Martyrdom of St Peter of Verona
Pope Gregory IX appointed St Peter as General inquisitor about 1232. His one recorded act was a declaration of clemency for those confessing heresy or sympathy to heresy. In his sermons he denounced heresy and also those Catholics who professed the Faith by words, but acted contrary to it in deeds. Crowds came to meet him and followed him; conversions were numerous, including many Cathars who returned to orthodoxy.
Because of this, he had many powerful enemies among the Cathars. When returning from Como to Milano, he met a certain Carino who was hired as an assassin by the Cathars. The assassin struck him with an axe on the head with such violence, that Peter fell half dead. The murderer then pierced his heart. As he died, he wrote the words 'Credo' (I believe) with his blood. This took place on 6 April 1252.
The body was carried to Milano and laid in the church of St. Eustorgio, where a magnificent mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory. He wrought many miracles when living, but they were even more numerous after his martyrdom, so that Innocent IV canonized him on 25 March 1253. He is the first martyr the Dominicans gave to the Church.
Detail from a reredos in the Dominican nuns' museum in Salamanca.
Martyrdom of St Peter of Verona
Pope Gregory IX appointed St Peter as General inquisitor about 1232. His one recorded act was a declaration of clemency for those confessing heresy or sympathy to heresy. In his sermons he denounced heresy and also those Catholics who professed the Faith by words, but acted contrary to it in deeds. Crowds came to meet him and followed him; conversions were numerous, including many Cathars who returned to orthodoxy.
Because of this, he had many powerful enemies among the Cathars. When returning from Como to Milano, he met a certain Carino who was hired as an assassin by the Cathars. The assassin struck him with an axe on the head with such violence, that Peter fell half dead. The murderer then pierced his heart. As he died, he wrote the words 'Credo' (I believe) with his blood. This took place on 6 April 1252.
The body was carried to Milano and laid in the church of St. Eustorgio, where a magnificent mausoleum, the work of Balduccio Pisano, was erected to his memory. He wrought many miracles when living, but they were even more numerous after his martyrdom, so that Innocent IV canonized him on 25 March 1253. He is the first martyr the Dominicans gave to the Church.
Detail from a reredos in the Dominican nuns' museum in Salamanca.