Peter Canisius facts for kids
Quick facts for kids SaintPeter Canisius SJ |
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| Priest, Religious and Doctor of the Church | |
| Born | 8 May 1521 Nijmegen, Duchy of Guelders, Habsburg Netherlands |
| Died | 21 December 1597 (aged 76) Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1864, Rome by Pope Pius IX |
| Canonized | 21 May 1925, Rome by Pope Pius XI |
| Major shrine | College of St. Michael Fribourg, Switzerland |
| Feast | 21 December; 27 April (General Roman Calendar, 1926–1969; current SJ calendar) |
| Patronage | Catholic press, Germany |
Peter Canisius (born Pieter Kanis; 8 May 1521 – 21 December 1597) was a famous Catholic priest from the Netherlands. He was a member of the Jesuit order.
Peter Canisius was well-known for strongly supporting the Catholic faith. This was during a time called the Protestant Reformation. This period saw many changes in Christianity across Europe. He worked in places like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Many people believe he helped bring the Catholic Church back to strength in Germany. He is honored as a saint and a Doctor of the Church in the Catholic Church.
Contents
Life of Peter Canisius
Peter Canisius was born in 1521 in Nijmegen, which is now part of the Netherlands. His father was a rich mayor. Peter's mother died soon after he was born.
He went to study at the University of Cologne. By the age of 19, in 1540, he had earned a master's degree. While studying, he met Peter Faber, who was one of the people who started the Society of Jesus. In 1543, Peter Canisius became the first Dutchman to join this new group of priests.
Through his preaching and writings, Peter Canisius became very important. He helped set up the first Jesuit colleges in German-speaking areas. He often did this with very few resources. He also preached in cities and taught at universities. He traveled a lot between these colleges. Because of his many journeys, he became known as the "Second Apostle of Germany."
Peter Canisius had a big impact on Emperor Ferdinand I. He also founded what later became the University of Innsbruck in 1562.
In 1547, he attended meetings of the Council of Trent. Canisius was a great teacher and preacher. He wrote a book called the "German Catechism." This book explained the main ideas of Catholicism in German. This made it easier for people in German-speaking countries to understand their faith. In 1554, he was offered the job of Bishop of Vienna. He said no because he wanted to keep traveling and teaching. However, he did manage the Diocese of Vienna for one year.
He moved to Germany and was a main Catholic thinker at a meeting called the Colloquy of Worms in 1557. From 1559 to 1568, he was the main preacher at the Cathedral of Augsburg. He spoke about his faith several times a week there.
Peter Canisius helped bring areas like Bavaria and the Rhineland back to the Catholic Church. He also helped people in Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland. Poland had become mostly Protestant. But thanks to Peter and other Jesuits, it returned to being Catholic.
By the time he left Germany, the Jesuit order there had grown a lot. It became a strong force in the Counter-Reformation. Peter Canisius spent his last twenty years in Fribourg, Switzerland. There, he started a Jesuit college. This college trained many young men for careers and university studies.
In 1591, when he was 70, Canisius had a stroke. This made him partly unable to move. But he kept preaching and writing with help from a secretary. He died in Fribourg. He was first buried in the Church of St Nicholas. Later, his body was moved to the church of the Jesuit College he founded. The room where he lived his last months is now a chapel.
Peter Canisius's Approach
Peter Canisius lived during the Protestant Reformation. He worked hard to make the Catholic faith clear. This was important because new Protestant ideas were spreading. His most important work was his three catechisms. These were books he published in Latin and German. They became very popular in Catholic areas.
He believed in being understanding with people. He said:
If you treat them right, the Germans will give you everything. Many err in matters of faith, but without arrogance. They err the German way, mostly honest, a bit simple-minded, but very open for everything Lutheran. An honest explanation of the faith would be much more effective than a polemical attack against reformers.
He also thought it was better not to attack other religious leaders. He said, "With words like these, we don't cure patients, we make them incurable."
Mary and Peter Canisius
Peter Canisius believed that honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary was a good way to get closer to Jesus Christ. His sermons and letters show he cared a lot about Mary. He explained the Ave Maria prayer as a key part of Catholic devotion to Mary. He also wrote books about Mary, with prayers and thoughts.
He is given credit for adding the sentence "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners" to the Hail Mary prayer. This sentence was later included in the official Catechism of the Council of Trent in 1566.
Canisius also wrote a book in 1577 called De Maria Virgine Incomparabili et Dei Genitrice Sacrosancta Libri Quinque. This book explained the Catholic teachings about Mary using the Bible, early Christian writings, and Church Fathers. He showed that Church teaching about Mary had not changed over time. He also explained why Catholics honor Mary.
Honoring Peter Canisius
Peter Canisius was declared "blessed" (a step before sainthood) by Pope Pius IX in 1864. He was later made a saint and a Doctor of the Church on 21 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI. His feast day is celebrated on 21 December.
Peter Canisius's Legacy
Many schools and hospitals are named after Peter Canisius. This is because he did so much to start Jesuit education. For example, there is Canisius College for future priests in Vienna, Austria. There is also a Jesuit high school in his hometown of Nijmegen.
Other places named after him include:
- Canisius College, a university in Buffalo, New York.
- Canisius High School, a secondary school also in Buffalo, New York.
- Canisius Kolleg in Berlin, Germany.
- Kolese Kanisius in Jakarta, Indonesia.
- Canisianum Roman Catholic HS in Namibia, Africa.
- Basisschool Petrus Canisius, a primary school in the Netherlands.
In 1850, the Canisius Hospital was started in Nijmegen. It later joined with another hospital to become Canisius-Wilhemina Hospital.
In 1904, an association was founded in the Netherlands called the Apologetische Vereniging St. Petrus Canisius. This group aimed to defend the Catholic Church.
Many German church leaders in the 1800s saw Peter Canisius as a new "Apostle of Germany." They saw him as a successor to Saint Boniface, because of his importance to German Christianity.
Works
- (1555) Summa doctrinae christianae (A Summary of Christian Teachings)
- (1556) Catechismus minor (A Smaller Catechism)
- (1558) Parvus catechismus catholicorum (A Little Catechism for Catholics)
- (1577) De Maria virgine incomparabili (On the Incomparable Virgin Mary)
See also
In Spanish: Pedro Canisio para niños
