Peter Faber facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Peter Faber S.J.
Co-founder of the Society of Jesus
Priest, Founder
Born	(1506-04-13)13 April 1506 Villaret, Duchy of Savoy Holy Roman Empire
Died	1 August 1546(1546-08-01) (aged 40) Rome, Papal States
Venerated in	Catholic Church (Society of Jesus)
Beatified	5 September 1872, Rome, Kingdom of Italy, by Pope Pius IX
Canonized	17 December 2013 (equivalent canonization), Vatican City by Pope Francis
Feast	2 August

Peter Faber (born April 13, 1506 – died August 1, 1546) was a very important Catholic priest. He was the first priest of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He helped start this group along with Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier. Pope Francis officially declared him a saint on December 17, 2013.

Peter Faber's Early Life

Peter Faber was born in 1506 in a small village called Villaret. This area was part of the Duchy of Savoy, which is now in France. His family were farmers.

When he was a boy, Peter worked as a shepherd in the high mountains. He didn't get much formal schooling. But he had an amazing memory! He could listen to a sermon in the morning and then repeat it word-for-word to his friends later that day.

In 1525, Peter went to Paris to study. He joined the Collège Sainte-Barbe, a very old school at the University of Paris. There, he shared a room with Francis Xavier. Peter's religious ideas grew stronger during this time. He and Francis Xavier became close friends. They both earned their Master of Arts degrees on the same day in 1530.

At the university, Peter also met Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius was a bit older and helped Peter understand his own thoughts and worries. Peter helped Ignatius with his studies in philosophy. These three friends – Peter, Francis, and Ignatius – are known as the main founders of the Jesuit order.

Becoming a Jesuit Priest

Saint Peter Faber, S.J.

Peter Faber was the first of the group who started the Society of Jesus to become a priest. He was ordained on May 30, 1534. A few months later, on August 15, he and his five friends, including Ignatius, made special religious promises together in Montmartre, Paris.

After they finished their studies, Ignatius went back to Spain to get better from an illness. He told Peter and the others to meet him in Venice. Peter led the group on this journey. They respected Peter very much. They left Paris in November 1536 and met Ignatius in Venice in January 1537.

They had planned to travel to the Holy Land to spread Christian teachings. But a war between Venice and the Turks stopped them. So, they decided to form a new religious community. This community became the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. The group then traveled to Rome and offered their help to Pope Paul III.

Peter Faber's Travels and Influence

After spending some months teaching and preaching in Rome, the Pope sent Peter to other cities in Italy. There, he helped people become more religious and devoted.

In 1540, Peter was called back to Rome. The Pope then sent him to Germany. This was a time of great change in Europe, with the rise of the Protestant movement. Peter attended important meetings called the Diet of Worms and the Diet of Ratisbon.

Peter noticed that the best way to help was not through arguments. Instead, he focused on helping people improve their own spiritual lives. He was gentle and kind to everyone he met. For ten months, he worked in different German cities. He influenced important leaders, priests, and ordinary people. People were amazed by how effective he was.

Peter was known for his ability to make friends easily. He wasn't famous for his sermons, but for his friendly conversations and his guidance. He traveled all over Europe, mostly on foot. He helped many people, from bishops to common folk, with their spiritual journeys.

Peter Faber believed that he was never alone, even when traveling by himself. He felt that saints and angels were always with him. He would ask the saint of the day and all the saints for help. He especially felt close to his guardian angel, who he saw as his main helper. He asked for their support in his own spiritual growth and in helping others. When he entered a new town, he would ask the angels and saints of that place for their help. He believed that with their help, he could enter even difficult places. He wanted to bring everyone he met closer to God.

Ignatius of Loyola asked Peter to come to Spain. Peter visited many cities there. In January 1542, the Pope sent him back to Germany. For the next year and a half, Peter worked to bring about reforms in cities like Speyer, Mainz, and Cologne. He gained the trust of many priests and helped many young men join the Jesuits, including Peter Canisius.

Between 1544 and 1546, Peter continued his work in Portugal and Spain. He helped establish the Society of Jesus in Portugal. He was a very powerful and inspiring preacher in both countries. He encouraged many young men to become priests. One of them was Francis Borgia, who also became a very important Jesuit leader.

A fellow Jesuit, Simão Rodrigues, said that Peter Faber had a special charm in dealing with people. He said Peter could become friends with people and gently lead them to love God.

Peter Faber's Death

In 1546, Pope Paul III asked Peter Faber to be an expert at an important meeting called the Council of Trent. Peter was only 40 years old, but he was very tired from his constant travels, which he always made on foot.

In April 1546, he left Spain to go to the Council. He reached Rome on July 17, 1546, very weak with a fever. He died on August 1, 1546. It is said that he died in the arms of Ignatius of Loyola.

Peter Faber's body was first buried in a church in Rome. Later, when that church was torn down to build a new one, his remains were moved. They are now in the crypt (an underground room) near the entrance of the Church of the Gesù in Rome.

Peter Faber's Writings

Peter Faber kept a diary of his spiritual life called his Memoriale. Most of it was written between 1542 and 1543. It starts with a quote from the Bible: "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." It reads like a series of conversations, mostly between God and Peter, with some thoughts from saints and his friends.

Peter Faber also wrote a text called "The Blessed Sacrament." In this writing, he shared strong arguments about God's existence and nature.

Honoring Saint Peter Faber

Even when Peter Faber was alive, people who knew him considered him a saint. Francis de Sales, another famous saint, always spoke of Peter Faber as a saint. Peter is remembered for traveling across Europe to help renew the Catholic faith. He was also known for his great skill in guiding people through spiritual exercises.

Peter Faber was officially declared "blessed" on September 5, 1872. His feast day, which is a day to celebrate him, is August 2 for the Jesuits. In 2006, he was honored as part of a special Jesuit Jubilee Year. This year celebrated the 500th anniversary of his birth, the 500th anniversary of Francis Xavier's birth, and the 450th anniversary of Ignatius of Loyola's death.

On his 77th birthday, December 17, 2013, Pope Francis announced that Peter Faber was a saint. Pope Francis used a special process for this. Peter Faber is considered one of Pope Francis's favorite saints. A few weeks before, Pope Francis had praised Peter Faber for his ability to talk with everyone, even those who disagreed with him. He also admired Peter's simple faith, kindness, and ability to make important decisions while still being gentle and loving.

Peter Faber's Legacy Today

Many places and programs are named after Saint Peter Faber:

• The Saint Peter Faber Jesuit Community at Boston College is a home for priests who are studying.
• Creighton University gives the Blessed Peter Faber Integrity Award. This award goes to someone who promotes honesty, fairness, peace, and understanding among different groups.
• Saint Peter Faber House at Gonzaga University is used for preparing religious retreats and developing programs.
• The Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality became part of Marquette University in 2005.
• The Peter Faber Chapel is the main space for the University of Scranton's Retreat Center.
• The St. Peter Faber conference room at Manresa House of Retreats in Louisiana is where men go for spiritual retreats.
• The School of Business at Australian Catholic University is called the Peter Faber School of Business.
• Faber Hall at Fordham University in New York is a student residence and office building.

A new book about the life of Saint Peter Faber was announced in 2016.

See also

In Spanish: Pedro Fabro para niños