CrucisSt. Peter Canisius
St. Peter Canisius was born on 8 May 1521 at Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, and died on 21 December 1597 at Fribourg, Switzerland. As a young man he became one of the first followers of St. Ignatius of Loyola, joining the newly founded Society of Jesus. He threw himself into the renewal of the Catholic faith in the German-speaking lands at the height of the Reformation, preaching, teaching, founding colleges, and advising bishops and princes.
He is best remembered for his catechisms, clear and accessible summaries of Catholic doctrine that were translated into many languages and used for generations to instruct the faithful and answer Protestant objections. His tireless labors across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland earned him recognition as the 'Second Apostle of Germany.' He was canonized and simultaneously declared a Doctor of the Church in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.
Selected quotes
“Perseverance is the crown of all virtues; it matters not how many times you fall, only that you rise each time.”
“A Catholic who does not know his faith is disarmed before his enemies; knowledge of the faith is the armor of the soul.”
“Do not grieve that the world opposes the truth; the truth does not need the world's applause to remain true.”