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117.1
First Point
We
cannot sufficiently admire the faith of the martyr, Saint Peter, for he
possessed it perfectly even from his childhood and he died in its defense.
This saint was born of Manichean parents, yet they never could
convince him by promises or threats to follow their false religion, nor
could his childhood companions, who were heretical. He was only seven
years old when his uncle asked him what he had learned in school, and he
replied that he had learned what to believe about God, and thereupon
recited the Catholic profession of faith. When his uncle rejoined that he
should not believe any of this, he answered: I will believe it unto death;
and nothing will ever prevent me from believing it!
Is it not amazing to find such strong faith in a seven year old
child? Do you have such
faith, that nothing can prevent you from professing by your actions the
truths and maxims of the Gospel?
117.2
Second Point
This
saint's great faith led him to become a religious of Saint Dominic,
because this saint had founded his order to give the Church preachers to
combat heretics who at that time were seriously disturbing the Church.
Saint Peter was fortunate to receive the habit from the hands of Saint
Dominic himself.
On one occasion in community, he displayed his faith and confidence
in God. Two women saints came from heaven to visit him in his cell, and he
was accused of having allowed worldly women to visit him. As a result the
prior of the monastery had him put in prison. The saint endured this
calumny founded on a false and rash judgment, without offering any defense
and without saying a single word. But God who protects those who are
unjustly persecuted made his innocence known to his fellow religious.
Do you keep silence in a like manner when you are reproved for
faults which you did not commit? What you should do on such occasions, and
what you perhaps fail to do, is to say nothing to defend yourself and to
profit by the humiliation.
117.3
Third Point
This
saint displayed his faith openly by preaching against the heretics and
made a great many outstanding converts among them. God gave to his words,
inspired by faith, a very great holiness, and the crowds of people who
came to listen to his sermons were so large that he had to be carried into
the church on a litter.
All these conversions, together with his preaching, and the fact
that the Pope named him Inquisitor of the Faith, caused the heretics to
hate him so much that some of them set out to waylay him. They caught up
with him on the highroad and struck him a blow on the head with a sword.
He had just time enough before he died to repeat his profession of faith
and to write with a finger dipped in his own blood: I believe in God.
Do you have a faith as lively as that of this saint? You are bound
to excel in the spirit of faith, for you have to teach children the maxims
of the holy Gospel and the mysteries of our religion. Often say to God
with the holy apostles: Lord, increase our faith![i]
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