San Pietro Crisologo, Saint of the day for 5 November

Saint of the day for November 5
(about 406 - about 450)
Audio file
The story of San Pietro Crisologo

A man who vigorously pursues a goal can produce results far beyond his expectations and intentions. So it was with Pietro "delle Parole d'Oro", as he was called, who as a young man became bishop of Ravenna, capital of the Western empire.

At that time there were abuses and vestiges of paganism evident in his diocese, and this Peter was determined to fight and win. His main weapon was the short sermon, and many of them have come down to us. They do not contain a great originality of thought. They are, however, full of moral applications, sound in doctrine, and historically significant as they reveal Christian life in 13th century Ravenna. The content of his sermons was so authentic that some XNUMX centuries later he was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII. He who had seriously tried to teach and motivate his flock was recognized as a teacher of the universal Church.

In addition to his zeal in the exercise of his office, Pietro Crisologo was distinguished by a ferocious loyalty to the Church, not only in his teaching, but also in his authority. He viewed learning not as a mere opportunity, but as an obligation for all, both as a development of God-given faculties and as a solid support for the worship of God.

Some time before his death, around 450 AD, San Pietro Crisologo returned to his hometown of Imola in northern Italy.

Reflection

Most likely, it was the attitude of St. Peter Chrysologus towards knowledge that gave substance to his exhortations. Besides virtue, learning, in his opinion, was the greatest improvement for the human mind and the support of true religion. Ignorance is not a virtue, nor is anti-intellectualism. Knowledge is neither more nor less a reason for pride in physical, administrative or financial abilities. Being fully human means expanding our knowledge, sacred or secular, based on our talent and opportunity.