St. Peter Chrysologus

From Imola to Bishop of Ravenna

St. Peter Chrysologus was born around 380 at Imola in northern Italy and was formed in the faith there under Bishop Cornelius, who ordained him a deacon. Around 433 he was made bishop of Ravenna, then the capital of the Western Roman Empire, where he enjoyed the confidence of the imperial court — notably the empress Galla Placidia — and of Pope St. Leo the Great.

The Golden-Worded Preacher

Peter earned the surname Chrysologus, 'golden-worded,' for his preaching. Nearly two hundred of his sermons survive: deliberately brief — he feared tiring his hearers — yet vivid, warm, and theologically rich, expounding the Scriptures, the Incarnation, the Creed, and the duties of Christian life. 'If you want God to know that you are hungry to hear him,' runs a theme dear to him, then prayer, fasting, and mercy must go together. His homilies remain a treasured witness to how the faith was taught and lived in the fifth-century Church.

Reform and Reply to Eutyches

As bishop he labored to root out the remnants of paganism and to correct abuses among his flock, and he took part in the great doctrinal struggles of his age. When the archimandrite Eutyches, condemned for denying the two natures of Christ, wrote seeking his support, Peter replied by urging him to accept the judgment of the bishop of Rome — an often-cited early witness to Roman primacy.

Rest in Imola and Recognition as Doctor

According to the tradition of his see, Peter died around 450 while visiting Imola, his native city, and was buried there in the church of St. Cassian, where his relics remain in the crypt of Imola's cathedral. Venerated as a pre-Congregation saint, he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. His feast is celebrated on July 30, and he is honored as a patron of preachers.

Significance

Peter Chrysologus proved that a sermon does not need to be long to be powerful. His brief, warm, and vivid preaching on Scripture, the Creed, and Christian living still teaches readers how prayer, fasting, and mercy belong together. His counsel that a teacher condemned for error accept the judgment of the bishop of Rome also reflects his love for the unity of the Church, making him a fitting patron for preachers and all who hand on the faith.