St. Peter Chrysologus, Doctor of the Church
406 - 450

He was born and died in Imola in northern Italy. Peter had a short life, but it was full of accomplishments. An adult convert, he later became a Deacon, then a Priest, and finally the Bishop of Ravenna in 433. He fought paganism and the Monophysite heresy, enforced reforms, and built several churches and ornate altars in his see. As a Preacher gifted with well- developed language skills, he was given given the name Chrysologus, referring to his "golden word". Known as The Doctor of Homilies, Peter was known for his short but inspired speeches; he is said to have been afraid of boring his audience. 176 of his homilies have survived; it is the strength of these beautiful explanations of the Incarnation, the Creed, the place of the Blessed Virgin Mary and John the Baptist in the great plan of salvation that led to his being proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII.

Peter believed in frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist and beautifully describes the sacrament.

"He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful."

"Today Christ works the first of his signs from heaven by turning water into wine. But water [mixed with wine] has still to be changed into the sacrament of his blood, so that Christ may offer spiritual drink from the chalice of his body, to fulfill the psalmist's prophecy: How excellent is my chalice, warming my spirit."

~ St. Peter Chrysologus

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