PIETRO da VERONA, santo. — Dominican martyr, born at Verona at the beginning of the 13th century, died in the thicket of Farga (Seveso, Milan) on 6 April 1252.
Coming from a heretical family, he entered the Dominican Order at Bologna, where he had been sent to attend the University (ca. 1221–22). From 1232 he was papal envoy to Milan, where he founded the «Società della Fede» and «della Vergine» for the defense of religion against the heretics. Around
1240 he was prior at Asti; in 1241, at Piacenza. During the two-year period 1244–45 he preached in Florence, where he came to know, supported, and defended the ss. Founders of the Order of the Servites. He also preached in Rome, the Marches, and Romagna; in 1249 he acted as peacemaker at Rimini. In 1251 he was sent as papal envoy to Cremona, and in the same year became prior at Como and papal inquisitor at Como and Milan. His tenacity in demanding the implementation of the papal decrees against the heretics, and the fruits of his preaching, aroused the hatred of the Ghibellines and Cathars, who had him killed near Farga on the road to Cantù, while he was traveling from Como to Milan, sealing his creed with his blood. He was canonized the following year (25 March 1253) by Innocent IV. The relics of the Saint are preserved in the Portinari Chapel in S. Eustorgio (Milan). Feast on 29 April. — Vedi tav. XCIX.
48. Studies: P
T. Campana, Storia di s. P. M. di Verona, Milan 1741; S. Orlandi, Il VII centenario della predicazione di s. P. M. a Firenze (1245-1945), in Memorie Domenicane, 63 (1946), pp. 26–41, 59–87 and 64 (1947), pp. 31–48, 109–36, 170–208; G. Meersseman, in Arch. Fr. Praed., 21 (1951), pp. 51–196; anon. Una vita per il credo, notizie biografiche storiche artistiche nel VII centenario del martirio di s. P. da V., Seveso 1952. Abele RedigondaPIETRO ARSBUE, santo. — Spanish martyr, born at Epila (Aragon) in 1442, died at Saragossa on 15 September 1485.
Descended from a noble family, he completed studies in canon and civil law at Bologna. Returning to his homeland, he became a regular canon of the cathedral of Saragossa (1474), where he distinguished himself through austerity of life, a spirit of prayer, and charity toward the poor. When Ferdinand the Catholic established the tribunal of the Inquisition (1484), he was appointed inquisitor for Aragon together with the Dominican Gaspare Inglar. The energy he displayed in his office aroused the anger of Jewish circles against him. Attacked and stabbed in the Cathedral by two Jewish emissaries while he was praying on the night of 14 September 1485, he died the following day. Canonized on 29 June 1867. Feast on 17 September.