Peter of Honestis (de Honestis), called the Sinner

PIETRO degli Onesti (de Honestis), called PECCATORE. — Founder and first prior of the Canons Regular of S. Maria in Porto at Ravenna. Few but reliable details concerning P. are found in the ancient parchments preserved in the Biblioteca Classense of Ravenna. On 30 July 1106 P. was residing near the church situated on the Isola di Corizo, in the lagoon territory between Ravenna and the sea.

In the following years he is mentioned as rector, overseeing the restoration work on the church and the construction of a new cloister adjoining II. In 1114 P., together with some companions, lived in this cloister in perfect canonical common life. A document of the notary Ugo is signed by P. in his capacity as prior of S. Maria in Porto. He was the author of the statutes, established in agreement with his canons and approved as the Portuense Rule by Paschal II on 22 December 1116. In the petition for approval P. called himself Peccatore. Perhaps because of this title, which he attributed to himself out of humility, he was confused with Pier Damiano during the 14th–17th centuries and was also called «blessed» by them. He died between 10 September 1118 and 6 April 1119.

BIBL.: G. Pennotti, Generalis Sacri Ordinis clericorum Canonicorum Historia tripartita, Rome 1624, p. 451; M. Fantuzzi, Monumenti ravennati de' secoli di mezzo, II, Venice 1804, pp. 98, n. 48, and 240, n. 4; P. P. Kehr, Italia Pontificia, V. Aemilia, Berlin 1911, pp. 96–97; G. Mercati, Ricognizione del culto ab immemorabili del ven. Pietro Portuense, detto P. degli Onesti Peccatore, Rome 1911 (opinion for the S. Congr. dei Riti).

Nicola Widloecher

presided, at Vincennes, over a meeting of 29 masters of the University of Paris, convened by the King to obtain their opinion concerning the private view of Giovanni XXIII on the postponement of the beatific vision; and in 1335 he assisted Benedict XII in the preparatory studies for the bull Benedictus Deus (29 January 1336), with which the Pope decided the question.

The most important work is the commentary on the sen-

Cite this article

“PIETRO DEGLI ONESTI (DE HONESTIS), DETTO PECCATORE.” Enciclopedia Cattolica, vol. IX (1952), p. 876. Azione Romana digital edition, https://azioneromana.com/article/pietro-degli-onesti-de-honestis-detto-peccatore.