Peter of Anagni, Saint

PETER OF ANAGNI, Saint. - Of the princes of Salerno, he died on 3 August 1105. Having become a monk in his city, he was called to the papal Court for various assignments which, carried out successfully, earned him promotion to bishop of Anagni, where in 1062 he was consecrated by Alexander II himself.

In 1071 P. was sent to Constantinople as papal apocrisiary to Michael VII, whom he miraculously healed from a mortal wound, receiving rich gifts in return. Returning to his diocese, with these he was able to rebuild his Cathedral. Tired, however, and disgusted by the difficulties placed in the way of his apostolate, in 1097 P. abandoned his diocese in order to go with the Norman Crusaders, led by Bohemond of Taranto, to the liberation of the tomb of Christ. Having remained in Palestine even after the founding of the Latin Kingdom, he set out again only in 1102, passing back through Constantinople, through Palermo and finally through his old native city, where he died and was buried in the Cathedral. On 4 June 1109 Paschal II granted the bishops of Campania permission to celebrate the feast on 3 August.

Carlo Callovini