SAINT PETER FOURIER. - Augustinian canon, parish priest, founder of the Augustinian Canonesses of Our Lady, reformer of canonical life, born at Mirecourt in the Duchy of Lorraine on 30 November 1565.
He pursued classical and ecclesiastical studies twice over at the Jesuit college in Pont-à-Mousson. In 1586 he professed vows at the abbey of Chamoussey and was ordained priest on 23 February 1589. His exemplary religious observance aroused envy among his more relaxed confrères, and the abbot assigned him to parochial ministry. Among three parishes offered for his free choice, he opted for Mattaincourt, where faith and good morals had nearly vanished; within a short time they flourished again, and for four decades he tirelessly promoted the religious and social welfare of the town. In 1598 Alix Le Clerc, Blessed, together with four other young women of Mattaincourt, aspired to the religious life with the aim of Christian education and free instruction for poor girls. Fourier supported their holy initiative but encountered many and grave difficulties. Strict claustration was still regarded as incompatible with teaching external pupils. As early as 1617 Fourier had drawn up the rule of life for his zealous daughters, which was approved by Urban VIII in 1628. In the same year the Constitutions drawn up by Fourier for the reform of canonical life likewise received papal sanction and were accepted by various abbeys, which, united together, formed the new Congregation of Our Saviour. The war for the annexation of Lorraine to France, together with plague and famine, devastated the duchy. Fourier continued his charitable work until, in order to remain loyal to the ruling house, he was forced into exile. He took refuge at Gray (Haute-Saône), where he died on 9 December 1640. He was one of the most
zealous preachers of his time and soon became renowned in northern Italy; he was highly esteemed by St Vincent Ferrer. A strict observer of religious discipline, in 1427 he was appointed by his master general to reform the convents of Sicily. At the invitation of Eugenius IV he took part in the Council of Florence (1439) and contributed substantially to the theological work for the union of the Greek Church. Appointed by the same pope apostolic visitor of the Kingdom of Sicily, he set about reforming the religious orders and achieved excellent results through his gentleness and firmness. Pius VI approved his cult and permitted the Dominican Order to celebrate his feast.