PETER GONZALEZ, Blessed. – A Spanish Dominican popularly called St Elmo or St Telmo, born at Fromista (Palencia) towards the close of the 12th century, died at Tuy c. 1246.
Of noble family, supported by his uncle Tello Tellez de Meneses, bishop of Palencia, he was, while still young, a canon of the cathedral and later dean of the chapter. Dissolute and worldly, after a humiliating fall from his horse he changed his life and became a religious. He was confessor to Ferdinand III of Castile, whom he accompanied in the conquest of Córdoba (1236). He was a successful preacher and devoted himself especially to the evangelization of sailors, who began to invoke him under the name of St Elmo (derived from Erasmus, the patron of sailors). Benedict XIV confirmed and extended his cult (already decreed in 1254) in December 1741. Feast day 14 April.