Saint Peter Chrysologus Patron Saint of Homilists

I decided to write today about Saint Peter Chrysologus from the fifth century because today (July 30) is an optional feast in the Church for him. Since I knew nothing about him, I took this opportunity to check him out. 

Saint Peter Chrysologus was a simple young man named the Bishop of a Diocese that was plagued by heresy. He took as his life’s mission to root out the heresy and plant the seeds of true faith in God. Saint Peter Chrysologus was named a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729.

He did this mostly through his preaching. He was believed to be able to change hearts by merely preaching the Word of God.

Saint Peter Chrysologus was most noted for his pithy short homilies that taught the truths of the faith. He could change the hearts of the people he served by his sermons alone. His pithy sayings accurately captured the Church’s truths that inspired Pope Benedict to name him a Doctor of the Church.

It is no surprise that he is the patron saint of homilists. Surely, we should remember him and ask his intercession for all who are entrusted with preaching God’s Word. Our world today needs the inspiration of inspiring preachers, perhaps more than any other time in the history of the Church.

Let’s look for inspiration today from a few of Saint Peter Chrysologus often quoted remarks.

He (Jesus) is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulcher, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful.

The Magi are filled with awe by what they see; heaven on earth and earth in heaven; man in God and God in man; they see enclosed in a tiny body the One whom the entire world cannot contain.

Listen to the Lord’s appeal: Come, then, return to me and learn to know me as your father, who repays good for evil, love for injury, and boundless charity for piercing wounds.

May your day be blessed. We pray for all preachers of the Word of God. May they know and hold with reverence their role as a link between God and His faithful.

In God’s Unending Love,

Gwen