Peter hailed from Imola, Italy, where he was educated and ordained priest by Camelius, the local Bishop. Later, he was consecrated Archbishop of Ravenna in 443. As a zealous pastor, he successfully checked the abuses that plagued his diocese, eliminated vestiges of paganism and revitalized the Church. This transformation was brought about through his inspiring sermons, which were short, simple, clear, precise and doctrinal coupled with practical applications of the Gospel to every day life. Due to this, Peter was affectionately called “Chrysologus” or “the golden worded.” His loyalty to the Church of Rome was outstanding. Peter battled hard to maintain the unity of the Church and persuaded Eutyches, a heretical Bishop, to submit himself to the teaching authority of the Pope. Peter was summoned to heaven on July 31, 450. He was declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729.
Reflection. Peter placed his God-given gifts of eloquence, knowledge and wisdom at the service of the Gospel. He rightly emphasized the importance of learning to understand God and revelation better. Knowledge, sacred or secular, is virtue while ignorance is its absence.
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit. (I Cor. 12: 7-8)
