The Martyred Inquisitor
Subtitle: The Life and Cult of Peter of Verona
By: by Donald Prudlo.
Series: Church, faith and culture in the medieval west
Publisher: Ashgate Pub. Ltd.
Published: 2007
Place of publication: Aldershot, Hants, England; Burlington, VT
Language: eng
ISBN-13: 9780754662563
Subjects: Peter Martyr, -- Saint, -- ca. 1205-1252
Description: Peter of Verona was one of the central Dominican saints of the thirteenth century, in some cases eclipsing Dominic himself. Born in Verona around 1206 to those with Cathar sympathies, he became a convert to Catholicism. As one of the first generations of Dominicans, he represents aspects of their primitive history both as a spellbinding preacher and as one of the earliest and most famous papal inquisitors. In 1252, shortly after his official appointment to the post of inquisitor for Lombardy, Peter was assassinated at the hands of a cabal of Milanese heretics. That there is no modern monograph on Peter represents a considerable lacuna in the study of medieval saints. This work therefore fills a very important gap, in both thirteenth century hagiographical studies, and studies of the interrelationship of heresy and imperial politics in the mid-thirteenth century. The first half of the book is a systematic study of the stages in the life, miracles and posthumous cult of Peter of Verona. Part One deals with many controversial issues of Peter's life, such as his role in the growth of the Dominican order and related confraternities in Lombardy and Tuscany, his status as papal inquisitor and his preaching. Part Two explores the cult of Peter Martyr. The brief time which elapsed between death and canonization makes Peter Martyr an especially interesting case in the field of cult study as for him, life led immediately to cult: a cult dominated by those who knew him personally. The second half of the book is a translation into English of the major primary sources concerning Peter. These will be of interest to students of papal canonization, the Dominican order, the Inquisition, hagiography, and local history.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.
Table of contents: title: Peter of Verona; title: The false start : the early life of Peter of Verona; title: Youth and family; title: Peter as a young Dominican; title: Peter the preacher; title: Practicing and preaching : the later life and death of Peter of Verona; title: Peter : founder and peacemaker; title: Inquisition and martyrdom; title: The personality of Peter of Verona; title: Saint Peter Martyr; title: Sermons in stone : the canonization of Peter of Verona and the framework of his cult; title: Reaction to Peter's death; title: The beginnings of veneration; title: Canonization; title: The framers of a cult : the papacy; title: The framers of a cult : the Dominicans; title: A saint with a difference : the elaboration of Peter's cult; title: Dominic's perfect follower : preaching the preacher; title: Peter : battler against heresy; title: Christological parallels; title: Peter and Marian devotion; title: The triple crown; title: Preaching the triple crown; title: The new martyr; title: Peter : the anti-Francis; title: The bleeding loom : Peter's cult realized; title: Organizations of laity; title: Kings and communes; title: Miracle and response; title: Pilgrimage; title: Healing and protection; title: Rituals and relics; title: Peter's cult attacked and defended; title: Epilogue: The life and death of a cult.