| Saint Peter Fourier, C.R.S.A. | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 30, 1565 Mirecourt |
| Died | December 9, 1640 |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 1730 by Pope Benedict XIII |
| Canonized | 1897 by Pope Leo XIII |
| Feast | December 9 |
Saint Peter Fourier, C.R.S.A., (French: Pierre Fourier) (November 30, 1565, Mirecourt - December 9, 1640) was a French canon regular who is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, who had served as a pastor in Mattaincourt (Vosges), and who also helped to found a religious congregation of canonesses dedicated to the care of poor children. [1]
He began his monastic career as a canon regular in the abbey at Chaumousey, and was ordained a priest at the extraordinary age of twenty-four. He was a scholastic theologian who knew the Summa Theologica by heart. In 1597, he was sent to Mattaincourt to shore up religious orthodoxy (to counter nascent Protestantism in the area). However, he instituted two major reforms that showed his intelligence and concern for his flock. The first of these was to improve the financial lives of his community by setting up a community bank. His second innovation was in his preaching style, where he employed dialogues. He had his pupils engage in dialectics on Sundays on the various virtues and vices in practice by the congregation. This style was immensely successful and the entire region remained loyal to the Catholic Church.
Along with Blessed Alix LeClerc, he founded the Canonesses of St. Augustine of the Congregation of Notre Dame, who were committed to the free education of children. The Canonesses spread throughout France, Germany, and England. He himself was elected as abbot of his religious community, and helped lead a reform of the canonical life of the region. He hoped to guide his fellow canons to caring for children, as the canonesses were doing. This vision never took root among the men, however.
His vision was exported to Canada by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, who was the president of a confraternity of volunteers associated with the work of the congregation. Her work has been highly successful both there and in the United States of America. Peter himself was beatified by Pope Benedict XIII in 1730 and canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1897. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 9.