The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

pious endeavors for the conversion of the infidels, burning with a holy
desire of martyrdom. He begged earnestly of his Order to be released
from the burden of his generalship: but by his tears could only obtain
the grant of a vicar to assist him in the discharge of it. He employed
himself in the meanest offices of his convent, and coveted above all
things to have the distribution of the daily alms at the gate of the
monastery: he at the same time instructed the poor in the knowledge of
God and in virtue. St. Louis IX. of France wrote frequently to him, and
desired much to see him. The saint waited on him in Languedoc, in the
year 1243, and the king, who tenderly embraced him, requested him to
accompany him in his expedition to recover the Holy Land. St. Peter
earnestly desired it, but was hindered by sickness, with which he was
continually afflicted during the last years of his life, the effect of
his fatigues and austerities, and he bore it with incomparable patience.
In 1249, he resigned the offices of Ransomer and General, which was six
or seven years before his death. This happened on Christmas-day, in
1256. In his agony, he tenderly exhorted his religious to perseverance,
and concluded with those words of the psalmist: _Our Lord hath sent
redemption to his people; he hath commanded his covenant forever_.[5] He
then recommended his soul to God by that charity with which Christ came
from heaven to redeem us from the captivity of the devil, and melting
into tears of compunction and divine love, he expired, being in the
sixty-seventh year of his age. His relics are honored by many miracles.
He was canonized by pope Urban VIII. His festival was appointed by
Clement VIII. to be kept on the 31st of January.
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Charity towards all mankind was a distinguishing feature in the
character of the saints. This benevolent virtue so entirely possessed
their hearts, that they were constantly disposed to sacrifice even their
lives to the relief and assistance of others. Zealously employed in
removing their temporal necessities, they labored with redoubled vigor
to succor their spiritual wants, {317} by rooting out from their souls
the dominion of sin, and substituting in its room the kingdom of God's
grace. Ingratitude and ill-treatment, which was the return they
frequently met with for their charitable endeavors, were not able to
allay their ardent zeal: they considered men on these occasions as
patients under the pressure of diseases, more properly the object of
compassion than of resentment. They recommended them to God in their
private devotions, and earnestly besought his mercy in their favor. This
conduct of the saints, extraordinary as it is, ceases to appear
surprising when we recollect the powerful arguments our Blessed Saviour
made use of to excite us to the love of our neighbor. But how shall we
justify our unfeeling hard-heartedness, that seeks every trifling
pretence to exempt us from the duty of succoring the unfortunate? Have