Peter Fourier
Encyclopedia
Saint
Peter Fourier, C.R.S.A., (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.
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 dialogue
s. He had his pupils engage in dialectic
s 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.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
Peter Fourier, C.R.S.A., (November 30, 1565, Mirecourt
Mirecourt
Mirecourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France. Mirecourt is known for lace-making and the manufacture of musical instruments, particularly those of the violin family...
- December 9, 1640) was a French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
canon regular who is honored as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, who had served as a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
in Mattaincourt
Mattaincourt
Mattaincourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Mattaincurtiens.-Geography:Mattaincourt lies on the southern part of the Lorraine Plateau, in a wooded area of gentle hills known as the Vôge. It is some to the east-northeast of Vittel and...
(Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
), and who also helped to found a religious congregation of canonesses dedicated to the care of poor children.
He began his monastic career as a canon regular in the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
at Chaumousey
Chaumousey
Chaumousey is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
, and was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
a priest at the extraordinary age of twenty-four. He was a scholastic theologian who knew the Summa Theologica
Summa Theologica
The Summa Theologiæ is the best-known work of Thomas Aquinas , and although unfinished, "one of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature." It is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main...
by heart. In 1597, he was sent to Mattaincourt to shore up religious orthodoxy (to counter nascent Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
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 dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
s. He had his pupils engage in dialectic
Dialectic
Dialectic is a method of argument for resolving disagreement that has been central to Indic and European philosophy since antiquity. The word dialectic originated in Ancient Greece, and was made popular by Plato in the Socratic dialogues...
s 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
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
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
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
by Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys
Marguerite Bourgeoys
Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys was the founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame.- Biography :...
, who was the president of a confraternity
Confraternity
A confraternity is normally a Roman Catholic or Orthodox organization of lay people created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety, and approved by the Church hierarchy...
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
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
in 1730 and canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
in 1897. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 9.