Peter Gonzalez
Encyclopedia
Blessed Peter González, O.P.
, sometimes referred to as Pedro González Telmo, Saint Telmo, or Saint Elmo, was a Spanish
Dominican
friar
and priest, born in 1190 in Astorga
, León
, Spain
.
González was educated by his uncle, the Bishop of Astorga, who gave him a canonry when he was very young. Later he resigned this position and entered the Dominican Order
, where he became a renowned preacher; crowds gathered to hear him and numberless conversions were the result of his efforts. He accompanied the King, Saint Ferdinand III of Castile
and Leon
on his expeditions against the Moors
, but his real ambition was to preach to the poor.
He devoted the remainder of his life to the instruction and conversion of the ignorant and of the mariners in Galicia and along the coast of Spain. He died on April 15, 1246, at Tui
and is buried in the local cathedral. He was beatified in 1254 by Pope Innocent IV
.
Although his cult was confirmed in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV
and despite his common epithet of "saint," Blessed Peter was never formally canonized. The diminutive "Elmo" (or "Telmo") belongs properly to the martyr-bishop Saint Erasmus (died c. 303), one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
, of whose name "Elmo" is a contraction. However, as St Erasmus is the patron
of sailors
generally and Peter González of Spanish
and Portuguese
sailors specifically, they have both been popularly invoked as "Saint Elmo."
He was buried at the Cathedral of Tui, Galicia
.
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, sometimes referred to as Pedro González Telmo, Saint Telmo, or Saint Elmo, was a Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
and priest, born in 1190 in Astorga
Astorga, Spain
Astorga is a town in the province of León, northern Spain. It lies southwest of the provincial capital of León, and is the head of the council of La Maragatería. The river Tuerto flows through it. , its population was about 12,100 people....
, León
León (province)
León is a province of northwestern Spain, in the northwestern part of the autonomous community of Castile and León.About one quarter of its population of 500,200 lives in the capital, León. The weather is cold and dry during the winter....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
González was educated by his uncle, the Bishop of Astorga, who gave him a canonry when he was very young. Later he resigned this position and entered the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
, where he became a renowned preacher; crowds gathered to hear him and numberless conversions were the result of his efforts. He accompanied the King, Saint Ferdinand III of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
and Leon
Kingdom of León
The Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
on his expeditions against the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
, but his real ambition was to preach to the poor.
He devoted the remainder of his life to the instruction and conversion of the ignorant and of the mariners in Galicia and along the coast of Spain. He died on April 15, 1246, at Tui
Tui, Galicia
Tui , in Spanish Tuy, is a town in Galicia , in the province of Pontevedra. It is located on the left bank of the Minho River, facing the Portuguese town of Valença....
and is buried in the local cathedral. He was beatified in 1254 by Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
.
Although his cult was confirmed in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV
Pope Benedict XIV , born Prospero Lorenzo Lambertini, was Pope from 17 August 1740 to 3 May 1758.-Life:...
and despite his common epithet of "saint," Blessed Peter was never formally canonized. The diminutive "Elmo" (or "Telmo") belongs properly to the martyr-bishop Saint Erasmus (died c. 303), one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers
Fourteen Holy Helpers
The Fourteen Holy Helpers are a group of saints venerated together in Roman Catholicism because their intercession is believed to be particularly effective, especially against various diseases...
, of whose name "Elmo" is a contraction. However, as St Erasmus is the patron
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of sailors
Sailors
Sailors is the plural form of Sailor, or mariner.Sailors may also refer to:*Sailors , a 1964 Swedish film*Ken Sailors , American basketball playerSports teams*Erie Sailors, baseball teams in Pennsylvania, USA...
generally and Peter González of Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
and Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
sailors specifically, they have both been popularly invoked as "Saint Elmo."
He was buried at the Cathedral of Tui, Galicia
Tui, Galicia
Tui , in Spanish Tuy, is a town in Galicia , in the province of Pontevedra. It is located on the left bank of the Minho River, facing the Portuguese town of Valença....
.