Peter of Tarentaise
Encyclopedia
Peter of Tarentaise was a Roman Catholic abbot
and bishop
. He has been declared a saint
by that church, with a feast day of May 8.
, France
, near Vienne, a town in the Rhône-Alpes
mountains. He joined the Cistercian monastic order, and in so doing set a model for several other members of his family. In 1132, he became the abbot of the monastery at Tamié
in the Tarentaise area of Savoy
, France. In 1142, he reluctantly accepted the position as the Bishop of Tarentaise. In that capacity, he applied the Cistercian principles he had learned as an abbott to restore the then-decaying diocese, and met with a good deal of success.
His specific concerns included the welfare of travelers to and from Switzerland
and Italy
. For their convenience, he rebuilt an inadequate hospice at Little St Bernard Pass
. He also funded a charity which distributed food to farms in the surrounding hills during May. This would take the name of pain de Mai ("May bread") and became a tradition continued in the region until the French Revolution
.
Peter does not seem to have been particularly happy as a bishop, however. It was reported that in 1155 he disappeared for a year, only to be found in a remote abbey in Switzerland. He also frequently visited the Grand Chartreuse monastery while bishop. There, he was looked after by a monk who would later become known as Saint Hugh of Lincoln
.
Peter also worked on behalf of Pope Alexander III
in his struggles with Antipope Victor
, who was contending for the position of Pope. Because of these efforts, Peter was later appointed to assist in negotiations between King Louis VII of France
and King Henry II of England
. He died while doing so, at the monastery at Bellevaux
, France, in 1174.
, having been canonized
in 1191. His feast day is May 8.
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...
and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. He has been declared 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...
by that church, with a feast day of May 8.
Biography
Peter was born in 1102 at Saint-Maurice-l'ExilSaint-Maurice-l'Exil
Saint-Maurice-l'Exil is a commune in the Isère department in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, near Vienne, a town in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
mountains. He joined the Cistercian monastic order, and in so doing set a model for several other members of his family. In 1132, he became the abbot of the monastery at Tamié
Tamié Abbey
Tamié Abbey is a Cistercian monastery, located in the Bauges, Savoie, France. It was founded in 1132, as a daughter house of Bonnevaux Abbey, by Peter of Tarentaise, who was also the first abbot....
in the Tarentaise area of Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
, France. In 1142, he reluctantly accepted the position as the Bishop of Tarentaise. In that capacity, he applied the Cistercian principles he had learned as an abbott to restore the then-decaying diocese, and met with a good deal of success.
His specific concerns included the welfare of travelers to and from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. For their convenience, he rebuilt an inadequate hospice at Little St Bernard Pass
Little St Bernard Pass
The Little St Bernard Pass is a mountain pass in the Alps on the France–Italy border. Its saddle is at 2188 metres above sea level. It is located between Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy to the south of the Mont Blanc Massif, precisely on the main alpine watershed. There is also a Great St...
. He also funded a charity which distributed food to farms in the surrounding hills during May. This would take the name of pain de Mai ("May bread") and became a tradition continued in the region until the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.
Peter does not seem to have been particularly happy as a bishop, however. It was reported that in 1155 he disappeared for a year, only to be found in a remote abbey in Switzerland. He also frequently visited the Grand Chartreuse monastery while bishop. There, he was looked after by a monk who would later become known as Saint Hugh of Lincoln
Hugh of Lincoln
Hugh of Lincoln was at the time of the Reformation the best-known English saint after Thomas Becket.-Life:...
.
Peter also worked on behalf of Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
in his struggles with Antipope Victor
Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164)
Victor IV , born Octavian or Octavianus: Ottaviano dei Crescenzi Ottaviani di Monticelli, was the cardinal priest of Santa Cecilia before he was elected as a Ghibelline antipope in 1159, following the death of Pope Adrian IV and the election of Alexander III...
, who was contending for the position of Pope. Because of these efforts, Peter was later appointed to assist in negotiations between King Louis VII of France
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
and King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. He died while doing so, at the monastery at Bellevaux
Bellevaux
Bellevaux is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, France, in 1174.
Veneration
He is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman 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...
, having been 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...
in 1191. His feast day is May 8.