December 21

Saint Peter Canisius was born on May 8, 1521, in Nijmegen in the Duchy of Guelders (now in the Netherlands). Sent to study at the University of Cologne, he earned his master’s degree at nineteen and there met Peter Faber, who guided him into the newly founded Society of Jesus. In 1543 he became the first Dutch Jesuit, was ordained a priest in 1546, and soon poured himself out for the renewal of Catholic life amid the turmoil of the Reformation. Traveling tirelessly through Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Switzerland, and beyond, he preached with clarity and charity, taught in universities, and helped establish Jesuit colleges that formed generations in faith and learning. His enduring gift to the Church was his catechisms, especially the German Catechism, which made Catholic doctrine accessible to ordinary people and strengthened countless communities. Deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, he also fostered Marian prayer and sound teaching. After a stroke late in life, he continued to write and preach until his death in Fribourg on December 21, 1597. He is honored as a Doctor of the Church and is patron of the Canisius-Kolleg Berlin. His feast day is December 21.