Born in 1521 in what is now the Netherlands, his father was a wealthy magistrate but his mother died when he was still a baby. 

At a relatively young age, he was sent to study at the University of Cologne where he earned a Master’s degree at the age of nineteen. 

There, he met Peter Faver, the first disciple of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and one of the founders of The Society of Jesus. Under his spiritual guidance, Canisius became the first Dutch Jesuit priest in 1541. 

For a half-century following the Protestant Reformation, Peter Canisius led the Catholic Reformation in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Bohemia. 

He was a popular preacher who restored lapsed Catholics and converted Protestants. Canisius founded numerous colleges and seminaries, teaching at many of them himself. 

He was also a great writer, and authored several books including Summary of Christian Doctrine, and two smaller works on the catechism, explaining the faith in a way everyone could understand. 

These helped launch the Catholic Press. During his lifetime, his instructions on catechism were translated into 150 languages and reprinted more than 200 times. 

Canisius also had a love for the apostolate life, found time to visit those in prison, and cared for the sick, especially the victims of the plague. 

He had great diplomatic skills, advising charity and moderation. Using all of his gifts in the service of The Lord, Peter Canisius was often called the Second Apostle of Germany, following St. Boniface. 

In 1591, at the age of 70, he had a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed, but he continued to preach and write with the help of a secretary. 

He died on this day in 1597.

St. Peter Canisius, please pray for us.