Text is from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
Saint Peter Celestine.
Pope and Confessor.
Feast Day 19 May.
Double.
White Vestments.
English: Painting of Pope Celestine V.
Español: Pintura del Papa Celestino V.
Artist: Giulio Cessare Bedeschini.
Date: 1700.
Source: Museo de l'aquila, Italia.
Author: Giulio Cessare Bedeschini.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Among all the Pastors to whom Jesus lovingly committed the care of His Church, Saint Peter Celestine is the one who most particularly shows forth the virtue of humility, the foundation of all Holiness [Rule of Saint Benedict. Chapter Seven] according to Saint Benedict, his father in God.
Born in 1221, he retired into the desert when hardly adolescent (Gospel), and his virtues soon drew disciples round him. Such was the origin of The Branch of The Benedictine Order, known since under the name of "The Celestines", from the name which Saint Peter took when he became Pope in 1294.
At the age of seventy-two, he had to leave his sweet solitude, received full Sacerdotal power (Introit, Epistle) and occupied The Chair of Saint Peter (Communion), which had been vacant twenty-seven months. Raised to this eminent dignity, he thought himself incapable of bearing such a burden, and, "placing humility above that elevation" (Collect), he voluntarily resigned the highest dignity.
Saint Peter Celestine.
Pope and Confessor.
Available on YouTube at
He ended his days in contemplation, which his Soul craved for, and he died on 19 May 1296.
Following the example of Saint Peter Celestine, let us despise the honours of this World, in order to attain possession of the rewards promised to the humble (Collect).
Mass: Státuit.
Commemoration: Saint Pudentiana, by the Collects of The Mass: Dilexísti.
Gospel: Ecce nos reliquimus.
Pope S. Peter Celestine of course, is remembered as the last pope to have resigned his office until the papacy of Benedict XVI: but in fact, many, do not know that at least four popes, resigned their office, beginning with S. Pontian (D. 235 AD) up to P. Gregory VI (d. 1036).
ReplyDeletePeter Celestine was a very holy man, and founded an order of the Benedictines as Dom Gaspar notes, particularly dedicated to contemplation.
As Zephyrinus no doubt knows, his 5 month reign was hardly a success— he seemed to make bad administrative decisions an inexorable habit, and although there were capable advisers who could have helped him, he didn’t appear to follow their advice.. He also took up residence in Naples, which is over 220 km from the Roman Curia, and perhaps 3-4 days’ distance by horseback courier, and this left him completely disconnected from the timely and direct ruling of the Church at a crucial time. Residing in Naples also caused Peter Celestine to appear to be controlled by King Charles II of Naples, and in fact he consistently appointed persons to high church office that were King Charles’ recommended appointees.
Having taken office as pope July 5, 1294, he finally resigned December 12, only five months later. Dom Gaspar Lefebvre avoids mentioning that his successor, Boniface VIII, put him under essentially house arrest, some would call it imprisonment, but Boniface did allow two of his Benedictines to attend to Peter Celestine’s needs, and most biographers say he was not treated harshly. However, Boniface VIII knew the impracticality and bad judgment of Peter Celestine, and was rightly concerned that he might be kidnapped and installed as an anti-pope, perhaps by King Charles II, and the Catholic Church having just gone through two years without a pope and a near schism at that time, Boniface had reason to believe its organizational structure was tottering.
Peter Celestine passed away finally in May, 1296, roughly 18 months later, and was interred at ancient Sulmona Cathedral near Aquila. His shrine was visited by several popes, including Benedict XVI -Note by Dante P
Another riveting and pertinent historical contribution from our Rome Correspondent, Dante P. Many thanks, indeed. Let us remember that, even in the 13th-Century, there was discord and disinformation and dismay in The Church, The Vatican, and The Curia. “Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose”.
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