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| Blessed Pietro of Gubbio, Pray for us ! |
⛪ Memorial :
• 29 October (Augustinians; Diocese of Gubbio, Italy)
⛪ Born :
• Early 13th century in Gubbio, Umbria, Italy
⛪ Died :
• Between 1306 and 1322 in Gubbio, Umbria, Italy • Buried in the common grave of friars in the center of the choir area in the Augustinian church in Gubbio • Legend says that one day soon after his burial, the monks were in the choir, sang the Te Deum, and heard a voice from the tomb that responded: Te Dominum confitemur! (Lord, we thank you!); the frightened brothers opened the tomb and found the body of Blessed Peter on his knees, looking up and hands crossed on his chest • Relics still enshrined in the Augustinian church
He was born in the first half of the thirteenth century in Gubbio by the noble family of Ghigensi. Educated in a Christian manner, he completed his studies in Perugia and Paris, graduating in law. He practiced the legal profession with great competence and charity, earning the reputation of honesty and righteousness. He put his profession above all at the service of the poor and poor families. A brilliant man of law, around the age of 40, met the Augustinian friars, who arrived in Gubbio, in 1250, from the hermitage of Brettino (Fano); enthusiastic about their austere and charitable life, he wanted to share it by professing the Rule of St. Augustine and thus becoming a lawyer at the service of God and the Church. Ordained priest, his commitment and his zeal imposed him on the attention of his superiors who entrusted him with roles of responsibility. According to tradition, he was Vicar General of the Order and, with this title, was sent by the Prior General of the Augustinian Order as Visitor to support and encourage the new communities of France, leaving testimony of balance and holiness everywhere. Tradition states that in the spirit of humility and penitence, he visited those communities who were always barefoot. Also famous as a preacher both for the great cultural preparation and for the simplicity of his exposition, understandable to all, he imposed himself for his great capacity for prayer and charity. Tradition states that in the spirit of humility and penitence, he visited those communities who were always barefoot. Also famous as a preacher both for the great cultural preparation and for the simplicity of his exposition, understandable to all, he imposed himself for his great capacity for prayer and charity. Tradition states that in the spirit of humility and penitence, he visited those communities who were always barefoot. Also famous as a preacher both for the great cultural preparation and for the simplicity of his exposition, understandable to all, he imposed himself for his great capacity for prayer and charity.
He spent the last part of his life in the convent of Gubbio, where he died in the year 1287, at the age of about 75 years. He was buried in the common tomb of the friars, at the center of the choir of the Church of St. Augustine. It is said that, after his death, while the friars were chanting in the choir, intoned the Te Deum, a voice was heard from the tomb that answered: Te Dominum confitemur! Frightened, the friars opened the sepulcher and found the body of the Blessed Peter on his knees, with his eyes upwards and his hands crossed on his chest. And in this position was depicted in various lithographs of the seventeenth century.
Pope Pius IX in 1874 recognized the cult "ab immemorabili". The feast of Blessed Peter is celebrated on October 29 and in Gubbio his body is revered and invoked with deep devotion. On the occasion of his feast, there is also the urn of another Augustinian brother, venerated in the same Church: the one containing the incorrupt body of Blessed Francis, an Augustinian oblate of the fifteenth century.
The Martyrologium Romanum places the date of worship for the universal Church on 23 March, while the Order of Saint Augustine and the diocese of Gubbio commemorate it on 29 October.
