PETER OF MOGLIANO, BL.

Franciscan; b. Mogliano, in the March of Ancona, Italy, 1442; d. Camerino, Italy, July 25, 1490. Peter studied law at Perugia until 1464. Three years later, after hearing a sermon preached by the pious and zealous Franciscan observant, Dominic of Leonessa (d. 1497), at that time vicar-provincial of the Marches, Peter at once chose to enter the order. An exemplary and apostolic religious, he was assigned as companion to james of the marches. In 1472 the General Congregation of Aquila sent him to Crete as their representative. He was appointed three times (1477, 1483, and 1489) to be vicar-provincial in the Marches and once, in Rome (1474).

Peter was spiritual director to Bl. Baptista Varano (d. 1524) of the order of Poor Clares of Camerino, who left an account of his last days. On July 2, 1490, it was revealed to Peter that he was about to die. On July 4 as had been foretold, he was stricken with a raging fever. In spite of his suffering and the harassment of the devil, he retained a noble serenity throughout the ordeal and died advocating the observance of the rule.

Peter was at once venerated as a saint, and many miracles were attributed to him. In 1502 his relics and those of John of Parma were transported to the city of Camerino; later, following the suppression of the religious orders after 1860, they were transferred to the cathedral. His cult was confirmed in 1760.

Feast: July 30.

Bibliography: Archivum Franciscanum historicum 4 (1911) 329. Le opere spirituali della beata Battista Varani, ed. m. santoni (Camerino 1894) 61–101. l. oliger, Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. m. buchberger, 10 v. (Freiburg 1930–38) 8:169. j. l. baudot and l. chaussin, Vies des saints et des bienheueux selon l'ordre du calendrier avec l'historique des fêtes, 12 v. (Paris 1935–56) 7:622. lÉon of clary, Lives of the Saints and Blessed of the Three Orders of Saint Francis, 4 v. (Tauton, England 1885–87) 3:1–8. i. brandozzi, Il beato Pietro da Mogliano (Rome 1968).

[j. cambell]