Peter Chrysologus bishop and doctor of the Church (5th century)

Biography

They say that he sometimes lost his senses in the fervor of his sermons. For this reason the Church declared him "Doctor" in the year 1729. Many lapidary phrases of spiritual life and devotion to the Virgin remain from him, such as this one: "HE WHO LAUGHES WITH THE DEVIL WILL NOT ENJOY CHRIST." The details of his life go into legend. The little truth that can be said about him is the following: that he was born around the year 380 in Imola in the region of Emilia, Italy, and that he was part of the population's clergy. In the year 424 he was elected Bishop of Ravenna and instructed his flock, of which he was a very zealous pastor, with abundant sermons and writings. He enjoyed the favor of Emperor Valentinian III and his mother, Galla Plácida, as well as Popes Sixtus and Leo the Great. The fruit of their labors was the total extirpation of the remains of paganism, still latent at that time. He died in Immola, Italy on December 2, probably in the year 450.