Saint Peter Igneus
Encyclopedia
Saint Peter Igneus was an Italian Benedictine
monk of the congregation of the Vallombrosians, abbot and Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He is often referred to as a member of the Aldobrandini family but this familiar denomination is not attested in the contemporary sources.
The struggle waged against simony
in the eleventh century led to violent scenes in several Italian cities. At Florence
, Bishop Peter Mezzobarbo, known also as Peter of Pavia, (not to be confused with Pietro da Pavia
who lived a century later) was publicly accused of simoniacal acquisition of the episcopal dignity. As he strenuously denied the charge and had numerous and prominent supporters, the controversy caused intense agitation at Florence. The Vallombrosian monks were his chief accusers, and upon the insistence of the people for proof, the judgment of God, or trial by fire, was resorted to. The Abbot St. John Gualbert
designated for the test Peter Aldobrandini, who successfully underwent the ordeal (1068), hence called "Igneus", or Fire-tried. This triumph of the monks was followed by confession on the part of the bishop.
Peter Igneus subsequently became abbot of S. Salvatore in Fucecchio (retained the post until 1081), and in 1072 Cardinal Bishop of Albano.
During the pontificate of Gregory VII
he was entrusted with important missions. In 1079 he proceeded to Germany as papal legate
with the Bishop of Padua to mediate between the rivals Emperor Henry IV and Rudolf of Swabia. Upon the renewal of the excommunication against Henry IV at Salerno
in 1084, pope Gregory VII designated him as one of the two envoys sent to France for the promulgation of the sentence. He subscribed the bull of Urban II on July 8, 1089 and is attested for the last time in the papal curia in September 1089.
He died on November 11, 1089.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk of the congregation of the Vallombrosians, abbot and Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He is often referred to as a member of the Aldobrandini family but this familiar denomination is not attested in the contemporary sources.
The struggle waged against simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
in the eleventh century led to violent scenes in several Italian cities. At Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Bishop Peter Mezzobarbo, known also as Peter of Pavia, (not to be confused with Pietro da Pavia
Pietro da Pavia
Pietro da Pavia, Can.Reg. was bishop-elect of Meaux , Cardinal-Priest of S. Crisogono and finally Cardinal-Bishop of Tusculum . He was papal legate, together with Henri de Marsiac, in southern France against Cathars and Waldenses 1174–1178. He participated in the Third Lateran Council in 1179...
who lived a century later) was publicly accused of simoniacal acquisition of the episcopal dignity. As he strenuously denied the charge and had numerous and prominent supporters, the controversy caused intense agitation at Florence. The Vallombrosian monks were his chief accusers, and upon the insistence of the people for proof, the judgment of God, or trial by fire, was resorted to. The Abbot St. John Gualbert
St. John Gualbert
John Gualbert , also known as Giovanni Gualberto or John Gualberto, was an Italian Roman Catholic saint, the founder of the Vallumbrosan Order. He was a member of the Visdomini family of Florentine nobility. One Good Friday he was entering Florence accompanied by armed followers, when in a narrow...
designated for the test Peter Aldobrandini, who successfully underwent the ordeal (1068), hence called "Igneus", or Fire-tried. This triumph of the monks was followed by confession on the part of the bishop.
Peter Igneus subsequently became abbot of S. Salvatore in Fucecchio (retained the post until 1081), and in 1072 Cardinal Bishop of Albano.
During the pontificate of Gregory VII
Pope Gregory VII
Pope St. Gregory VII , born Hildebrand of Sovana , was Pope from April 22, 1073, until his death. One of the great reforming popes, he is perhaps best known for the part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor affirming the primacy of the papal...
he was entrusted with important missions. In 1079 he proceeded to Germany as papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
with the Bishop of Padua to mediate between the rivals Emperor Henry IV and Rudolf of Swabia. Upon the renewal of the excommunication against Henry IV at Salerno
Salerno
Salerno is a city and comune in Campania and is the capital of the province of the same name. It is located on the Gulf of Salerno on the Tyrrhenian Sea....
in 1084, pope Gregory VII designated him as one of the two envoys sent to France for the promulgation of the sentence. He subscribed the bull of Urban II on July 8, 1089 and is attested for the last time in the papal curia in September 1089.
He died on November 11, 1089.
Source
- St. Peter Igneus
- H.W. Klewitz, Reformpapsttum und Kardinalkolleg, Darmstadt 1957, p. 116 no. 9
- R. Hüls, Kardinäle, Klerus und Kirchen Roms: 1049-1130, Tübingen 1977, p. 90-91