Peter the Venerable

Peter The Venerable also called Mauritius, a mediaeval character of note, was born in 1092 or 1094. He was educated at the Cistercian abbey at Soucilanges, and soon after the completion of his theological training was made prior of the convent at Vezelay, then at Domeine, and in 1122 abbot of Clugny. Petrus Venerabilis was more or less mixed with all the important ecclesiastical transactions of the 12th century. He took in the schism of 1130 the side of pope Innocent XI; and especially played a great part in the discussions between Bernard of Clairvaux and Abelard. His works, written with more ease than talent, have not yet been published in a collected form. He died, at Christmas, in 1157 (see Bibl. Patr. Despont, volume 22). His publications are, Sermones (in Martene et Durand, Thesaur. November 5, 1419): — Nucleus de sacrificio missae (Hittorpius, 1091): — Libri ii adversus nefariam sectam Saracenorum (in Martene et Durand, Collectio, 9:1120). His life was written by the monk Rudolph, his disciple: Vita Petri Venerabilis, abbatis Cluniacensis (ibid. 6:1187). See Hook, Eccles. Biog. 8:59; Schrockh, Kirchengesch. volume 27; Wilkins, Peter der Ehrwurdige (Leipsic, 1857). (J.H.W.)