Vatican: First Mass to celebrate St Peter Faber

Pope Francis marked the first-ever Feast of St Peter Faber on Saturday, with a special Mass. Several young Jesuit priests attended. St Peter Faber was one of the original group that formed around St Ignatius Loyola, and eventually became the Society of Jesus. He was the first Jesuit to be ordained to the priesthood. St Ignatius recognized in Fr Peter the first great master and leader of the Spiritual Exercises.

The head of Vatican Radio's German service, Fr Bernd Hagenkord, SJ, spoke with one of the young Jesuits invited to Mass with Pope Francis. Fr Franciscus Wawansitiadi SJ of the Philippines told Vatican Radio that Pope Francis "came like a brother, another brother Jesuit," to celebrate the Mass.

St Peter Faber is also famed for his efforts to heal the divisions in the Church of his day, especially in Germany following the Lutheran reformation. Although he was a theologian of considerable repute, he did not try to convert people by theoretical dispute. He preferred to encourage his hearers to reform their interior lives and develop self discipline.

Source: VIS

For more information on St Peter Faber visit: www.loyolapress.com/blessed-peter-favre.htm