vendredi 8 mai 2015

Saint PIERRE II de TARENTAISE, abbé cistercien, fondateur, évêque et confesseur

Saint Pierre de Tarentaise

Évêque (+ v. 1174)

Ce petit berger dauphinois est un enfant prodige. Gardien vigilant de ses moutons, il mémorise entièrement le psautier. A 12 ans, il décide de lui-même d'entrer à l'abbaye cistercienne de Bonnevaux. De là on l'envoie fonder l'abbaye de Tamié (mons qui stat medius). 

A 40 ans, le voici nommé, bien malgré lui, archevêque de Tarentaise, vallée supérieure de l'Isère. Au bout de 13 ans, il s'enfuit et va se réfugier dans l'anonymat d'un petit couvent cistercien suisse. On le retrouve, on le ramène sur son siège archiépiscopal. 

Il poursuivra bon gré mal gré sa tâche ingrate de conciliateur et d'administrateur : faiseur de paix, inlassable distributeur d'aumônes, constant soutien du pape légitime Alexandre III contre l'empereur Frédéric Barberousse. Le 'bien-avisé' conseille à merveille les plaideurs abusifs: "Pas de disputes à propos des biens matériels! vous y perdriez vite vos deux richesses: celles du ciel et celles de la terre." 

Notice du diocèse de Besançon concernant saint Pierre de Tarentaise: "Né en 1101, en Dauphiné, Pierre de Tarentaise est lié à l'histoire du diocèse de Besançon; c'est en 1174 qu'il termina au monastère de Bellevaux (Haute-Saône), sa longue marche pacificatrice à travers la Franche-Comté. Il avait été chargé par le pape de réconcilier les rois de France et d'Angleterre et de mettre fin à de sérieuses oppositions dans la ville de Besançon. Avant même sa canonisation précoce (1191), on se disputait la garde de son corps. Les moines comtois réussirent à le conserver. Dès lors, se développa à Cirey-les-Bellevaux, un pèlerinage important en l'honneur de saint Pierre de Tarentaise. Les églises de Bellevaux et Vesoul possèdent quelques-unes de ses reliques".

"Le diocèse donne alors à l'Église un grand pape, Calixte II (1119-1124), originaire de Quingey. Les abbayes nouvelles, surtout cisterciennes, se multiplient : elles seront les principaux foyers de résistance au schisme de Frédéric Barberousse; saint Pierre de Tarentaise, défenseur de l'orthodoxie, mourra à Bellevaux en 1174, et le pape Eugène III, cistercien également, viendra en 1148 consacrer la cathédrale reconstruite sous le titre de saint Jean l'Évangéliste." (diocèse de Besançon)

Premier abbé de Tamié, il figure au Propre du diocèse de Saint-Claude.

Au monastère de Bellevaux dans la région de Besançon, en 1176, le trépas de saint Pierre, évêque. D’abord moine à l’abbaye cistercienne de Bonnevaux, puis fondateur et premier abbé de Tamié, il fut élu au siège épiscopal de Tarentaise et dirigea son Église avec un zèle ardent, vivant comme un moine et cherchant à rétablir la concorde entre les peuples.

Martyrologe romain

Saint PIERRE de TARENTAISE

Né en 1102, il entre vers ses vingt ans, avec son frère, au monastère de Bonnevaux en Dauphiné ; en 1132, il est envoyé fonder Tamié dont il fut le premier abbé ; c'est le printemps cistercien.

Dix ans plus tard, il doit accepter l'archevêché de Tarentaise.

Sa réputation le fait appeler au loin pour pacifier des querelles, par exemple pour arbitrer des procès de l'abbaye de Saint-Oyan, dès 1157 ; sa venue y attire la grande foule, qui raconte ses miracles.
Il soutient encore la résistance cistercienne au schisme de Frédéric Barberousse, spécialement dans notre province dont cet empereur est aussi le comte influent.

Au cours d'un voyage, après une halte à Dammartin, il meurt en 1174 à Bellevaux, premier monastère cistercien comtois.

Comme le Pape vient juste de se réserver les causes de canonisation, la Vie de Pierre, écrite par l'abbé d'Hautecombe, prend place dans le dossier officiel qui aboutit à sa canonisation en 1191.

Extrait du "Propre du diocèse de Saint-Claude"

SOURCE : http://www.eglisejura.com/index.php?p=1665

La vie de saint Pierre de Tarentaise,

Fondateur de l'abbaye de Tamié

La renommée de ce saint fut très grande de son vivant. Malgré cela, son nom, aujourd'hui, est absent des calendriers. Cependant, son souvenir reste honoré dans le diocèse de Tarentaise dont il fut l'archevêque au douzième siècle, durant trente-trois ans et dans la famille cistercienne tout particulièrement à l'abbaye Notre-Dame de Tamié dont il fut l'abbé fondateur.

Enfance et jeunesse

Ce saint Pierre est originaire d'un village du Dauphiné, situé dans le diocèse de Vienne. Il est né en 1102. Sa famille est modeste. Pas de misère, mais la simplicité inhérente au monde rural de ce temps. Pierre est le deuxième enfant. Il a deux frères et une sœur. Son aîné, Lambert, suit des études. Pierre montre un grand appétit de connaissances, il lit tout ce qui lui tombe sous la main… pas grand chose ! si ce n'est quelque livre de prières. Son assiduité à l'étude pousse ses parents à le laisser accompagner son aîné. Pas d'école dans le voisinage. Ce serait le curé du village qui enseignait le latin, les « lettres » à quelques jeunes, peut-être deviendraient-ils prêtres…

Les parents de Pierre ont fait le choix d'une vie austère, une vie qui fait place à la prière et qui a en quelque sorte un caractère monacal. Ils veillent à partager leurs biens avec plus pauvres qu'eux…

Ils en viennent à transformer leur maison : ils y préparent pour les voyageurs les meilleurs lits et la meilleure nourriture.

C'est ainsi qu'ils ont l'occasion de faire connaissance de religieux qui, au cours de leurs voyages sont heureux de faire halte dans cette maison accueillante et pieuse ! Parmi eux, des moines de la Chartreuse et des cisterciens de l'abbaye de Bonnevaux, située pas très loin, dans le bas Dauphiné.

A l'âge de 20 ans, Pierre va se présenter à la porte de cette abbaye, bientôt suivi par son frère Lambert. Ils en connaissent donc le Père Abbé et sans doute quelques moines… Plus tard ce sont leur frère et leur père qui les rejoignent, tandis que leur mère et leur sœur entrent au monastère de Notre-Dame de Bonnecombe, non loin de là.

De la vie de ce saint Pierre à Bonnevaux, une dizaine d'années, on ne sait rien. On peut quand même penser qu'il était exemplaire puisque c'est à lui que le Père Abbé, Jean de Valence (du nom du diocèse dont il deviendra évêque), confie la fondation d'un nouveau monastère dans les alpes savoyardes.

L'histoire de cette fondation mérite une attention particulière qui dépasse la personne de son premier père abbé, nous allons la trouver plus loin.

Archevêque de Tarentaise.

La Tarentaise se situe dans les alpes savoyardes, c'est la haute vallée de l'Isère. Vallée qui permet de communiquer avec l'Italie par le col du petit Saint-Bernard*. C'était une partie de la voie romaine qui menait de Vienne à Milan. 

Le diocèse de Tarentaise dépendait du diocèse de Vienne, il était lui-même archevêché, ayant sous sa dépendance les diocèses de Sion en Valais, Aoste et saint-Jean de Maurienne.

L'administration de ces terres était partagée entre l'évêque et les comtes de Savoie.

Pierre, abbé de Tamié ne voulait pas « quitter le cloître », la vie de prière, de solitude, qu'était la sienne au milieu de sa communauté. L'épiscopat, à cause de toutes ses charges lui paraissait bien opposé à la vie monastique, il se sentait sans doute dépassé par l'ampleur de la tâche et la perspective d'un fardeau bien lourd à porter ! Le chapitre général de l'Ordre cistercien à la requête du clergé de Tarentaise le pressa d'accepter. Il ne put se soustraire à cette décision, le chapitre étant l'autorité suprême de l'Ordre et une partie des abbés qui le formaient étaient des amis, des saints qu'il vénérait tels que Bernard de Clairvaux, Jean de Valence…

Un moine-gestionnaire avisé

Lorsque saint Pierre de Tarentaise en devient l'évêque, l'état du diocèse de Tarentaise est assez lamentable. Son prédécesseur Isdaël, chapelain du comte de Savoie, avait surtout chercher à bénéficier du pouvoir, dilapidant les biens à son avantage. Sa mauvaise gestion lui valu d'être destitué.

Le nouvel évêque va s'appliquer à réorganiser la vie de prière ainsi que la gestion temporelle.

Au chapitre de la cathédrale il a remplacé les nobles négligents par des chanoines réguliers qu'il accompagne fréquemment en participant aux offices.

Après avoir fait la visite de toutes les paroisses, il en a revu la répartition, spécifiant qui en était responsable, propriétaire, gestionnaire… Il veille à ce que toutes soient pourvues de ce qui est nécessaire à une belle célébration des sacrements et puisse assurer sa subsistance : ainsi l'église ne dépend plus des seigneurs. 

Saint Pierre décidait de visiter régulièrement ces paroisses.

Lui-même continuait à mener autant qu'il le pouvait une vie monastique, respectant les temps de prière et d'oraison, menant une vie austère, gardant l'habit de bure, signe de son appartenance cistercienne.

Un ami des pauvres

La charité de Pierre est légendaire. Il l'avait apprise en famille, il l'avait pratiquée à l'abbaye de Tamié… Sa maison épiscopale est toute grande ouverte aux pauvres avec lesquels il partage des repas. Les nombreux miracles qu'on lui attribue sont tous pour libérer des malheureux de leur éprouvante situation.

Il donne beaucoup, trop au dire de son économe… et quand il n'a plus d'argent il donne celui des autres ! de quelques riches… ceux qu'il connaît, dont il est sûr et avec lesquels il a déjà mené quelques actions charitables. 

Il ne se contente pas de donner, il essaie d'organiser pour changer la condition des démunis. 

La plus célèbre de ces institutions, dont une rue de la ville de Moutiers porte encore le nom est le « pain de mai » : à la fin de l'hiver les réserves de vivre étaient souvent épuisées, une distribution de soupe eut lieu pour tous ceux qui en avaient besoin à la porte de l'évêché durant les 28 premiers jours du mois de mai. Ceux qui étaient nantis fournissaient à l'évêque les denrées nécessaires.

Saint Pierre établit des hospices, tout près de son évêché à Moutiers entre autres, il soutint celui du petit saint-Bernard. Dans ces lieux on prenait soin des voyageurs.

Ce n'est pas seulement des secours matériels que l'évêque avait le souci d'apporter aux pauvres. Il leur prêchait la Bonne Nouvelle. Il leur parlait beaucoup, en termes simples pour qu'ils puissent découvrir, comprendre le mystère chrétien. Il préférait cela aux grands exposés qu'il laissait faire à d'autres. c'est peut-être à cause de cela qu'il n'a pas laissé d'écrit…

Lorsqu'il eut remis en ordre son diocèse, Pierre décida de partir : ce qu'on attendait de lui, il l'avait réalisé ! Accompagné d'un guide, de nuit, il prit la fuite jusqu'à un monastère de Germanie. Même si cela n'a été ni simple ni rapide, les savoyards ont bien su le retrouver. Pierre revint et s'appliqua de nouveau de tout son cœur à bien exercer sa charge !

Un célèbre négociateur

A cette époque, nobles et évêques se partageaient la propriété des terres et l'administration des populations. Avec la chute de l'empire romain, toute jurisprudence avait disparu. Quand un conflit surgissait il n'y avait plus - ou pas encore ! - d'institution pour régler les litiges. On faisait alors appel à des conciliateurs.

Pierre de Tarentaise fut l'un de ces hommes avisés auxquels comtes, évêques et pape, furent heureux de pouvoir recourir. Il s'agissait souvent entre évêques et comtes de conflits mêlant leurs pouvoirs respectifs, spirituel et temporel. C'étaient encore des disputes entre comtes, évêques ou abbayes au sujet de leurs possessions, de leur exploitation. Les décisions acceptées par les deux partis étaient notifiées en présence de quelques « grands », évêques et nobles : leur présence authentifiait les accords obtenus.

Parmi beaucoup d'autres, une conclusion d'accord entre le comte de Savoie et l'abbaye Saint-Maurice :

« Au nom de la sainte et indivisible Trinité, nous voulons qu'il soit connu de tous les fidèles du Christ aussi bien futurs que présents qu'Amédée comte et marquis et la comtesse Mathilde son épouse et leur fils Humbert concèdent et rendent en intégralité la prévôté d'Agaune à la communauté des frères de l'église de Saint-Maurice, à Dieu et aux saints martyrs, telle qu'elle avait été tenue par les prévôts des anciens chanoines séculiers au nom de leur église, en retenant le droit de juste et les justes coutumes qui appartiennent au comitatus. »

Comme saint Bernard de Clairvaux quelques années auparavant, c'est la cause du Pape que Pierre de Tarentaise s'appliqua à défendre. 

Frédéric Barberousse était alors empereur, il était ambitieux : il voulait restaurer l'empire romain. Pour y parvenir il devait soumettre la ville de Rome et le Pape. Le pape Adrien IV consentit à le couronner mais en revanche, au nom même de cette reconnaissance le prélat opposa à Frédéric maints reproches : répudiation, nouveau mariage, écrasement des populations… En 1158, l'empereur eut recours à un ensemble de légistes qui en se référant au code Justinien, reconnurent son droit d'être un nouveau César, droit à la domination universelle. L'empereur entreprit la conquête des villes d'Italie par les armes. Il persécuta le pape qui dut se réfugier à Anagni. Après la mort de celui-ci, ceux qui avaient le droit et le devoir de le faire élurent un nouveau Pape : Alexandre III. L'empereur de son côté fit élire un de ses comparses sous le nom de Victor IV. Commençait alors un nouveau schisme entre les partisans de chacun des deux papes. Pierre de Tarentaise mit tous ses talents à informer sur la vérité de ces élections, à rallier le peuple chrétien et ses pasteurs à Alexandre III. dans son diocèse d'abord, dans l'ordre cistercien puis, dans les pays voisins. Des miracles accompagnèrent ses prédications… 

Il voulut rencontrer l'empereur. Celui-ci fut plein d'égards envers l'archevêque, mais il resta inflexible.

Dernières années

Dans les dernières années de sa vie saint Pierre de Tarentaise aimait se retirer quelques temps à la Chartreuse. Il y retrouvait la vie de silence et de solitude, favorables à la méditation, à l'oraison, à l'étude à laquelle il n'avait jamais renoncé. L'abondante bibliothèque rassemblée par Guigues était à sa disposition.

Au cours de l'un de ces séjours, il prévoit sa succession, il écrit l'acte de partage des biens de l'Eglise de Tarentaise C'est le seul écrit de lui que l'on possède. Ce texte que l'on peut considérer comme un testament reflète beaucoup la règle de saint Benoît, surtout en ce qui concerne l'autorité et les rapports entre les personnes.

Malgré son état de santé de plus en plus déficient, saint Pierre poursuivit de nombreux déplacements. C'est au cours d'un voyage en Franche-Comté où il se rendait sur l'ordre du Pape pur régler des affaires au monastère cistercien de Bellevaux qu'il fut pris d'un malaise. Il mourut en cette abbaye le 14 septembre 1174, tente-trois ans jour pour jour après sa consécration à l'épiscopat.

Sur son tombeau on pouvait lire : "Merveille de l'univers"

Saint Pierre avait prié en disant : « Accordez-nous Dieu tout-puissant, de savoir vous rendre grâces pour les bienfaits que vous nous avez accordés, afin qu'à l'avenir nous soyons dignes d'en obtenir de plus grands encore. »

SOURCE : http://www.grenier-cistercien.fr/hist-oc-cq.html

Saint Pierre de Tarentaise,

Il est né en 1102 à Saint Maurice l’Exil (Isère). 

Ce petit berger dauphinois est un enfant prodige. Gardien vigilant de ses moutons, il mémorise entièrement le psautier. 

Il entre en 1122 dans l’Ordre Cistercien, à l’abbaye de Bonnevaux.

En 1132 l’abbé Jean l’envoya fonder l’abbaye de Tamié en Savoie. Il en fut le premier abbé et le supérieur pendant près de 10 ans, de 1132 à 1141. Son rayonnement devint vite important au point qu’il fut nommé, bien malgré lui, évêque de Tarentaise en 1141. Il n’accepta que sur l’ordre du Chapitre Général et les encouragements de Saint Bernard sa nomination. Il conserva, tout au long de son ministère épiscopal, des liens étroits avec l’abbaye qu’il avait fondée. 

En 1150, c’est lui qui vient en consacrer l’église. Il se donne avec zèle à sa nouvelle tâche, visite les paroisses, réforme le clergé, reconstruit la cathédrale, s’occupe des pauvres. Il institue à Moûtiers une distribution de pain chaque année, au mois de mai, quand les réserves étaient épuisées chez les plus démunis et les récoltes pas encore mûres. Une rue de Moûtiers conserve le souvenir de cette institution qui dura jusqu’au 18ème siècle sous le nom de Pain de Mai. 

Pierre était un homme bon et charitable, un pacificateur aussi. 

Il fut surtout célèbre pour ses innombrables missions de médiation et de pacification entre les communautés religieuses ou entre l’Eglise et les grands féodaux de la région. 

Pierre, l’archevêque de Tarentaise était un homme de paix et de réconciliation. 

C’était son charisme que de réconcilier le Pape avec l’Empereur, les rois de France et d’Angleterre, le comte Humbert III de Savoie et l’évêque de Belley, Saint Anthelme...

Lors de la nomination par l’empereur Frédéric Barberousse d’un antipape Victor III, l’archevêque de Tarentaise fut le premier sujet de l’empire à se déclarer ouvertement pour le pape légitime, Alexandre III (1159-1181). Il défendit efficacement la cause de ce dernier contre Victor IV, l’antipape à la solde de l’empereur. Il poursuivra bon gré mal gré sa tâche ingrate de conciliateur et d’administrateur : faiseur de paix, inlassable distributeur d’aumônes, constant soutien du pape. Le "bien-avisé" conseillait à merveille les plaideurs abusifs : "Pas de disputes à propos des biens matériels ! vous y perdriez vite vos deux richesses : celles du ciel et celles de la terre." 

L’ordre cistercien suivit son exemple. Alexandre III désira rencontrer son défenseur, et lui donna diverses missions de réconciliation. 

En 1173 il fut convoqué à Rome par Alexandre III qui l’enquérit de faire le médiateur entre Henri II d’Angleterre et de Louis VII de France, mais sentit ses forces décliner pendant le voyage. Il s’arrêta à l’abbaye de Bellevaux, monastère cistercien en Franche-Comté, et mourut le 14 septembre 1174. 

Le pape Célestin III le canonisa en 1191, devenant ainsi Saint Pierre de Tarentaise, un des trois seuls cisterciens officiellement canonisés. 

Il est fêté le 8 mai. 

SOURCE : http://www.pspepr.fr/saint-pierre.php

Saint Pierre de Tarentaise

Fête saint : 08 Mai

Présentation

Titre : Archevêque

Date : 1102-1174

Pape : Alexandre III

Empereur : Frédéric Ier Barberousse

Auteur

Mgr Paul Guérin

Les Petits Bollandistes - Vies des Saints - Septième édition - Bloud et Barral - 1876 -

Saint Pierre de Tarentaise

Au diocèse de Besançon, saint Pierre de Tarentaise, évêque et confesseur. + 1174,

Abbé du monastère de Tamié

Pierre naquit en 1102, au diocèse de Vienne, en France, d’une modeste, mais très chrétienne famille de cultivateurs. Son père, sa mère finirent leurs jours en religion ; sa sœur fut abbesse du monastère de Betton, dans le diocèse de Chambéry ; ses deux frères, Lambert et André, furent, comme lui, moines à Bonnevaux. Lambert, l’aîné, se destinait déjà au cloître, lorsque Pierre était encore enfant. Et bien que ses parents eussent d’autres vues sur leur cadet, celui-ci, attiré par l’exemple de son frère aîné, se livrait, comme lui, à l’étude. Un jour, ses progrès étranges et sa jeune piété attirèrent l’attention de l’abbé de Bonnevaux, familier de ce dévot foyer ; il demanda Pierre à ses parents, et celui-ci, ravi, fut reçu parmi les moines. Il s’y montra si zélé pour les vertus religieuses, que, en 1132, les Cisterciens de son abbaye voulant fonder à Tamié un nouveau monastère, il fut choisi pour le gouverner. C’était un poste rude : Tamié était situé dans les gorges des Alpes, entre les montagnes qui séparent le Genevois de la Savoie ; là se trouvait le passage principal de Suisse en Italie. Le froid, la disette l’assiégeaient ; les moines menaient la vie la plus austère : du pain, des herbes cuites à l’eau et seulement assaisonnées de sel faisaient leur nourriture. Ils réservaient toutes leurs ressources pour les pauvres voyageurs et pèlerins qui franchissaient ce col, et ils les assistaient avec une charité extrême. Pierre, l’abbé, leur en donnait le touchant exemple, et déjà Dieu, par de fréquents miracles, l’encourageait à se dépenser ainsi au service du prochain.

Sa renommée s’étendit donc promptement ; le comte Amédée III de Savoie lui-même était devenu son ami et venait fréquemment s’éclairer de ses conseils. Et quand, en 1138, l’archevêché de Tarentaise eut été délivré de son indigne prélat, Isdraël, qui l’avait usurpé, les clercs d’une voix unanime choisirent Pierre de Tamié pour prendre sa place. On se heurta d’abord à la plus vive résistance de l’élu ; elle ne céda qu’au convent général des Cisterciens, devant les invitations formelles des abbés de Cîteaux et de Bonnevaux, et surtout de saint Bernard lui-même.

Archevêque de Tarentaise

La charité s’assit avec Pierre sur le siège épiscopal : elle fut en effet sa vertu préférée et caractéristique. Sans doute elle ne fut pas la seule : la prudence unie à une douce fermeté présida à la réforme d’un clergé désorienté par les vices d’Israël ; la piété rendit au culte divin, au chant canonial, à la beauté des cérémonies, tout leur lustre perdu ; l’austérité du moine se continua dans l’archevêque, pauvrement vêtu, plus pauvrement nourri. Mais son cœur était surtout ouvert à la plus miséricordieuse tendresse. Il prodiguait à son peuple les encouragements de la foi, moins soucieux de l’éloquence que d’une nerveuse brièveté : il préférait, disait-il, cinq mots pleins de sens à dix mille qui n’auraient pour eux que l’abondance. Les affligés, les pénitents trouvaient près de lui encouragement et consolation, et la détresse corporelle ne le laissait jamais insensible. Il avait mesuré, à Tamié, toute l’utilité d’un refuge pour les passants de la montagne ; aussi voulut-il en établir de pareils au sommet du Petit-Saint-Bernard, à Moutiers et sur le mont Jura. Sa table, — si l’on peut donner ce nom à la simplicité de ses repas, — était toujours dressée pour les affamés, qu’il faisait servir avant lui-même. Pour les secourir, il mettait à contribution ses amis, prélevant une dîme sur leurs biens à leur insu, mais non pas contre leurs intentions. Un jour, reçu chez une pieuse femme, il ramassait secrètement sur la table les morceaux de pain qu’il enfouissait dans un sac destiné à ses aumônes. Son hôtesse avait vu le charitable manège ; de propos délibéré, elle sema, de ci de là, des pains, et le bon archevêque, les trouvant sous sa main, les entassait dans son sac, tant et si bien que, quand il fallut partir, le fardeau était devenu trop lourd pour ses épaules. Le Saint était fort embarrassé, n’osait rien dire. Heureusement un ami était là ; prévenu, il enlève le sac, et ainsi chargé, va un peu plus loin rejoindre le voyageur, qui n’eut plus qu’à mettre son butin sur la croupe de sa monture.

Il passait pendant l’hiver sur le Grand-Saint-Bernard. Et voici qu’une pauvre vieille le rencontre ; toute glacée, toute tremblante, elle demande l’aumône en pleurant. Pierre est ému :

« Ma pauvre mère ! Dit-il en pleurant, elle meurt de froid ! Qui lui donnera un vêtement ? »

Ses compagnons n’étaient pas d’humeur à se dépouiller par ce temps rigoureux. Alors il les fait passer devant. Lui-même s’arrête, enlève la tunique qu’il portait sous sa coule ; il en revêt la mendiante et reprend sa route, n’ayant sur son cilice que son unique manteau.

Il renouvela une autre fois cet héroïque dépouillement. Mais il faillit en périr. Le froid le pénétra si profondément, que, à grand-peine arrivé à l’étape, on ne put que très difficilement le ranimer et lui rendre un peu de chaleur.

Vertus, miracles, sainteté

On conçoit qu’une telle charité gagnait tous les cœurs. Aussi se faisait-il autour du Saint un concours de toutes les misères. D’autant plus que, non moins abondants que ses aumônes, les miracles se multipliaient sous ses mains. On raconte qu’étant de passage au monastère de Saint-Claude, dans le Jura, une si grande multitude accourut pour le voir, qu’elle l’eût étouffé. Il fallut, pour la contenir, le placer dans la tour de l’église, où on accédait par un double escalier. Les suppliants, passant de l’un à l’autre, défilaient devant Pierre, qui répondait à leurs requêtes, consolait leurs peines, touchait leurs membres malades, guérissait tour à tour le corps et l’âme.

Tant d’affluence, tant de merveilles affligeaient son humilité. Il résolut de s’y soustraire par la fuite. Une nuit, avec un seul confident, il s’échappe par le chemin de la Suisse et va se réfugier en Allemagne, dans un monastère de Cîteaux. Il y vivait inconnu, traité en simple moine, perdu dans la joie de la prière et de l’austère discipline. Et cependant on le cherchait de toutes parts et ses fidèles pleuraient sa perte. Mais voici qu’un jour, un jeune homme qu’il avait élevé depuis son enfance et qui s’était juré de retrouver son père tant aimé, arriva, conduit par Dieu, à ce monastère. Il assiste au défilé des moines, il reconnaît le Saint, il pousse un grand cri et s’élance vers lui. On s’étonne, on interroge, on se confond d’avoir ignoré un homme si célèbre, un évêque si pieux. Et lui, tout affligé, dut renoncer à la chère solitude et retourner à son diocèse.

L’occasion l’y attendait de rendre à l’Église un grand service. L’empereur Frédéric Barberousse s’était révolté contre Rome ; il opposait au pape Alexandre III un antipape de son choix, Victor, et il déchirait la chrétienté. Presque seul dans ces pays, Pierre lui fit face, condamna le schisme, au risque de l’exil ; et malgré l’énergie de ses représentations, de ses reproches même, sa vertu imposa respect à l’empereur, qui s’inclina devant lui et lui demanda ses prières.

La constance de sa foi, la renommée de sa sainteté était parvenue jusqu’au pape ; Alexandre III désira le voir et le manda à Rome. Le voyage de Pierre à travers l’Italie fut un long triomphe et une prédication continuelle. Le Souverain Pontife le reçut avec vénération. Et peu après, il lui donna mission de réconcilier les rois de France et d’Angleterre, Louis VII et Henri II. L’archevêque de Tarentaise prit donc sa route à travers la France ; à Corbeil, il rencontra Louis VII avec son gendre, le fils de Henri II. En l’apercevant, le jeune prince sauta de cheval, s’inclina devant le Saint et lui baisa les pieds. Et puis, presque de force, il s’empara du vieux manteau tout déchiré qui lui couvrait les épaules. Les courtisans riaient à la dérobée :

« Vous ne ririez pas, leur dit-il, si vous saviez tous les miracles qu’a faits une de ses ceintures que je possède. »

Malgré ses efforts, le saint archevêque ne put mener à bien sa mission. La paix ne devait être signée qu’après sa mort. Il reprit donc sa route vers Tarentaise. Mais la fièvre le saisit comme il était à Dommartin, au diocèse de Besançon. Il alla cependant jusqu’au monastère de Belleval ; mais là il dut s’arrêter. Au bout de quelques jours de maladie, toujours aimable et sous un sourire dissimulant ses souffrances, le bon et charitable Pierre de Tarentaise alla recevoir la récompense que Notre-Seigneur a promis aux doux et aux miséricordieux. Il mourut le 3 mai 1174, accomplissant la trente-troisième année de son épiscopat.

SOURCE   : https://www.laviedessaints.com/saint-pierre-de-tarentaise/


PETER OF TARENTAISE, ST.

Archbishop; b. near Vienne, Dauphiné, France, 1102; d. Bellevaux, Sept. 14, 1174. Peter (Pierre), who was of poor peasant stock, joined the Cistercian abbey of Bonnevaux. In 1132 he became the first abbot of Tamié in Savoy, and in 1141 was elected archbishop of Tarentaise. He reformed his diocese, effectively supported alexander iii against Emperor frederick i Barbarossa, and, for the same pope, undertook several successful diplomatic missions. For his charity and healing powers, Peter was venerated as a saint even in his lifetime. He was canonized by celestine iii, May 10, 1191.

Feast: May 8; May 10 (Cistercians).

Bibliography: Acta Sanctorum May 7:317–345. J. M. Chevray, La Vie de Saint Pierre II, archevêque de Tarentaise (Baume-les-Dames 1841). G. Müller, "Der hl Petrus, Erzbischof von Tarentaise," Cistercienser-Chronik 3 (1891). S. Lenssen, Hagiologium cisterciense (Tilburg 1948–49). Les Saints de tous les jours, ed. a. mai (Paris 1957). H. Riguet, Printemps en chrétienté, l'aventure spirituelle de saint Pierre de Tarentaise (Mercury, Savoie 1967).

[L. J. Lekai]

SOURCE : https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/peter-tarentaise-st

Saint Peter of Tarentaise

5 May 2013, 11:14 am

Memorial

14 September

8 May (on some calendars)

10 May (Cistercians)

Profile

Joined the Benedictine Cistercians at Bonneveaux, France at age 20 along with his father and two brothers. Monk. First abbot of Tamie Abbey in the Tarentaise Mountains where he built a hospice for travellers. Reluctant archbishop of TarentaiseFrance c.1142. He worked to reform the diocese, removing corrupt clergy, supporting dedicated priests, caring for the poor, promoting education, and revitalizing the faith and church involvement of all his flock. Started the custom of May Bread – free bread and soup distributed throughout the mountain region; the tradition continued for centuries until ended by the antiCatholic French Revolution. In 1155 Peter disappeared only to be found hiding out as a lay brother in a Cistercian abbey in Switzerland; he had badly missed the simple life of a pious monk, but agreed to return to his duties as a bishop. Advisor to popeskings and laity, he defended papal rights in France, and worked to bring peace between King Louis VII of France and Prince Henry II of England.

Born

1102 at Saint-Maurice-l’Exil, France

Died

1174 at Bellevaux AbbeyFrance of natural causes

Canonized

1191 by Pope Celestine III

Additional Information

Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate

Catholic Encyclopedia: Diocese of Tarentaise

Lives of the Saints, by Father Alban Butler

Saints of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein

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Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints

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MLA Citation

“Saint Peter of Tarentaise“. CatholicSaints.Info. 21 April 2022. Web. 9 May 2022. <http://catholicsaints.info/tag/monk-of-tamie-abbey/>

SOURCE : http://catholicsaints.info/tag/monk-of-tamie-abbey/

Peter of Tarentaise, OSB Cist. B (RM)

Born at Saint-Maurice (near Vienne), Dauphiné, France, 1102; died at Bellevaux, 1175; canonized in 1191. First, it should be noted that there are two saints named Peter of Tarentaise: today's bishop and one who became known as Pope Innocent V (born c. 1225).

Few bishops have both been so successful as Peter of Tarentaise and so unwilling to take up the office. His one true desire was to be a Cistercian monk. He had entered a Cistercian monastery at Bonnevaux when he was 20 (12 according to some sources), persuading his parents and brothers and sister to follow him into the religious life. Before he was 30, he was chosen to be abbot of a new Cistercian house at Tamié in the desolate Tarentaise hills, overlooking the pass which was the chief route from Geneva to Savoy.

Here he was entirely happy. He struck up a fruitful friendship with Count Amadeus III of Savoy. Together they built a hospital for the sick--a place which also served as a guest house for strangers passing over the Little Saint Bernard mountain pass. Peter like nothing better than to join in conversation with those staying in this hospital, humbly waiting upon his guests with his own hands.

But in 1142, he was elected archbishop of Tarentaise. Saint Bernard and the general chapter of his order compelled Peter to accept the office. The whole Cistercian order decided that whatever the saint wished, they must accept. Peter's predecessor had been so incompetent and lax that he had been deposed. The diocese was in complete disorder. Reluctantly Peter set about its renovation, refusing to let his personal feelings hamper the work. Only once did he give way.

He replaced the lax and careless cathedral clergy with canons regular of the Order of Saint Augustine. He regularly visited his entire diocese; recovered property that had been alienated; appointed good priests to parishes; arranged for the education of the young; made foundations to serve the poor; and made it possible to appropriately celebrate the rites of the church everywhere. The author of his vita, who was his constant companion throughout his episcopacy, recounts many miracles wrought by Saint Peter, including physical healings and the multiplication of provisions during famines.

After 13 years as archbishop, he ran off and secretly offered himself as a lay member of a Cistercian house in a remote area of Switzerland. Of course, he was found concealing himself under the guise of a novice lay brother, but not until a year had elapsed. The reluctant archbishop was forced to return to his see by his new superiors. He was greeted with joy at his homecoming. Again, he set to work with a will, founding travellers' refuges on the Alpine passes. He also endowed a charity for the free distribution of soup and bread for the hill-farmers during the lean spring months; this came to be known as pain de mai, May-bread, and continued until the French Revolution.

Peter was not completely happy outside a monastery. He often visited the Grande Chartreuse, where he was attended by a young monk later to be known as Saint Hugh of Lincoln.

Uncompromisingly Peter supported the true pope, Alexander III, against his false rivals--even though the antipope Victor was supported by no less than the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. Though it seemed that he was the only subject who dared to openly oppose the pretender, Saint Peter preached in Alsace, Lorraine, Burgundy, and parts of Italy in an attempt to establish the claims of the true pontiff. He spoke out fearlessly in various councils and even in the presence of the emperor himself, who was so impressed by his sanctity and courage that he permitted him to speak freely.

Such an honest man could be trusted to intercede between the warring kings of England and France. In 1174, Pope Alexander III requested that he meet with King Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. Though he was old, he set out at once and stopped to preach everywhere en route. He met both sovereigns near Chaumont in the Vexin, where the French court was being held, but did not succeed in reconciling them. On returning to Tarentaise from this mission of peace, he became ill near Besançon and died as he was being carried into the abbey of Bellevaux (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Walsh). 

SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0508.shtml

St. Peter of Tarantaise, bishopFeast day: May 08

Peter was born near Vienne, France in 1102 and died at Bellevaux, France in 1175. He was canonized in 1191.

At the age of 20 he entered the Cistercian Order, and convinced his family to enter along with him.  His two brothers and his father entered the religious community of Bonneveaux with him, and his sister also followed thier example and became a religious.

Ten years after he entered, Peter was sent to found a new house in the Tarantaise mountains near Geneva, Switzerland.  Here he opened a hospital which also served as a guest house for those travelling through the mountains.

He was appointed as Archbishop of Tarantaise in 1142 and wanted to decline the post and remain where he was happiest, as a Cistercian monk. He reluctantly accepted, however, because of the urging of St. Bernard and the other monks in his order, seeing their insistence as the will of God.

On his accession to the episcopacy, he reformed the diocese and set about providing education and distributing food to the poor, a tradition called the "May Bread", which lasted until the French Revolution in 1789.  He performed many miraculous healings during that time.

It seems he was never able to banish his longing for the monastic life he left behind, and after 13 years as archbishop, he fled to a Cistercian abbey in Switzerland disguised as a lay brother and lived there for a year until he was discovered and forced by his superiors in the order to return to Tarantaise.

During the fractious rife between the anti-pope Victor and the true Pope, Alexander III, St. Peter was one of the only major voices in the Church openly supporting the claim of Pope Alexander, even against the emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

Recognizing his courage, loyalty, and holiness, Pope Alexander III thought him to be the ideal peacemaker between King Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. He died of an illness shortly after meeting and unsuccessfully trying to reconcile the two kings.

SOURCE : https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-peter-of-tarantaise-bishop-470

May 8
 St. Peter, Archbishop of Tarentaise

 [Now called Monstiers, in Savoy.]  HE was a native of Dauphiné. A strong inclination to learning, assisted by a good genius and a happy memory, carried him very successfully through his studies. At twenty years of age he took the Cistercian habit at Bonnevaux, a monastery that had been lately filled by a colony sent by St. Bernard from Clairvaux. They employed a great part of the day in hewing wood, and tilling the ground in the forest, in perpetual silence and interior prayer. They ate but once a day, and their fare was herbs or roots, mostly turnips of a coarse sort. Four hours in the twenty-four was the usual allowance for sleep; so that, rising at midnight, they continued in the church till it was morning, and returned no more to rest: which was the primitive custom of that Order. Peter practised the greatest austerities with fervour and alacrity: he was most exactly obedient, obliging to all, humble and modest. His pious parents, after the birth of four children, lived in perpetual continency, and the practice of rigorous abstinence, prayed much, and gave large alms: their house they seemed to turn into an hospital, so great was the number of poor and strangers they constantly entertained, whom they furnished with good beds, whilst they themselves often lay on straw. The father and his two other sons at length followed Peter to Bonnevaux, and the mother and daughter embraced the same Order in a neighbouring nunnery. The year after Peter had taken the monastic habit, his example was followed by Amedeus, nearly related to the Emperor Conrad III. and sixteen other persons of worth and distinction. Amedeus, indeed, having there made his solemn profession with the rest, by the advice of persons of great virtue and discretion, spent some time at Cluni, the better to superintend his son’s education, in the school established there for the education of youth: but he returned after some time to Bonnevaux; and made it his request, at his readmission, that he might be enjoined the lowest offices in the house. To this the abbot, for his greater advancement in humility and penance, consented. The Earl of Albion, his uncle, coming one day to see him, found him in a sweat, cleaning the monks’ dirty shoes, and, at the same time, so attentive to his prayers, as not to perceive him. The earl, remembering in what state he had seen him in the world, was so struck and so much edified at this spectacle, that he ever after retained the deep impression which it made on his mind, and published it at court. Amedeus built four monasteries of his Order: among which was that of Tamies, or Stomedium, in the desert mountains of the diocess of Tarentaise, of which he procured his intimate friend St. Peter, not then quite thirty years of age, to be appointed the first abbot, in 1128. Amedeus worked himself with his spade and mattock in building some of these monasteries, and died at Bonnevaux, in the odour of sanctity, in 1140. His son Amedeus, for whose education in piety he had always the greatest concern, after having spent part of his youth in the court of his kinsman, the emperor, became a Cistercian monk under St. Bernard, at Clairvaux, and died bishop of Lausanne.

The monastery of Tamies seemed a house of terrestrial angels; so constantly were its inhabitants occupied in the employment of angels, paying to God an uninterrupted homage of praise, adoration, and love. St. Peter, by the help of Amedeus III. count of Savoy, founded in it an hospital to receive all the poor sick persons of the country, and all strangers; and would be himself its servant to attend them. In 1142, the Count of Savoy procured his election to the archbishopric of Tarentaise, and he was compelled by St. Bernard and the general chapter of his Order, though much against his own inclinations, to accept of that charge. Indeed that diocess stood extremely in need of such an apostolic pastor, having been usurped by a powerful ambitious wolf, named Idrael, whose deposition left it in the most desolate condition. The parish churches and tithes were sacrilegiously held by laymen; and the clergy, who ought to have stemmed the torrent of iniquity, contributed but too often to promote irregularity by their own wicked example. The sight of these evils drew tears from the eyes of the saint, with which he night and day implored the divine mercy upon the souls intrusted to his care. He directed all his fasts, his prayers, and labours, for the good of his flock: being persuaded that the sanctification of the people committed to his charge was an essential condition for securing his own salvation. He altered nothing in the simplicity of a monastic life, and looked on the episcopal character as a laborious employment rather than a dignity. His clothes were plain, and his food coarse; for he ate nothing but brown bread, herbs, and pulse, of which the poor had always their share. He made the constant visitation of his diocess his employ; he every where exhorted and instructed his whole charge with unwearied zeal and invincible patience, and besides he provided the several parishes of his diocess with able and virtuous pastors. When he came to his bishopric, he found the chapter of his cathedral full of irregularities, and the service of God performed in a very careless manner; but he soon made that church a pattern of good order and devotion. He recovered the tithes and other revenues of the church that had been usurped by certain powerful laymen; made many excellent foundations for the education of youth, and the relief of the poor; repaired several churches, and restored every where devotion and the decent service of God. The author of his life, who was the constant companion of his labours, and the witness of the greater part of his actions after he was made bishop, assures us he wrought many miracles in several places, chiefly in curing the sick, and multiplying provisions for the poor in times of great distress; so that he was regarded as a new Thaumaturgus. The confusion his humility suffered from the honours he received, joined to his love of solitude, made him resolve to retire from the world; and accordingly, in 1155, after he had borne the weight of the episcopal character thirteen years, having settled his diocess in good order, he disappeared on a sudden; and made his way to a retired monastery of Cistercians in Germany, where he was not known. In the mean time, his family and diocess mourned for the loss of their tender father. Strict inquiry was made in all the neighbouring provinces, especially in the monasteries, but in vain; till, after some time, divine providence discovered him by the following accident: A young man, who had been brought up under his care, came to the monastery in which he lay concealed, and upon observing the monks as they were going out of the church to their work, he knew his bishop, and made him known to the whole community. The religious no sooner understood who he was, but they all fell at his feet, begged his blessing, and expressed much concern for not having known him before. The saint was inconsolable at being discovered, and was meditating a new escape, but he was so carefully watched, that it was not in his power; so that he was forced to go back to his diocess, where he was received with the greatest demonstrations of joy. He applied himself to his functions with greater vigour than ever. The poor were always the object of his peculiar care. He was twice discovered to have given away, with the hazard of his own life, in extreme cold weather in winter, the waistcoat which he had on his back. For three months before the harvest he distributed general alms among all the inhabitants of the mountains, provisions being always very scarce there at that season. He founded hospitals on the Alps, for the entertainment of poor travellers; because, before that time, many perished for the want of such a succour. To preserve in his heart the spirit of devotion and penance, he continued to practise, as much as possible, all the austerities and other rules of his Order, only commuting manual labour for the spiritual functions of his charge. By his conversation with the God of peace, he imbibed an eminent spirit of that virtue, and learned, by humility and charity, to be truly the man of peace; having also a singular talent for extinguishing the most implacable and inveterate enmities. He often reconciled sovereign princes, when they were at variance, and prevented several bloody wars. The Emperor Frederic I. set up Octavian, a schismatical pope, under the name of Victor, against Alexander III. St. Peter was almost the only subject of the empire who had the courage openly to oppose his unjust attempt, and he boldly defended the cause of justice in presence of the tyrant, and in many councils. The emperor, who banished others that spoke in favour of that cause, stood in awe of his sanctity: and Peter, by his mild counsels, frequently softened his fierceness, and checked the boisterous sallies of his fury, whilst, like a roaring lion, he spread terror on every side. The saint preached in Alsace, Burgundy, Lorrain, and in many parts of Italy; and confounded the obstinate by numberless miraculous cures of the sick, performed by the imposition of his hands and prayer. He was ordered by the pope to go into France and Normandy, to endeavour a reconciliation between the kings of England and France, who had made peace in 1169, but quarrelled again the next year. Though then very old, he preached wherever he went. Lewis VII. sent certain gentlemen of his court to meet him at a great distance, and received him with the greatest marks of honour and respect; but honours and crowds were of all things the most troublesome to the saint. The man of God restored the use of sight to one blind in the presence of the Count of Flanders, and many other noblemen, who were at that time with the King of France: who being also himself an eye-witness, examined carefully all the circumstances, and declared the miracle to be evident and incontestable. The saint went from Paris to Chaumont, on the confines of Normandy, where Henry II. king of England, met him: and when he arrived in sight of the holy man, alighted from his horse, and coming up fell at his feet. The people stole the cloak or hood of St. Peter, and were going to cut it in pieces to divide the scraps, being persuaded that they would perform miracles; but the king took the whole cloak for himself, saying: “I have myself seen miraculous cures performed by his girdle, which I already possess.” In his presence the saint restored the use of speech to a girl who was dumb. On Ash-Wednesday, in 1171, St. Peter being at the Cistercian Abbey of Mortemer, in the diocess of Roüen, the King of England came thither with his whole court, and received ashes from his hands. The archbishop prevailed on the two kings to put an end to their differences by a treaty of peace, and to procure councils to be assembled in their dominions, in which Alexander’s title should be solemnly recognised. The holy man hereupon returned to his church, but was some time after sent again by the pope to the King of England, to endeavour to compose the difference between him and his son: but his journey had not the desired effect. He fell sick on his return, and died the death of the just, at Bellevaux, a monastery of his Order, in the diocess of Besançon, in 1174, being seventy-three years old. He was canonized by Pope Celestine III. in 1191. See his life, written nine years after his death by Geoffrey, some time his companion, and afterward abbot of Hautecombe, by the order of Pope Lucius III.; see also Le Nain, t. 2, p. 83.
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73).  Volume V: May. The Lives of the Saints.  1866

St. Peter of Tarentaise, Bishop

Born in France, Peter joined the Cistercian order at the age of 20 and also persuaded his father and two brothers to join him in the monastery at Bonnevaux. By the time he was 30, he had been chosen abbot of a new Cistercian house in the Tarentaise mountains, overlooking the pass which was the chief route from Geneva to Savoy, and there he built a hospice for travelers and the sick. Peter enjoyed humbly serving and conversing with the strangers who sought the hospitality of the monks.

In 1142, he was elected Archbishop of Tarentaise, which was very much against his wishes. Reluctantly Peter set about the renovation of the diocese, which was in complete disorder from his incompetent predecessor. He replaced the corrupt cathedral clergy with canons regular of the Order of Saint Augustine, helped the poor, arranged for the education of the young, and was known for his miracles, which included physical healings and the multiplication of provisions during famines.

In 1155, he ran off and secretly offered himself as a lay member of a Cistercian house in a remote area of Switzerland. After a year, however, he was discovered and forced to return to his see.

Peter acted as peacemaker in many disputes and supported Pope Alexander III, even though the antipope Victor IV was supported by the Emperor Barbarossa. In 1174, Pope Alexander sent Peter to attempt a reconciliation between King Louis VII of France and Henry II of England. He did not succeed in his mission, and on returning to Tarentaise, he became ill near Besançon and died as he was being carried into Bellevaux Abbey. He was canonized in 1191.

Lessons

We all have ideas of the way we’d like our sanctity to be achieved. For St. Peter the idea was to live a quiet life as a simple monk. But God had other plans for him, and He may have other plans for us, too. Are we willing to follow where He leads, even if it’s not what we would choose for ourselves?

Once Peter realized that God indeed wanted him to remain Archbishop of Tarentaise, he threw himself whole-heartedly into his duties. We too must strive to recognize God’s will for our lives and then keep our eyes always ahead, hands to the plow, and never look back.

Other Saints We Remember Today

Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel (525), Italy

St. Desideratus (550), Bishop of Bourges

SOURCE : https://catholicexchange.com/st-peter-of-tarentaise-bishop-1102-75-2

St. Peter of Tarentaise

Peter of Tarantaise lived his vocation as a monk to the fullest.

He was born in 1102 near Vienne and joined a Cistercian monastery at the age of 20. He lived with such modesty, charity, and humility that people were moved and changed when they spent time with him. He was such a great witness of the religious life that many others followed him and joined the abbey as well. In fact, his whole family followed him and joined communities of their own—his mother, father, and siblings!

He was appointed as leader of a new monastery that was established at a crossroads in the desert mountains, and the community became known as a resting place for travelers. Peter began a hospice there for sick and poor travelers.

Soon, against his will, he was elected Archbishop of Tarentaise. He wanted to remain with the community, living a life of prayer and service, but had to be compelled to take on this leadership role. He obeyed, and found his new diocese to be in a terrible state—the clergy there were known for corruption and immorality. In a short time, Peter reformed the diocese—he established a strict rule for clergy, elevated good priests to pastoral roles, established new foundations to care for the sick and the poor, and constantly visited the people he served.

Miracles were attributed to him during this time—healings, and the multiplication of food during a famine. He became widely known as a wonder-worker, which increased his longing for the solitude he found in his life as a monk. After 13 years as archbishop, he one day suddenly vanished without a trace.

He was discovered one year later in a remote Cistercian abbey in Switzerland, where he had joined the community under an assumed name as a lay brother. He was ordered to return, and was warmly greeted when he got back to Tarentaise. He redoubled his efforts at leading the diocese, and took even greater care of the poor—twice he endangered his own life by giving away his own cloak in severe weather.

Religious and state authorities turned to Peter, a man of great peace, in moments of conflict so that he could effect reconciliation with his words and presence. He preached outspokenly and fearlessly in disputes over the papacy and between the kings of France and England, and his words were backed by miracles of healings. He died during one of his journeys for such a cause.

St. Peter of Tarentaise, you tried to run away from your duties as a bishop, but became known as a man of great peace—pray for us!

SOURCE : http://faith.nd.edu/s/1210/faith/interior.aspx?sid=1210&gid=609&pgid=14557&cid=30032&ecid=30032&crid=0

Saint Peter of Tarentaise’s Story

There are two men named Saint Peter of Tarentaise who lived one century apart. The man we honor today is the younger Peter, born in France in the early part of the 12th century. The other man with the same name became Pope Innocent the Fifth.

The Peter we’re focusing on today became a Cistercian monk and eventually served as abbot. In 1142, he was named archbishop of Tarentaise, replacing a bishop who had been deposed because of corruption. Peter tackled his new assignment with vigor. He brought reform into his diocese, replaced lax clergy, and reached out to the poor. He visited all parts of his mountainous diocese on a regular basis.

After about a decade as bishop, Peter “disappeared” for a year and lived quietly as a lay brother at an abbey in Switzerland. When he was found out, the reluctant bishop was persuaded to return to his post. He again focused many of his energies on the poor.

Peter died in 1175 on his way home from an unsuccessful papal assignment to reconcile the kings of France and England.

Reflection

We probably know a lot of people who would welcome the chance to receive some honor or honorary position. They relish the thought of the glamour and glory. But saints like Peter of Tarentaise remind us that humility and the avoidance of glory is the way of the Gospel.

SOURCE : https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-peter-of-tarentaise

St. Peter of Tarentaise - May 8th

The whole family of this young Frenchman followed him when he became Cistercian monks like him, and his mother and sister became Cistercian nuns. Peter was not quite thirty when he was made superior of a monastery, high up in the mountains. There he opened a shelter for sick people and for the many travelers crossing the mountains. His great joy was to wait on these guests himself.

Much against his desires, St. Peter was next made Archbishop of Tarentaise. He found his diocese in very bad condition, but he worked so hard for thirteen years that his people became fervent and good. Now, everyone loved and admired the Saint and called him a wonder-worker. Humble St. Peter decided he had better go back to being a monk and serve God hidden in a monastery. So one day, to their great sorrow, the people of Tarentaise learned that their beloved Archbishop had disappeared! It was a whole year before he was discovered in a monastery in Switzerland. There he was doing all the hard work as a poor brother. And no one in that monastery ever dreamed that the new brother was really the great Archbishop Peter!

Since it was God’s will, back went the Saint to his diocese, to the immense joy of his people. There he stayed the rest of his life, and spent himself for souls, especially for the poor. Twice in freezing weather, he took of his own habit and gave it to poor men, even though he could have frozen to death himself.

The Saints did their best to avoid being admired. Let us imitate by doing things only for God, not to win praise and admiration.

SOURCE : http://thesaintsstories.blogspot.com/2008/07/st-peter-of-tarentaise-may-8th.html

San Pietro II di Tarantasia Vescovo

14 settembre

Saint-Maurice-de-l’Exil (Delfinato, Francia), 1102 – Bellevaux (Francia), 14 settembre 1174

Desiderando appartarsi da ogni gloria mondana, si fece cistercense. Si distinse nella stretta osservanza della Regola e diresse l'abbazia di Tamié. Per le sue eccelse qualità, il Papa lo nominò arcivescovo di Tarentaise in Francia.

Martirologio Romano: Nel monastero di Beauvale nel territorio di Besançon in Francia, transito di san Pietro, che, da abate cistercense passò a reggere con ardente zelo la sede di Moûtiers, alla quale era stato elevato, promuovendo con fervore la concordia tra le popolazioni.

Nella storia della Chiesa ben tre omonimi savoiardi, conosciuti come Pietro di Tarantasia, sono stati riconosciuti degni degli onori degli altari. Il più importante, seppur ultimo in ordine di tempo, fu il papa Beato Innocenzo V, al secolo Pietro di Tarantasia, che sedette sul trono di Pietro per soli quattro mesi dal 22 febbraio 1276 al 22 giugno del medesimo anno. E' ricordato nel calendario al 23 giugno. Gli altri due furono entrambi arcivescovi della Tarentaise, sub-regione della Savoia, con sede episcopale sita nell'antica cittadina di Moutiers.

Il secondo di essi in ordine temporale, san Pietro II, nacque nel 1102 a Saint-Maurice-de-l'Exil, nel territorio della diocesi di Vienne, nei pressi dell'abbazia cistercense di Bonnevaux. Questo piccolo pastore originario della regione francese del Delfinato si rivelò rapidamente un ragazzo prodigio, riuscendo addirittura a memorizzare l'intero salterio.

All'età di circa vent'anni decise di entrare nel monastero suddetto e non tardarono poi a seguirlo anche suo padre e due fratelli. La madre ed una sorella optarono invece per l'abbazia di San Paolo presso Izeaux.

Nel 1132 Pietro ricevette la nomina a primo abate della nuova abbazia di Tamié, in Savoia, appena fondata dall'arcivescovo di Tarantasia Pietro I. Proprio con questo evento ha inizio il rischio di un'inevitabile confusione tra i due personaggi omonimi. Merita dunque specificare che l'abbazia di Tamié fu fondata dal Beato Pietro I di Tarantasia, mentre il personaggio ora in questione ne fu il primo abate col nome di Pietro I.

Dopo una decina d'anni giunse però per lui la promozione, su interessamento di San Bernardo, alla cattedra episcopale precedentemente occupata dall'ormai defunto beato predetto. Il proto-abate di Tamié divenne così arcivescovo col nome di Pietro II e proprio con questa nuova numerazione divenne noto alla Chiesa universale come San Pietro II di Tarantasia. Insediatosi dunque nell'antica diocesi dell'alta valle dell'Isère, con il prezioso ausilio dei Canonici Regolari poté riformare il capitolo della cattedrale di Moutiers. Con i religiosi di questa congregazione Pietro II era solito condurre una vita comune. Per far sentire maggiormente la sua vicinanza ai fedeli, intraprese la visita pastorale di tutte le parrocchie sottoposte alla sua giurisdizione. In tal modo si diffuse però rapidamente nei suoi confronti la fama di operatore di grandi miracoli. Ciò lo portò a meditare di fuggire in segreto dalla diocesi, per ritirarsi a vita più tranquilla nel monastero svizzero di Lucelle, vicino a Basilea, e come un comune monaco dedicarsi al lavoro nei campi.

Inaspettatamente scoperto dai suoi fedeli, dovette suo malgrado far ritorno in Tarantasia e rimettersi all'opera. Architettò dunque l'adattamento del palazzo vescovile per l'assistenza dei poveri e dei bisognosi, con i quali pensò di condividere quotidianamente i pasti. La più celebre opera di carità da lui istituita è il “Pane di maggio”, tradizione che sopravvisse sino all'infuriare della Rivoluzione Francese, consistente nella distribuzione di minestra da parte del vescovo stesso. Si narra che proprio in una di queste occasioni il santo vescovo operò una miracolosa moltiplicazione del cibo a disposizione. Dal punto di vista materiale, ricostruì la vecchia cattedrale e nel 1150 si recò a Tamiè, con cui anche durante il suo lungo ministero episcopale conservò degli stretti legami, per la consacrazione della nuova chiesa. Si adoperò per incrementare e rendere maggiormente efficiente l'assistenza dei viandanti presso il colle del Piccolo San Bernardo, che congiungeva la sua diocesi e, più in generale, la Savoia con l'adiacente Valle d'Aosta, la Francia con l'Italia.

La sua figura non poté così non acquistare prestigio anche agli occhi dei vicini potenti dell'epoca. Ricorsero sempre più frequentemente al suo aiuto i conti di Savoia, il papa e gli abati dei monasteri dei dintorni.

Il vescovo Pietro II si trovò a doversi opporre addirittura all'imperatore Federico I Barbarossa, fervido sostenitore dell'antipapa Vittore IV, e a dover peregrinare fra numerosi paesi e città predicando la fedeltà al legittimo papa Alessandro III, in nome dell'unità della Chiesa. Lo scisma ebbe fine solo con la morte di Vittore IV nel 1139. Ancora ben trentun anni dopo dovette nuovamente incontrarsi con l'imperatore presso Besancon per farlo desistere dai suoi malvagi propositi di nuocere la cristianità. Nel 1173 a Roma il papa Alessandro III gli affidò il delicato incarico di mediatore tra i sovrani Luigi VII di Francia ed Enrico II d'Inghilterra, alle prese con antiche controversie relative alla sovranità su alcuni territori francesi. Tentando dunque di raggiungere l'Inghilterra, ormai di salute malferma ed accolto ovunque come un vero e proprio santo, la morte lo colse presso l'abbazia di Bellevaux il 14 settembre 1174. Ricevette così degna sepoltura nella chiesa di tale monastero. Il pontefice Celestino III non tardò a canonizzarlo ufficialmente nel 1191. Visti i legami storici tra le due regioni, ancora oggi in Italia la diocesi di Aosta celebra la memoria di San Pietro (II) di Tarantasia vescovo nella data tradizionale del 6 maggio.

Autore: Fabio Arduino

SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/92372