At the start of the jubilee year marking the 500th anniversary of the birth of Peter Canisius, Bishop Hermann Glettler of Innsbruck called for renewal to give the life of faith a new freshness and relevance to life.

Giving new strength to the baptismal confession

The radio service on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord in the Innsbruck parish of Petrus Canisius was broadcast live by ORF-Tirol. "Renewal is called for, but it can neither be done nor prescribed," said Bishop Glettler in his sermon. Even though the history of life and culture in Tyrol has been shaped by the Christian faith, the question is: "What power does our baptismal confession have today?" The Bishop recalled Peter Canisius who, in difficult times and despite much opposition, had committed himself to the renewal of the faith. The biblical narrative of Jesus' baptism shows that Jesus ignites "in us the heart-fire of his love". "This is the origin of the most beautiful conflagration that we want to rekindle this year with the help of Peter Canisius," Glettler said.

Encouraging life and strengthening cohesion

At the same time, Petrus Canisius was not to be "celebrated as a genius of ecclesiastical popular education or a hero of Catholic reform". Glettler: "As baptised people, we want to place ourselves even more consciously at the service of all people this year". This year, the Bishop said, "we want to light 500 heart fires of faith and charity, encourage people to live, make the treasure of faith understandable again and, above all, strengthen social cohesion". Associations and culturally and socially engaged groups are invited to join, he said.

First German Jesuit

Peter Canisius was chosen as the patron of the diocese of Innsbruck when it was founded in 1964. Born on 8 May 1521 in Nijmegen in what is now the Netherlands, he was the first German to enter the Jesuit Order in 1543. His great concern as a passionate preacher and writer was the reform of the Catholic Church. Canisius wrote a total of three catechisms in which he wanted to bring the faith of the Catholic Church closer to children, young people and adults in an understandable way. 

Long stays in Tyrol

Peter Canisius frequently stayed in Austria.  In 1554, he was administrator of the bishopric in Vienna for a year before he was commissioned to found a Jesuit college in Prague. He took part several times in the deliberations of the Council of Trent and finally stayed mostly in Innsbruck from 1560 to 1580. In 1562 he opened the Jesuit College in Innsbruck, and in 1569 one in Hall. From 1571 he served as court preacher to Archduke Ferdinand II in Innsbruck and travelled the country as a preacher and popular missionary.

Last years of life in Fribourg

In 1580 Peter Canisius left Innsbruck and went to Fribourg in Switzerland, where he made preparations for the foundation of a Jesuit college. After suffering a stroke in 1591, he had to curtail his activities. On 21 December 1597, Peter Canisius died in Fribourg and was buried there. In 1864, Peter Canisius was beatified by Pope Pius IX, and on 21 May 1925, Pope Pius XI canonised him. His memorial day is celebrated on 27 April.

Innsbruck Diocese