Peter Faber was one of the first companions who founded the Jesuits with Ignatius and Francis Xavier, and the first among them to be ordained a priest. Through gentle conversation and the Spiritual Exercises, he worked for renewal of faith across Europe.
Life
Peter Faber was born in 1506 to a farming family in the mountains of Savoy, and as a boy he tended sheep. While studying at the University of Paris he shared a room with Francis Xavier and Ignatius, formed a deep friendship with them, and made the Spiritual Exercises under Ignatius's guidance.
He was the first of the companions to be ordained a priest, and in 1534 he took vows with them at Montmartre. He then traveled through Germany, Spain and elsewhere, giving the Exercises to priests and lay people, and in an age of division he chose dialogue and reconciliation over confrontation.
While preparing to attend the Council of Trent, he died in Rome in 1546 at the age of forty. Pope Francis canonized him in 2013.
Spirituality
The spirituality of St. Peter Faber is discernment of the movements of the heart and warm respect for each person. He kept a record of his inner experiences to find the path God was leading him on. Rather than winning arguments, he believed true renewal came from winning hearts and praying together.
Reflection
St. Peter Faber opened his heart first, even to those who thought differently. Today, could I approach a neighbor or fellow parishioner who disagrees with me with listening and kindness rather than judgment?