Baring-Gould’s sources: Beatified by Pope Innocent IV., in 1254. In the sea-sports of Spain his festival is celebrated on the Tuesday after Low Sunday, “ Quasimodo/' with great solemnity, and his image is greatly venerated at Lisbon, and in Biscay, under the name of S. Elmo. Pope Benedict XIV. approved of his veneration with special office in the whole Order of S. Dominic. Authority A life by Stephen Sampaye, O.P.] Peter Gonzalez was bora in the town of Astorga, in Spain, in 1190. He was educated by his maternal uncle the bishop of that place, who invested him with a canonry, and then with the deanery in his cathedral, whilst quite a young man.
Full of pride at obtaining the deanery, for which a special bull had been procured, as he was under age, he determined to be installed with great pomp. For the purpose of making his solemn entry into Astorga for that ceremony, he chose Christmas Day, when the streets were sure to be thronged. He traversed the town on a handsome horse, splendidly caparisoned,, but his steed kicked him off into a dungheap, amidst the shouts of laughter of the spectators. His first sentiment on picking himself up was one of shame, but the next was compunction for his vanity and pride, and he exclaimed, half petulant and half contrite, “If the world mocks me, I will mock it in turn.” He at once entered the Dominican Order, and became remarkable for his humility, zeal for souls, and contempt of human applause.
The fame of his sanctity having spread through Spain, King Ferdinard III. sent for him to his court, where he at once set himself to reform its licence. Some of the young nobles at the court, whose dissolute morals he had rebuked, were resolved to corrupt him. They therefore hired a courtesan of great attractions to seduce him. She pretend ed that she desired to consult him privately on matters of importance, and begged for an interview. Peter Gonzalez unsuspiciously yielded, and when they were alone, after a pretended confession of her sins, she used all her blandishments to inflame his passion Gonzalez, the moment he perceived her object, rose and retired to the adjoining room, where, wrapping his black cloak about him, he flung himself into the fire that burned on the hearth, and called her to take her place beside him. The instigators of the wretched woman, who had been lying concealed, and watching, now full of compunction and shame, cast themselves at his feet Gonzalez accompanied king Ferdinand in all his expeditions against the Moors [the Muslims of North Africa and Spain]. The taking of Cordova, in 1236, was an occasion for him to exercise all his influence and authority to moderate the violence of the conquerors, to save the innocence of the virgins from the insolence of the soldiers, and to save much blood from being shed. He purified the mosques and converted them into churches.
Having quitted the court, as soon as he deemed his presence less necessary, he went among the poor, impelled by a burning zeal for souls, to evangelize them. The wildest mountains, the most inaccessible vallies, the ignorance and brutality of the peasants, were no obstacles to his fervour; and the Word of God preached by him produced marvellous effects. Then he went to seaports, and on board ships, to preach to the sailors, for whom he had a great predilection. By a curious but not uncommon confusion, all that is related of S. Gonsalvo, and his bridgebuilding, (Jan. 10th), has been transferred to Peter Gonzalez, by his late biographer. At last, knowing that the time of his departure was at hand, he retired to Tuy to spend Lent [the forty days of fasting before Easter]. He preached every day in the cathedral with extraordinary fervour, but this was his last labour of love, April isO B. Peter Gonzales.
he died on the Tuesday after Low Sunday at Tuy; and was buried in the cathedral. In art he appears in the habit of his Order holding a blue candle; this has reference to the blue electric light that appears on mast-heads in storms, and which Spanish and Portugese sailors call S. Elmo's light, and suppose to be sent them by S. Peter Gonzalez, or Elmo, as a token that the vessel is under his protection, and will not perish. The name S. Elmo attaches to him by mistake. Apparently either S. Anselm of Lucca, (March 18th), or S. Erasmus (June 2), each of which names is contracted into S. Elmo, was more anciently the patron of the Mediterranean sailors, and the lights on the mast-heads were called after one or other of them. But by degrees their place in the popular devotion of the Spanish sailors was usurped by S. Peter Gonzalez, and the name of the former saints was attached to the more modern one, the older saints falling into oblivion. In reference to the blue light, or blue candle he holds in pictorial representations, in procession of the confraternities of S. Elmo, in Spain, blue wax candles are carried.
