St. Peter Faber

Peter Faber belonged to the first companions of Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier in Paris. As a priest, he celebrated the Mass at Montmartre in 1534 during which the companions made their commitments. That group became the nucleus of the Society of Jesus.

When Ignatius left Paris in 1535, Faber cared for the companions and helped their community grow. He guided Claude le Jay, Jean Codure, and Paschase Broët through conversation and the Spiritual Exercises. His contribution to the emerging order included sustaining friendships as well as welcoming new members.

His later work took him through a Europe divided by religious conflict. The Society of Jesus's account describes his efforts toward understanding at Worms and Ratisbon, alongside teaching and preaching. His Memorial records an inner life of prayer that accompanied these journeys. He died in Rome in 1546, shortly after arriving exhausted from Coimbra.

In a 2014 homily, Pope Francis presented Faber's gentleness and ability to form friendships as central to his ministry. Francis connected Faber's prayer with his willingness to travel and speak with others, emphasizing love rather than condemnation in proclaiming the Gospel. This is a later spiritual interpretation of his example, distinct from a contemporary record of his travels.