May 8 | Saint Peter of Tarantaise

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine having a job so important, so filled with pressure, expectations, and power, that one day, you just vanish.

You don't tell your friends, you don't tell your co-workers, and you certainly don't tell your boss. You just pack a tiny bag, sneak out, and completely disappear. A whole year goes by. Everyone is looking for you. And where are you finally found? Hiding out in another country, working in disguise as a simple servant, just to escape the stress of being in charge.

Today, we are talking about a guy who actually pulled off that ultimate disappearing act. He was a reluctant hero, a runaway boss, and a man who just wanted to be left alone to pray, but who ended up changing the world. This is Saint Peter of Tarentaise. To understand our runaway saint, we have to go back to France in the year 1102, which is when Peter was born. When he was just 20 years old, Peter decided he wanted to dedicate his life entirely to God, so he entered the Cistercian order and became a monk.

Now, normally, joining a monastery means saying a tearful goodbye to your family, but not for Peter. His entrance into the monastery actually became a massive family affair. He was so convincing and so passionate about his faith that his father and two of his brothers decided to drop everything and enter the monastery right alongside him.

During his time with the Cistercians, Peter grew deeply in holiness and piety. He loved the quiet, simple life of a monk. But, unfortunately for Peter, when you are really good at what you do, people tend to put you in charge. When he was only 30 years old, he was assigned to be the abbot, the head monk, in the region of Tarentes. Peter rolled up his sleeves and got to work, building a hospital for travelers that also functioned as a much-needed guesthouse.

He was doing a fantastic job. Too fantastic, actually, because in the year 1142, the top officials of the church appointed the abbot to be the brand-new Archbishop of Torrentes. Peter was horrified. He desperately wanted to refuse the promotion so he could just remain in the quiet monastery with his brethren. He didn't want the fancy robes, the power, or the politics, but out of obedience, He reluctantly accepted the job.

Even though he didn't want the gig, he gave it his absolute all. He did massive amounts of good for his diocese, immediately setting to work providing for the education and the feeding of the poor. He didn't just sit in a fancy palace. He visited the farthest, most difficult-to-reach outskirts of his diocese regularly to make sure everyone was cared for. He even cracked down on the local priests, reforming the lax clergy who had been slacking off. on their duties.

One of his coolest achievements was beginning the tradition of May bread. Back then, right before the summer harvest, food stores from the winter would run out and people would starve. Peter started a massive program to distribute bread and soup to the poor to get them through this difficult season. He was a hero to the people. But inside, the reluctant archbishop was entirely burned out. After 13 years of serving his diocese with him, he was a hero to the poor, and he was a hero to the poor, and he was a hero to the With all its pressure, Peter decided to execute his grand escape.

Nobody knew where the Archbishop of Tarentaise had gone. It wasn't until a year later that he was finally tracked down. Where was this powerful, famous church leader? He was secretly serving as a lowly lay brother, hidden away at a Cistercian monastery in Switzerland. He had traded his fancy Episcopal vestments for a simple Cistercian habit, just wanting to wash dishes and Pray in peace.

His cover was blown. The church officials found him, reminded him of his duty, and successfully convinced him to return to his post as archbishop. Peter accepted his fate. He returned and humbly worked in the role he had been given for the rest of his life. But his influence only grew. This humble monk who just wanted to hide in Switzerland became famous across Europe as a wise advisor to popes and kings. He even acted as a peacekeeper to major world powers. Peter spent his final days traveling to stop wars and resolve conflicts.

He died shortly after one of his major peacekeeping endeavors in the mid-1170s. In 1191, he was officially canonized as a saint, and today, he is honored as the patron saint of Tarentaes. Peter's life teaches us that when we accept the difficult roles God places in front of us, even reluctantly, we can do incredible things for others. Next time you are given a responsibility you don't want, channel your inner Saint Peter. Do the work, help the people around you, and be a peacekeeper. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.