This week in Christian history: Synod of Pistoia, first US female minister ordained, Spanish inquisitor assassinated

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, September 15, 2024

St. Peter of Arbues assassinated – Sept. 17, 1485

St. Peter of Arbues (c.1441-1485), a Spanish inquisitor who was assassinated while praying at a church. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Peter of Arbues, a Spanish inquisitor who was based in the Kingdom of Aragon in modern Spain, was assassinated while praying in a church.

The son of a nobleman, Peter took his religious vows in 1474 and became an inquisitor in 1484, focusing his work on targeting recent Jewish converts who had allegedly renounced their Christian faith privately, known as Marranos.

“Although the enemies of the Inquisition accuse him of cruelty, it is certain that not a single sentence of death can be traced to him,” explained New Advent.

“The Marranos, however, whom he had punished hated and resolved to do away with him. One night while kneeling in prayer before the altar of Our Lady in the metropolitan church, where he used to recite the office with his brother canons, they attacked him, and hired assassins inflicted several wounds from which he died two days after.”

Peter would be canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1867.