Pierre of Luxembourg was born in 1369 to a noble French family. Before he had turned five, Pierre had lost both of his parents. His aunt, a wealthy countess, raised him in Paris.

Pierre was the second eldest child of a family of six, and he felt a deep sense of responsibility for his siblings. In 1381, Pierre turned himself into the English in exchange for the freedom of his brother, who was being held hostage. The British court was astonished by the self-giving love of this brother. King Richard II offered Pierre a place of honor in his court. But Pierre refused, as he was studying to become a priest.

Pierre became a canon for two of the most important churches in France. In 1384, he was elected a canon of the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, and then, two years later, he was appointed a canon for Notre Dame de Chartres. These responsibilities prepared him for his next ecclesial role as bishop.

Pierre lived in France during the turbulent years of the Western Schism, during which France supported the antipope. Pierre was appointed the Bishop of Metz by the Antipope Clement VII. Reportedly, Pierre rode into his new see on a mule, barefoot, a sign of great humility and poverty. The townspeople of Metz loved their humble, holy bishop greatly.

Pierre attempted multiple times to resolve the Western Schism, as he was a bishop who had great influence over Antipope Clement. He was invited to join the antipapal court at Avignon, where he died in 1387, of illness many say was a result of the severe penances he placed upon himself.

As in his life, the Western Schism interrupted Pierre’s story after his death. His beatification process was begun and aborted many times. Until, finally, well after the resolution of the Western Schism, Pope Clement VII beatified Pierre in 1527.

Blessed Peter of Luxembourg, beloved Bishop of Metz—pray for us!