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Feast Day: June 8
Death: June 8, 1301
Blessed Peter De Amer, also known as Pedro de Amer, was a Mercedarian secular knight and a significant figure in the history of the Mercedarian Order. He was elected as the Master-General of the Mercedarians in 1271, a position he held for nearly three decades.
Under his leadership, Blessed Peter De Amer played a crucial role in the growth and development of the Mercedarian Order. He is particularly remembered for his contribution to the Order's governance through the writing of its first Constitutions. These Constitutions provided a framework for the religious and administrative life of the Mercedarians, ensuring their adherence to the principles and values they were founded upon.
Blessed Peter De Amer was also instrumental in the expansion of the Mercedarian Order, as he founded at least 15 new convents in Spain and France. Through his efforts, he established a wider presence for the Mercedarians, enabling them to carry out their mission of ransoming Christian captives held by Muslim rulers.
However, towards the end of his leadership, some members of the Mercedarian Order began advocating for a clerical Master-General instead of a layman. This led to a division within the Order, with some questioning Blessed Peter De Amer's authority. Despite the challenges he faced, he remained dedicated to his role and the ideals of the Mercedarian Order, seeking to fulfill his mission of liberation and redemption.
Blessed Peter De Amer passed away on 8 June 1301 at the convent of El Puig in Spain. He died of natural causes, leaving behind a legacy of service and devotion to the Mercedarian Order. Though specific information on his birth and the details of his beatification and canonization are not provided, his contributions to the Mercedarians make him a revered figure within the Order and an inspiration for generations of Mercedarian friars who followed in his footsteps. His feast day is celebrated on 8 June by the Mercedarians, commemorating his unwavering commitment to the Order's mission of mercy and redemption.