Our namesake, St. Peter Canisius, was born Pieter Kanis in the town of Nijmegen, in the Netherlands, in 1521. A talented theologian, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1543. In the mid-sixteenth century, Canisius was a key figure in the German counter-reformation, teaching, preaching, and debating amidst the sharp competition for souls among Catholics and Protestants in central Europe. Canisius was also an early leader in Jesuit education. He founded colleges and universities across Europe.
Founded by German Jesuits to serve German-American immigrants, Canisius College appropriately carries St. Peter Canisius' name. While he was a counter-reformation hero, our campus welcomes people from many faiths, and prioritizes inclusion and collaboration. But St. Peter Canisius inspires our love of learning, deep respect for education, and faith that persuasive advocacy can be a powerful practice for public good.
Canisius wrote the Triple Catechism (1555-1558), an important catechism in the early modern period.