What is Peter Waldo?
{{Infobox Person |name = Peter Waldo |image = WaldoAtLutherDenkmal.JPG |caption = Statue of Peter Waldo at the Luther Memorial at [[Worms, Germany]] |birth_date = 1140 |birth_place = |death_date = 1218 |death_place = }} '''Peter Waldo''', '''Valdo''', or '''Waldes''' (''c''. 1140 – ''c''. 1218), also '''Pierre Vaudès''' or '''de Vaux''', is believed by many to have started the [[Waldensians]]. This was a [[Christian]] spiritual movement of the [[Middle Ages]]. People are still alive in southern [[Europe]] who come from this movement. Because not much was written down about Waldo while he was alive, people do not agree how important he was to the Waldensians, because it may have been around before his leadership. Also, the French historian [[Thuanus]] thought Waldo died in the year 1179.<ref>William Jones, ''History of the Waldenses'', (London: 1816) volume 2, pg 12</ref> ==Life and work== Not many details are known about the life of Waldo. Some sources say that he was a rich man who sold [[clothes]], and that he was a [[merchant]] from [[Lyon]]. Also, sources say that he had some [[education]]. Sometime not long before the year 1160 he was inspired by some events. One of these was hearing a sermon on the life of [[St. Alexius]]. Another was when saying that one did not believe in [[transubstantiation]] (which is the belief that, during [[Eucharist|Communion]], the [[bread]] and [[wine]] turn into the body and [[blood]] of [[Jesus Christ]]) became a [[crime]] for which one could be [[capital punishment|punished by death]]. A third event was the sudden death of a friend during an evening meal.<ref>Jean Paul Perrin, ''History of the Old Waldenses Anterior to the Reformation'', (New York: 1884) pg 21</ref><ref>Jones, vol 2, pg 8</ref><ref>M. Aston, ''Faith and Fire: Popular and Unpopular Religion, 1350-1600'', (London, 1993) p.18.</ref> After this, he began living a radical Christian life. He gave his [[property]] to his wife. He gave the rest of his things to the poor. At about this time, Waldo began to preach a