When Faber heard of all this he wrote to Canisius, commending the charity of the trio, but reminding them at the same time that study was their paramount duty, and would lead to more valuable work in the future than anything they could then do for souls.

“As obedience requires you to finish your course of theology,” he wrote, “you must not neglect it, thinking to do more by succouring your neighbour in his temporal necessities.”

Soon Faber came himself to Cologne, and lodged with the Carthusians, those valiant sons of St. Bruno, whose boast it is never to have quite departed from the spirit of their founder.

On the 8th May 1545, his twenty-fourth birthday, Peter Canisius made the three simple vows of the Society and the same year was ordained priest.  By this time his reputation as a Catholic reformer was as great as his reputation for learning.  His capacity for work was prodigious.  He lectured twice daily; every Sunday he preached in one of the churches, great crowds flocking to hear him.  At home, every hour was occupied either in teaching or in receiving those who came to him for advice and help in their doubts.  He answered them all with so much insight, wisdom, gentleness, and humility, that even Lutherans dropped the usual epithets, and spoke of him with respect.  Every free moment was devoted to literary work, which also obtained a certain celebrity.

But to all these strenuous efforts the Archbishop Elector Hermann von Wied persistently remained a stranger.  Relations between himself and his Chapter were strained to the utmost.  A deputation of his clergy had waited upon him and solemnly entreated him to retrace his steps, and to cancel the novelties he had introduced.  On his refusal, they declared that they would with a clear conscience, and for fear of incurring the divine wrath if they further delayed, proceed by all legitimate means to remove so grievous a scandal.  Then the Chapter, including representatives of the lower ranks of the clergy and the university, made a public protest, and drew up appeals to the Pope and the Emperor.  They at once informed the archbishop of these measures, and again attempted before taking irrevocable steps to bring about a peaceful solution.  But all was useless; and, forced to extremities, they solicited for their appeal the support of other dioceses and learned academies, in order to obtain more speedy relief.  The best and most distinguished of the bishops and clergy, as well as the universities of the whole province, joined in the appeal, and the University of Ingolstadt also signified its intention of seconding them.

The archbishop on his part was also careful to procure himself allies.  As Elector of Cologne he summoned the Landtag, and its members declared themselves in his favour.  The landgrave, Philip of Hessen, to whom Luther had given licence to commit bigamy, and other Protestant princes naturally promised him their support, and the Schmalkaldian League did likewise.