Feast day, February 21
Born at Ravenna and educated by his archpriest brother
St. Peter Damian was born of poor parents at Ravenna, Italy, in 1007 A.D. Orphaned when very young, one of his brothers took him in but put him to work with heavy chores like tending a herd of swine. Another brother, who happened to be the archpriest of Ravenna, took pity on Peter. He recognized Peter's intelligence and arranged for his education by sending him to good schools. In recognition for his brother's kindness and goodness, Peter adopted his brother's name, Damian, as his surname. After his education at Faenza, and then at Parma, Peter became a professor of great ability.
Joined the Benedictines at Fonte Avellana
In 1035 A.D., St. Peter Damian entered the Benedictines of Fonte Avellana, living as a hermit and devoting himself to the intensive study of Scripture. St. Peter adapted to this life eagerly, and slept so little that he developed severe insomnia. Despite this suffering, he was able to study the Bible so well that he became well-versed in the Scriptures. Peter was well admired by his fellow monks who unanimously recommended that he become abbot upon the superior's death. Though St. Peter was reluctant to assume the position, when it became a matter of obedience, he indeed succeeded the abbot when the abbot died in 1043 A.D.
Abbot and cardinal-bishop of Ostia
St. Peter Damian proved to be a well-loved superior. He founded five other monasteries, and appointed priors, who led monastic communities under St. Peter's general direction. In his leadership abilities, St. Peter Damian was known to be uncompromising toward worldliness and denounced the practice of simony. In 1057 A.D., he was named cardinal-bishop of Ostia by Pope Stephen IX. However, when he attempted to resign his diocese, his request was refused at first during the papacy of Nicholas II. He finally was able to persuade the next pope, Pope Alexander II, so that he may return to a simple monastic way of life. But, Pope Alexander II permitted St. Peter Damian to resign with the condition that he shall make himself available if his help was needed.
Ecclesiastical involvement even upon retiring to monastic life
After Peter Damian retired to the life of a monk, Pope Alexander II did indeed call upon Peter from time to time. St. Peter Damian still had to return to his work of ecclesiastical reform. He opposed the antipopes, especially Honorius II, and engaged in several papal diplomatic missions to France and Germany. He went to King Henry IV of Germany to persuade the King to abandon his plan to divorce his wife, Bertha. At another diplomatic mission, the Pope also sent Peter to Ravenna to settle troubles after the archbishop had been excommunicated. When St. Peter arrived at Ravenna, he found the archbishop had already passed away, but he imposed suitable penances on the accomplices for the archbishop's crimes.
Written works of St. Peter Damian
St. Peter Damian had many written works. In 1051 A.D., he wrote the book Liber Gomorrhianus. This book attacked the many vices of the clergy, especially clerical marriage. Two years later, St. Peter also wrote Liber Gratissimus - a defense of the legitimacy of ordinations even when money was paid to obtain the office of priesthood. Of the many letters that he wrote, some one hundred seventy are still existing today. Also extant are his fifty-three sermons, seven biographies (including one of St. Romuald), and other writings on purgatory, the Eucharist, and clerical celibacy.
Death and elevation to the title Doctor of the Church
After his mission to the diocese of Ravenna, St. Peter Damian got ill while travelling back to his monastery. He made it to a monastery outside Faenza, where he died on the eighth day of his illness, with the monks gathered around him saying the Divine Office. It was February 22, 1072 A.D. For many years, devotions to St. Peter Damian were celebrated where he lived and worked. Though he was never formally canonized, in 1828 A.D., Pope Leo XII extended his feast to the Universal Church and declared him a Doctor of the Church. The Church celebrates his feast every February 21.
Edited from the following sources
- Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
- The Doctors of the Church vol 2, by John F. Fink
- A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
- Saints for Our Times, by Ransom
No comments:
Post a Comment