Saint Peter Damian

Saint Peter Damian was a reforming Benedictine monk and was cardinal to Pope Leo IX. He was also declared as Doctor of the Church in 1828 with his feast day being celebrated every February 21. Born in Ravenna around 1007, he was the youngest of a large noble, but poor family. Orphaned at an early age, he was adopted by his elder brother, who treated him unfairly and under-fed him while serving him as a swineherd. Years passed, another brother who goes with the name Damianus, who was Archpriest at Ravenna, had pity on him and took him to be educated. Adopting his brother’s name to his own, Peter became great in his studies of theology and canon law, first in Ravenna, then at Faenza, and at the University of Parma, then around age 25 he had already become a famous teacher at Parma and Ravenna.

Around 1035, he gave up his secular profession and while avoiding the compromised luxury of Cluniac monasteries, he then entered the isolated hermitage of Fonte Avellana. Being a novice and a monk, his dedication was remarkable, but led him to extremes of self-mortification in penance that his health was affected, and he developed severe insomnia.

After his recovery, he was appointed to lecture his fellow monks. Then, due to the request of Guy of Pomposa and other heads of neighboring monasteries, between two to three years he lectured his fellow monks there also. Later, after returning to Fonte Avellana he was appointed as housekeeper of the house of the prior, who appointed him as his successor. In 1043 he became prior of Fonte Avellana, until his death later in February 1072 or 1073.

Like his friend Pope Gregory VII, they both pushed for reforms in the church. He also became watchful to the fortunes of the church, urging Gregory VI to deal with the scandals of the church in Italy. Around 1050 he returned to his hermitage, he wrote a scathing article regarding to the vices of the clergy, including sexual abuses of the minors and the actions of the church superiors to hide these crimes.

Damian also often condemned philosophy; for he believed that the first grammarian was the Devil, the one who taught Adam to decline God. He often argued that monks should not study philosophy because Jesus didn’t choose philosophers as disciples, so according to him studying it isn’t necessary for one’s salvation.

When Stephen IX was elected pope, Damian also was made cardinal and became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia on 30 November 1057. He was also appointed administrator of the Diocese of Gubbio. During his stay he was really impressed with great responsibilities of his office so he wrote a letter addressed to his fellow brother-cardinals encouraging them to set an example before all.

Throughout his life Peter Damian gave great contributions to the church most especially to his writings to reform the church into a better one. Pope Benedict XVI even described him as “one of the most significant figures of the 11th century… a lover of solitude and at the same time a fearless man of the Church, committed personally to the task of reform.” Like him, may we always strive for what is best and right wherever we are assigned by our God. May we also put discipline in our hearts like what Saint Peter Damian did to become living examples of Christ in this world.