Saint Peter Damian

Biography

Saint Peter Damian, also known as Petrus Damiani, was born in 1007 in Ravenna, Italy. He was the youngest child in a large but impoverished family of local nobility. Unfortunately, Peter became an orphan at a young age and was sent to live with one of his brothers who mistreated him and forced him to work as a swine-herd. Despite his difficult upbringing, Peter was a pious boy and eventually found refuge with another brother, Damian, who was a priest in Ravenna. In gratitude, Peter took on the name Damian. He received a good education in Ravenna, Faenza, and Parma, Italy, and became a professor. Around 1035, Peter made the life-changing decision to retire from the world and become a Benedictine monk. However, his health suffered due to his extreme ascetic practices, such as replacing sleep with prayer. This forced him to take time for recovery, during which he devoted himself to studying Scripture. Once he regained his health, Peter was assigned to teach his fellow monks and the public. Peter Damian served as the economus of Fonte-Avellana and later became the prior of the monastery in 1043, a position he held for the rest of his life. During his time there, he greatly expanded the monastery, improved its library, and founded sister hermitages in San Severino, Gamugno, Acerata, Murciana, San Salvatore, Sitria, and Ocri. Saint Peter Damian's dedication to renewing the zeal and discipline of the Church was well-known. In 1047, he attended a synod in Rome, where he encouraged Pope Gregory VI to support the revitalization of Church zeal and the improvement of clerical discipline. He also wrote the Liber Gomorrhianus, which exposed the vices of priests, such as their preoccupation with worldly matters and simony. Recognized for his wisdom and leadership, Peter Damian was appointed cardinal-bishop of Ostia on November 30, 1057. He fought against simony and strove to restore primitive discipline among priests and religious who were becoming increasingly worldly. He strongly opposed the anti-pope Benedict X and supported Pope Alexander II. Peter Damian was a prolific writer and correspondent. In addition to numerous sermons and seven biographies, including one of Saint Romuald, he also composed poetry, regarded as some of the best Latin of his time. Despite his desire to live a simple monastic life, Peter was often called upon as a papal legate to resolve disputes and make peace between various religious houses, clergymen, and government officials. Saint Peter Damian's importance and contributions to the Church were widely recognized. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828, in recognition of his profound theological insights. His representation as a cardinal bearing a whip in his hand symbolizes his strong leadership in combating corruption, while his depiction as a pilgrim holding a papal bull represents his numerous legations. Saint Peter Damian passed away on February 22, 1072, at the monastery in Ravenna, Italy. He died of fever while surrounded by his fellow monks reciting the Divine Office. Immediately after his death, there was a growing cultus, or veneration, of him. His relics were moved several times, and since 1898, they have been housed in the Chapel of Saint Peter Damian in the cathedral of Faenza, Italy. In recognition of his holiness and impact, Saint Peter Damian was canonized by Pope Leo XII in 1823. He is now revered as the patron saint of Faenza, Italy. His life and teachings continue to inspire and guide Catholics around the world.