ST PETER DAMIAN, CARDINAL BISHOP OF OSTIA, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH FEBRUARY 21, 2022
A.D.( 998- 1072)
Saints are here to help us. They are in heaven and hear our petitions that need intercession.
St Peter Damian was an orphan, raised by his brothers. One brother mistreated him and the other educated him. St Damian took an academic career as master and professor. As many saints of his time he fasted, prayed, wore a hairshirt. He loved the poor and had many as dinner guests, at times serving them himself.
After a while, he left the world and entered a monastic life. He entered the St Benedict hermitage and spent his time in his tiny cell, praying, reading and living a life of great austerity. He became the head of the community, governing them with piety, wisdom and great love.
In 1057 Stephen IX commissioned him to be cardinal-bishop of Ostia in Italy. He identified as a major problem simony --the buying of church offices-- and encouraged his priests on celibacy, maintaining scheduled prayer and observance of religious anniversaries. Discipline was very important and he complained when the priests prayed the Divine Office sitting down when singing the psalms in the Divine Office. However, after years of service. His sermons and writings were based on example and stories rather than theoretical writing.
Eventually St Peter requested to be returned to the monastic life. He was quite happy in solitude. His preaching was most eloquent and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828.
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