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February 21, 2023
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The medieval Italian bishop St. Peter Damian (1007-1072) was born in Ravenna, the place his dad and mom died when he was nonetheless younger. Peter was first left with an older brother, who was very unkind and neglectful; later one other brother cared for him, and organized for him to be properly educated. Peter turned a professor, and in 1035 he joined the Benedictine Order.
Peter quickly gained a popularity for being beneficiant to the poor; it was his customized to ask one or two poor individuals to share his meals. In the monastery Peter practiced extreme penances, going lengthy durations with out meals or sleep and spending hours in prayer.
Eventually Peter turned abbot of the monastery and devoted himself to fostering non secular reform and renewal. The pope regularly requested him to mediate in disputes involving completely different monasteries or disagreements between native spiritual and authorities officers. Peter was then appointed bishop of Ostia (the port metropolis of Rome), the place he was vigorous in his efforts at reform; he restored self-discipline amongst his clergy and promoted a less complicated, extra non secular life-style for his folks.
He wrote many letters and sermons, however all through this era he desired to return to the monastic life. This request was lastly granted, however he was nonetheless referred to as to function a papal legate now and again. After coming back from one such project, Peter was overcome by a fever. With his monks gathered round him in prayer, St. Peter Damian died on February 22, 1072; in 1828 he was declared a Doctor (an eminent and dependable teacher) of the Church.
Lessons
- Personal experiences of struggling ought to make us sympathetic to others in want; St. Peter’s tough childhood made him significantly conscious of the poor and lowly.
- Holiness requires us to be each agency and delicate. St. Peter had a popularity for being fairly impatient and important with those that took faith casually, however he is also very consoling and inspiring to these experiencing problem or sorrow.
From Johnnette Benkovic’s Graceful Living: Meditations to Help You Grow Closer to God Day by Day
“In serenity, stay up for the enjoyment that follows disappointment. Hope leads you to that pleasure and love enkindles your zeal.”
—From a letter of St. Peter Damien
Johnnette’s Meditation
The letter to the Hebrews tells us that “religion is the peace of mind of issues hoped for, the conviction of issues not seen” (11:1). How does this assist me stay out the recommendation of St. Peter Damien?
picture: San Pedro Damiani by Andrea Barbiani / Classense Town Library, Public area, by way of Wikimedia Commons
