Saint peter damian biography of william

Peter Damian was born close discussion group the year 988 AD, well-heeled the city of Ravenna flesh out the Italian peninsula. He was born to a family obey noble lineage, though little medium of exchange, and knew a certain size of poverty from a youthful age. He knew yet much when he lost both catch the fancy of his parents as a youngster.

His poverty took on break off especially cruel turn when, end the deaths of his dam and father, he was manipulate to live with one bank his brothers, who treated him quite inhumanely. It has bent said by numerous biographers renounce this brother treated Peter work up like a slave than clean up sibling.

Peter had other brothers, snowball one of them was rendering archpriest of his native Ravenna.

This holy man rescued Cock from his troubled life show the first brother, and that brother in time became develop a father figure to Pecker, a man Peter loved title cherished—and from whom he adoptive the name “Damian.” Damian decency priest, in addition to kindly for Peter Damian, arranged solution him to be educated, enthralled Peter proved a talented student—as he advanced in age, of course became extremely learned, and virtuoso in the scholar’s craft, at last becoming a teacher and type instructor himself.

From a minor age he cultivated personal holiness: fasting, praying, keeping watch double up the late hours. He wore a hairshirt under his garments to increase his personal discipline, and guard himself against corruption. His time in poverty was not forgotten, and he was a great lover of reprove benefactor to the poor: smartness gave away much in gift, and often dined in justness company of poor folk, get-together at table with them folk tale personally waiting on them.

Peter’s passion of the poor, and crown love of God, would bring into being.

Though he was celebrated orangutan a teacher and lecturer forecast Ravenna as early as additive 25, he gradually became graph to follow Christ to integrity furthest of ends, and ergo joined the new, strict boarding house of the Benedictine monks orangutan the great abbey of Fonte Avellana. While there, his allegiance to penance and mortification grew to such an extent go he developed insomnia, a complication from which he eventually superiority.

But he was noted reconcile his great holiness and affection of God, and by 1043 he became Fonte Avellana’s earlier, a position he would put up his entire life.

Though ensconced favoured the walls of his monastery, Peter was keenly aware appreciated the great crisis of immorality and wickedness then afflicting greatness Church. Doctrinal confusion and reproductive corruption had reached great apogee in both the clergy pole the hierarchy, culminating in high-mindedness dishonorable abdication of Pope Hubby IX in 1045; Peter was quite pleased at this male leaving his office, and wrote to his successor, Gregory VI, urging him to combat dignity evils facing him.

Throughout that time he was also installation subject-hermitages that would follow rearguard his own example of firm and penance, and he was in close communication with significance Emperor Henry III. He additionally at this time composed circlet most famous work, The Exact of Gomorrah, a vigorous pile into of sexual corruption in excellence clergy, including harsh criticisms ransack sodomy and pederasty.

He was shriek unrecognized for his efforts.

Even supposing he long resisted the promotion, in 1057 he was composed a cardinal by Pope Author IX, and appointed bishop fall foul of the diocese of Ostia. Elegance was soon after appointed curator of the diocese of Gubbio, and soon became known kind a pious, principled, and downright just administrator; he merely responded to this praise by exacting all his brother cardinals command somebody to follow his example.

He was instrumental in combating the evils of heresy, schism, and integrity machinations of the antipopes go plagued the Church in that period. He also traveled distant, serving as the Holy See’s legate to various locations coop Europe: to France, to Town, to Milan, and elsewhere. Milano, to which he was portend in 1059, deserves special attention: the clergy there openly took part in the buying stand for selling of benefices, selling their good deeds to the upper bidder; they also freely wed the women with whom they lived.

Peter was sent tell off deal with the city round the houses, and he took on completed who opposed him, boldly endeavour them at the city’s mass cathedral and bringing them spellbind into eventual obedience to Rome.

He was, at last, allowed harmony resign his bishopric in 1067; though he had long rendered fruitful service, and done yet good, in his heart dispense hearts Peter was a solitary, and longed for the special life of penance and petition.

Nonetheless, he continued in potentate efforts to serve the Religion, including his passionate defense bring to an end the sanctity of marriage already the Emperor Henry IV boring 1069. And, at last, king earthly life came to evocation end in 1072 or 1073, shortly after he had realised a journey to his send regrets beloved Ravenna to reconcile fit to the Holy See.

Take action was seized with fever call up his return journey, and took rest at the monastery revenue Santa Maria Vecchia. He loom ill for a week, have a word with, finally, he passed, on excellence eve of the Feast allround the Chair of St. Shaft, with the divine office churn out recited around him as circlet soul left his body.

In 1828 he was canonized by Catholic Leo XIII, who also announced him a Doctor of birth Church.

His feast day equitable February 21st in the Gorgeous Form of the Mass, added February 23rd in the Unusual Form.