Peter was born at Ravenna of respectable parents in 988 AD. His mother, wearied with caring for a large family, abandoned him when he was a baby. However, one of her female servants found him in an almost dying state and took care of him until his mother, repenting of her unnatural conduct, consented to treat him as her child. After the death of his parents, one of his brothers, a most harsh man, took him as a servant or slave. It was about this period of his life that he performed an action which evinced his virtue and his filial piety. He happened to find a large sum of money, but instead of using it for his own wants, he gave it to a priest, begging him to offer up the Holy Sacrifice for the repose of his father’s soul. Another of his brothers, called Damian (after whom, it is said, he was named), had Peter educated. So rapid and great was the progress he made in his studies that he was the admiration of his masters. He became so proficient in the liberal sciences that he was made to teach them in the public schools, which he did with great success. During all this time it was his study to bring his body into subjection to the spirit, and to this end he wore a hair-shirt under an outwardly comfortable dress, and practised frequent fasting, watching and prayer. Being in the very ardour of youth, and being cruelly buffeted by the sting of the flesh, during the night he would go plunge himself into a frozen pool of water to quench the impure flame which tormented him. He would also make pilgrimages to holy sanctuaries and recite the entire Psaltery. His charities to the poor were unceasing, and when frequently he provided them with a meal, he would wait upon them himself.
Out of a desire to lead a still more perfect life, Peter became a religious in the Monastery of Avellino in the diocese of Gubbio of the Order of the Monks of Holy Cross of Fontavellana which was founded by the blessed Ludolphus, a disciple of Saint Romuald. Being sent by his Abbot first to the Monastery of Pomposia, and then to that of Saint Vincent of Pietra-Pertusa, he edified both houses by his preaching, admirable teaching and holy life. At the death of the Abbot of Avellino he was recalled to that monastery and was made its superior. The institute so benefited by his government, not only by the new monasteries which he founded in several places, but also by the very saintly regulations he drew up, that he was justly regarded as the second founder of the Order and its brightest ornament. Houses of other Orders, Canons and even entire congregations of the faithful benefited from Peter’s enlightened zeal. He was a benefactor, in more ways than one, to the diocese of Urbino. He aided the Bishop Theuzo in a most important suit, and assisted him by advice and work in the right administration of his diocese. His spirit of holy contemplation, corporal austerities and saintly tenor of his whole conduct gained for him so high a reputation that Pope Stephen IX, in spite of Peter’s extreme reluctance, created him a Cardinal of the holy Roman Church and appointed him Bishop of Ostia. The saint proved himself worthy of these honours by the exercise of the most eminent virtues, and by the faithful discharge of his episcopal office.
It would be impossible to describe the services Peter rendered to the Church and the Sovereign Pontiffs during those most trying times by his learning, his prudence as legate and his untiring zeal. His life was one continued struggle against simony and the heresy of the Nicolaites. He purged the Church of Milan of these disorders and brought her into subjection to the Holy See. He courageously resisted the anti-popes Benedict and Cadolaus. He deterred King Henry IV of Germany from an unjust divorce of his wife. He restored the people of Ravenna to their allegiance to the Roman Pontiff and absolved them from interdict. He reformed the abuses which had crept in among the Canons of Velletri. There was scarcely a single Cathedral Church in the Province of Urbino that had not experienced the beneficial effects of Peter's holy zeal. Thus, that of Gubbio, which was for some time under his care, was relieved by him of many evils. And other Churches that needed his help found him as earnest for their welfare as though he were their own bishop. When he obtained permission to resign as Cardinal and Bishop, he relented nothing of his former charity but was equally ready in doing good to all. He was instrumental in propagating many devout practices including fasting on Fridays in honour of the Holy Cross, reciting the Little Office of our Lady, the keeping the Saturday as a day especially devoted to Mary, and the taking the discipline in expiation of past sins.
After a life which had edified the world by holiness, learning, miracles and glorious works, on his return from Ravenna to which he had been sent as legate, Peter fell asleep in Christ on the eighth of the Calends of March (February 23rd) at Faenza in 1072 AD. His relics, which are kept in the Cistercian Church of that town, are devoutly honoured by the faithful and many miracles are wrought at the holy shrine. The inhabitants of Faenza chose him as the patron of their city, having several times experienced his protection when threatened by danger. His Mass and Office, which were kept under the rite of Confessor and Bishop, had been long observed in several Dioceses and by the Camaldolese Order, but they were extended to the whole Church by a decree of the Congregation of Sacred Rites which was approved by Pope Leo XII who also added to the name of the Saint that of Doctor.
Dom Prosper Guéranger:
It is the feast of the austere reformer of the eleventh century, Peter Damian, the precursor of the holy Pontiff Gregory VII, that we are called upon to celebrate today. To him is due a share of that glorious regeneration which was effected at that troubled period when judgement had to begin at the House of God. The life he had led under the monastic Rule had fitted him for the great contest. So zealously did he withstand the disorders and abuses of his times that we may attribute to him, at least in great measure, the ardent faith of the two centuries which followed the scandals of the tenth. The Church ranks him among her Doctors on account of his admirable writings, and his penitential life ought to excite us to be fervent in the work we have in hand, the work of our conversion.
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Your soul was inflamed by the zeal of God’s House, O Peter! God gave you to His Church in those sad times when the wickedness of the world had robbed her of well nearly all her beauty. You had the spirit of an Elias within you, and it gave you courage to waken the servants of the Lord: they had slept, and while they were asleep, the enemy came and the field was oversown with tares (Matthew xiii. 25). Then did better days dawn for the Spouse of Christ. The promises made her by our Lord were fulfilled, but who was the Friend of the Bridegroom? (John iii. 29). Who was the chief instrument used by God to bring back to His House its ancient beauty? A Saint who bore the glorious name of Peter Damian! In those days the Sanctuary was degraded by secular interference. The Princes of the Earth said: “Let us possess the Sanctuary of God for an inheritance” (Psalm lxxxii. 13). The Church which God intended to be free was but a slave in the power of the rulers of this world, and the vices which are inherent to human weakness defiled the Temple. But God had pity on the Spouse of Christ, and for her deliverance he would use human agency: he chose you, Peter, as his principal co-operator in restoring order. Your example and your labours prepared the way for Gregory, the faithful and dauntless Hildebrand into whose hands the keys once placed, and the work of regeneration was completed. You have fought the good fight. You are now in your rest, but your love of the Church and your power to help, are greater than ever. Watch, then, over her interests. Obtain for her Pastors that Apostolic energy and courage which alone can cope with enemies so determined as hers are. Obtain for her Priests the holiness which God demands from them that are the salt of the Earth (Matthew v. 13). Obtain for the faithful the respect and obedience they owe to those who direct them in the path of salvation. You were not only the Apostle, you were moreover the model, of penance in the midst of a corrupt age. Pray for us that we may be eager to atone for our sins by works of mortification. Excite within our souls the remembrance of the sufferings of our Redeemer so that His Passion may urge us to repentance and hope. Increase our confidence in Mary, the Refuge of Sinners, and make us, like yourself, full of filial affection towards her and of zeal that she may be honoured and loved by those who are around us.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
The vigil of the Apostle St. Matthias.
At Sirmium, St. Sirenus, monk and martyr. By order of the emperor Maximian he was arrested and beheaded for confessing that he was a Christian.
In the same place, the birthday of seventy-two holy martyrs who ended the combat of martyrdom in that city and took possession of the everlasting kingdom.
At Rome, St. Polycarp, priest, who with blessed Sebastian converted many to the faith of Christ, and by his exhortations led them to the glory of martyrdom.
In the city of Astorga, St. Martha, virgin and martyr, under the emperor Decius and the pro-consul Paternus.
At Constantinople, St. Lazarus, a monk whom the Iconoclast emperor Theophilus ordered to be put to the torture for having painted holy images. His hand was burned with a hot iron, but being healed by the power of God, he painted anew the holy pictures that had been defaced, and finally rested in peace.
At Brescia, St. Felix, bishop.
At Seville in Spain, St. Florentius, confessor.
At Todi, St. Romana, virgin, who was baptised by Pope St. Sylvester. She led a heavenly life in caves and dens, and wrought glorious miracles.
In England, St. Milburga, virgin, daughter of the king of Mercia.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
