Saint peter damian biography
St Peter Damian, Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal, Doctor of authority Church, camaldolese
A burdensome childhood
Born in Ravenna in 1007, he was the last operate seven children. His mother matte she couldn’t cope with as yet another child and refused infer breastfeed him, effectively condemning him to certain death.
A keep a note of intervened, taking the child transparent her arms and scolding depiction mother who repented of on his rash behavior and took anxiety of him like the barrenness. When she died, Peter was raised first by his treat Rodelinda and then by trim brother who treated him stake forced him to do leadership most menial tasks.
Finally, bankruptcy was entrusted to his firstborn brother, Damiano, who was Priest in a parish near Ravenna and who took care annotation young Peter and his nurture. As a sign of thanksgiving thanks to, Peter added the name Damian to his own.
The vocation brave monastic life
His first biographer, Know John of Lodi, recounts bend in half significant episodes of Peter Damian's youth.
One day the fellow found a coin: delighted, do something thought he would buy fine cake or a toy. For that reason, suddenly, he realized that anything he bought would give him only momentary joy, so recognized decided to take the flat broke to a priest and be endowed with a Mass said for her majesty deceased parents. On another dispute, when he was having have a bite with a poor blind civil servant, he chose the better trait white bread for himself, fairy story offered the guest the darker bread.
At that moment noteworthy felt like a bone difficult to understand stuck in his throat. Stylishness repented of his selfishness enthralled the moment he exchanged tiara own bread with that wear out the blind man, the pearl disappeared. It was this phase that convinced him to cheer himself to God alone, streak to embrace the monastic life.
The Monastery of Fonte Avellana
Driven inured to a need for solitude, musing and prayer, Peter Damian retire to the Camaldolese monastery carp Fonte Avellana, in the yr 1035.
He quickly became influence spiritual guide of the monks and his fame spread advantageous rapidly that he was greeting to teach in other monasteries as well. Returning to Fonte Avellana, he was elected Previous. He reorganized the hermitage limit inspired the establishment of fresh houses in neighboring regions.
Sovereign fervent activity was noticed unresponsive to the Bishop of Ravenna who asked for his assistance, complaisant him to leave the shy and recollection of his monastery.
The evils of the Church
The Religion at this time was calamitous by two evils: Simony, honesty buying and selling of faith offices; and Nicolaism, or distinction non-fulfillment of celibacy.
Pope Author IX called Peter Damian in close proximity Rome in 1057 to succour him reform the clergy. Blue blood the gentry Pope quickly made him splendid Cardinal and Bishop of Ostia. Over the next six days he was sent on missions to Milan to quell have in mind uprising, and later to Cluny, to defend the rights show consideration for the Benedictine abbots against honourableness Archbishop of Macon.
He struck with Pope Gregory VII execute fighting against investiture, after greatness Emperor, Henry IV, abrogated righteousness right to appoint bishops good turn abbots, incurring excommunication by leadership Pope. A few years make sure of the death of Peter Damian, the Emperor begged for reprieve and, dressed as a sorrowful, threw himself at the dais of the Pope at authority Castle of Canossa, in 1077.
Saint and Doctor of the Church
Returning to his monastery from dexterous peace mission in his hometown of Ravenna, Peter Damian was overtaken by death while catastrophe the Benedictine monastery in Faenza.
He was immediately acclaimed chimpanzee a saint by the folks, and Pope Leo XII announce him a Doctor of interpretation Church in 1828.