February 21, 2023

SAINT  PETER DAMIAN

 

When it comes to preaching on weekdays, if it’s a feast day of a saint - I like to look up stuff about the saint.  I remember that more than abstractions about virtues or stuff from Paul or the gospels. Not always.

 

Today is he feast of Saint Peter Damian.  What about him?

 

A few comments.

 

Never formerly canonized. That’s more modern times. Peter Damian’s dates are about 1007 to 1070.  He was around 65 when he died. He was quickly thought of and talked about as a saint – all over Europe.

 

He was the youngest in his family. The family were poor. An older brother sort of made him his servant and slave. Another brother got him  a great education.

 

He became a teacher, preacher and  sent around Europe to be a delegate to the pope on business.

 

He was a monk, a Benedictine, a hermit and a Religious reformer. He campaigned about sexual  abuse of minors – simony – money – and sexual  stuff by priests.

 

He did a bit of writing – especially a letter writer. About 180 of his letters are in archives.

 

He was not off on philosophy – but got two issues in philosophical discourse out there for discussion: can God redo history – for example could someone’s virginity be restored. He’d say yes – but it would take a lot of rewrites.  The other issue was whether God could do evil. No.

 

I’ve seen discussion of these 2 issues and Damian/s on them in magazine articles from Rice and University of Virginia.

 

Dante uses Damian in his Paradiso – Canto 21.

 

Enough.