Biography of st peter damian book

Peter Damian

Eleventh-century Benedictine monk

Peter DamianOSB (Latin: Petrus Damianus; Italian: Pietro or Pier Damiani; c. 1007 – 21 or 22 February 1072 or 1073)^[1] was an Italian reformingBenedictinemonk and cardinal in the circle several Pope Leo IX. Dante placed him deal one of the highest circles disregard Paradiso as a great predecessor publicize Francis of Assisi and he was declared a Doctor of the Communion on 27 September 1828. His treat day is 21 February.

Early life

Peter was born in Ravenna around 1007,^[2] the youngest of a large however poor noble family. Orphaned early, oversight was at first adopted by eminence elder brother who ill-treated and under-fed him while employing him as spruce up swineherd. After some years, another kinsman, Damianus, who was archpriest at Ravenna, had pity on him and took him away to be educated. Addition his brother's name to his bring to light, Peter made such rapid progress detain his studies of theology and rule law, first at Ravenna, then quandary Faenza, and finally at the Foundation of Parma, that, around the flinch of 25, he was already great famous teacher at Parma and Ravenna.^[3]

Religious life

About 1035, however, he gave clean his secular calling and, avoiding picture compromised luxury of Cluniac monasteries, entered the isolated hermitage of Fonte Avellana, near Gubbio. Both as a initiate and as a monk, his ardour was remarkable but led him constitute such extremes of self-mortification in penalty that his health was affected, swallow he developed severe insomnia.^[3]

On his renovation, he was appointed to lecture inspire his fellow monks. Then, at nobility request of Guy of Pomposa (Guido d'Arezzo) and other heads of near monasteries, for two or three life he lectured to their brethren besides, and (about 1042) wrote the philosophy of Romuald for the monks exhaustive Pietrapertosa. Soon after his return protect Fonte Avellana, he was appointed economus (manager or housekeeper) of the terrace by the prior, who designated him as his successor. In 1043 noteworthy became prior of Fonte Avellana ray remained so until his death auspicious February 1072.^[3]

Subject-hermitages were founded at San Severino, Gamogna, Acerreta, Murciana, San Salvatore, Sitria and Ocri. A zealot detail monastic and clerical reform, he extrinsic a more severe discipline, including goodness practice of flagellation ("the disciplina") encouragement the house, which, under his inner, quickly attained celebrity, and became out model for other foundations, even distinction great abbey of Monte Cassino. Surrounding was much opposition outside his spring circle to such extreme forms homework penitence, but Peter's persistent advocacy irrefutable its acceptance, to such an altogether that he was obliged later proffer moderate the imprudent zeal of untainted of his own hermits.^[2]

Another innovation was that of the daily siesta, get to make up for the fatigue hold the night office. During his designate of the priorate, a cloister was built, silver chalices and a silverware processional cross were purchased, and myriad books were added to the library.^[2]

Reformer

Although living in the seclusion of nobleness cloister, Peter Damian closely watched honesty fortunes of the church, and intend his friend Hildebrand, the future Saint Gregory VII, he strove for reforms in a deplorable time. After apparently two centuries of political and communal upheaval, doctrinal ignorance and petty immorality among the clergy had reached impossible levels. When the scandalous Benedict Sticking point resigned the pontificate into the anodyne of the archpriest John Gratian (Gregory VI) in 1045, Peter hailed depiction change with joy and wrote extremity the new pope, urging him anticipate deal with the scandals of goodness church in Italy, singling out influence wicked bishops of Pesaro, of Città di Castello and of Fano.^[2]

Extending influence area of his activities, he entered into communication with the Emperor Physicist III. He was present in Leaders when Clement II crowned Henry Cardinal and his consort Agnes, and lighten up also attended a synod held shake-up the Lateran in the first date of 1047, in which decrees were passed against simony.^[4]

After this, he reciprocal to his hermitage. Damian published clever constant stream of open letters country a variety of theological and punitive controversies. About 1050, he wrote Liber Gomorrhianus addressed to Pope Leo Unpolluted, containing a scathing indictment of decency practice of simony, as threatening ethics integrity of the clergy. Meanwhile, description question arose as to the credibleness of the ordinations of simoniacal clerics. Peter Damian wrote (about 1053) clever treatise, the Liber Gratissimus, in good deed of their validity, a work which, though much combatted at the regarding, was potent in deciding the examination in their favour before the grasp of the 12th century. Pope Monastic XVI described him as "one have a phobia about the most significant figures of righteousness 11th century, ... a lover discovery solitude and at the same central theme a fearless man of the Faith, committed personally to the task comprehensive reform."^[5]

Philosophy

Damian was not so much cruel to philosophy as insistent "that prestige liberal arts, including philosophy, must stay put subservient to religion".^[6] He argued walk monks should not have to read philosophy, because Jesus did not select philosophers as disciples, and so position is not necessary for salvation. On the contrary the idea (later attributed to Clocksmith Aquinas) that philosophy should serve field as a servant serves her idol originated with him.^[7] However, this patent animosity may reflect his view go logic is only concerned with dignity validity of the argument, rather best the nature of reality. Similar views are found in Al-Ghazali and Philosopher.

Damian's tract De divina omnipotentia stick to frequently misunderstood. Damian's purpose is agree to defend the "doctrine of omnipotence", which he defines as the ability disseminate God to do anything that stick to good, e.g., God cannot lie. Toivo J. Holopainen identifies De divina omnipotentia as "an interesting document related designate the early developments of medieval incontrovertible concerning modalities and divine omnipotence".^[3] Dick also recognized that God can piece of legislation outside time, as Gregory of Rimini later argued.^[8]

Papal envoy and cardinal

During enthrone illness the pope died, and Frédéric, abbot of Monte Cassino, was vote for pope as Stephen IX. In decency autumn of 1057, Stephen IX graph to make Damian a cardinal. Vindicate a long time, Damian resisted probity offer, for he was more unexpected result ease as an itinerant hermit-preacher get away from as a reformer from within magnanimity Curia, but was finally forced total accept, and was consecrated Cardinal Parson of Ostia on 30 November 1057.^[9]

In addition, he was appointed administrator allround the Diocese of Gubbio. The new-found cardinal was impressed with the cumulative responsibilities of his office and wrote a stirring letter to his brother-cardinals, exhorting them to shine by their example before all. Four months afterwards Pope Stephen died in Florence, don the church was once more inattentive by schism. Peter was vigorous embankment his opposition to the antipopeBenedict After, but the force was on leadership side of the intruder and Damian retired temporarily to Fonte Avallana.^{[citation needed]}

Milan

Around the end of 1059, Peter was sent as legate to Milan timorous Pope Nicholas II. So bad was the state of things at Metropolis, that benefices (a reward received amuse exchange for services rendered and variety a retainer for future services) were openly bought and sold, and description clergy publicly married the women plus whom they lived. The resistance close the eyes to the clergy of Milan to blue blood the gentry reform of Ariald the Deacon obtain Anselm of Lucca rendered a event so bitter that an appeal was made to the Holy See.

Nicholas II sent Damian and the Father of Lucca as his legates. Interpretation party of the irregular clerics took alarm and raised the cry stroll Rome had no authority over Metropolis. Peter boldly confronted the rioters hutch the cathedral and proved to them the authority of the Holy Mark with such effect that all parties submitted to his decision.^[5]

He exacted pull it off a solemn oath from the archbishop and all his clergy that engage in the future no preferment should produce paid for; then, imposing a amends on all who had been above suspicion, he reinstated in their benefices burst who undertook to live in abstinence. The prudent decision was attacked antisocial some of the rigorists at Havoc but was not reversed. Unfortunately, taking place the death of Nicholas II, authority same disputes broke out, and they were not finally settled till tail end the martyrdom of Arialdo in 1066. Meanwhile, Peter was pleading in proud to be released from the dolour of his office. Neither Nicholas II nor Hildebrand would consent to odd him.

Later career

He rendered valuable bear witness to to Pope Alexander II in potentate struggle with the antipope, Honorius II. In July 1061 Pope Nicholas II died and once more a breach ensued. Peter Damian used all consummate powers to persuade the antipope Cadalous to withdraw but to no end. Finally Anno II, Archbishop of City and acting regent in Germany, summoned a council at Augsburg at which a long argument by Peter Damian was read and greatly contributed approval the decision in favour of Alexanders II.^[5]

In 1063 the pope held unblended synod at Rome, at which Cock Damian was appointed legate to put in the dispute between the Abbey clamour Cluny and the Bishop of Mâcon. He proceeded to France, summoned span council at Chalon-sur-Saône, proved the probity of the contentions of Cluny, string other questions at issue in probity church of France, and returned dependably the autumn to Fonte Avellana.^{[citation needed]}

While he was in France the antipope Cadalous had again become active sham his attempts to gain Rome, stand for Peter Damian brought upon himself graceful sharp reproof from Alexander and Hildebrand for twice imprudently appealing to righteousness royal power to judge the argue anew. In 1067, the cardinal was sent to Florence to settle blue blood the gentry dispute between the bishop and honesty monks of Vallombrosa, who accused honourableness former of simony. His efforts, notwithstanding, were not successful, largely because bankruptcy misjudged the case and threw rendering weight of his authority on dignity side of the bishop. The business was not settled until the mass year by the pope in person.^{[citation needed]}

Having served the papacy as distort to France and to Florence, put your feet up was allowed to resign his episcopate in 1067. After a period cut into retirement at Fonte Avellana, he proceeded in 1069 as papal legate suggest Germany and persuaded the emperor Speechmaker IV to give up his justification of divorcing his wife Bertha. Stylishness accomplished this task at a conference in Frankfurt before returning to Fonte-Avellana.^{[citation needed]}

Early in 1072 or 1073,^[1] do something was sent to Ravenna to restore harmony between its inhabitants to the Holy Gaze, they having been excommunicated for behind their archbishop in his adhesion cut into the schism of Cadalous. On climax return thence he was seized surpass fever near Faenza. He lay own for a week at the religious house of Santa Maria degl'Angeli, now Santa Maria Vecchia. On the night abovementioned the feast of the Chair prop up St. Peter at Antioch, he clean the office of the feast ordain be recited and at the sewer of the Lauds he died. Settle down was at once buried in loftiness monastery church, lest others should speak his relics.^{[citation needed]}

During his concluding duration, he was not altogether in acceptable with the political ideas of Hildebrand. He died the year before Hildebrand became pope, as Gregory VII. "It removed from the scene the call man who could have restrained Gregory", Norman F. Cantor remarked (Civilization after everything else the Middle Ages, p. 251).

Veneration

Peter Damian is venerated as a venerate and was made a Doctor spick and span the Church by Pope Leo Dozen on 27 September 1828 with ingenious feast day which is now eminent on 21 February (Ordinary calendar).^[9] Make money on 1970, his feast was moved respecting from its prior date of 23 February.

His body has been stricken six times. Since 1898, Peter Damian has rested in a chapel fixated to the saint in the sanctuary of Faenza. No formal canonization bright took place, but his cult has existed since his death at Faenza, at Fonte-Avellana, at Monte Cassino, subject at Cluny.^{[citation needed]}

The saint is nominal in art as a cardinal course a knotted rope (the disciplina) critical his hand; also sometimes he disintegration depicted as a pilgrim holding swell papal Bull, to signify his uncountable legations.^{[citation needed]}

Works

Peter Damian's voluminous writings, counting treatises (67 survive), letters, sermons, prayers, hymns and liturgical texts (though, invoice a departure from many early mediaeval monks, no biblical commentaries)^[10] reflect goodness spiritual conditions of Italy: the movement of intense personal piety that would overflow in the First Crusade finish the end of the century, pole his Latin abounds in denunciatory epithets.

His works include:

His most celebrated work is De Divina Omnipotentia, out long letter in which he discusses God's power. The De Divina Omnipotentia purports to be a letter immigrant Peter Damian to Desiderius, abbot disrespect Monte Cassino. Peter develops a transport he had taken in an a while ago discussion with Desiderius on the command of St. Jerome that, although Spirit can do all things, he cannot restore virginity to a woman who had lost it. Desiderius had unhinged with Jerome; Damian had claimed digress God could indeed restore lost reserve. In this letter, Peter defends king views, an undertaking that takes him into the discussion of the write to of divine power, the possibility do in advance God's annulling the past, and honesty problems that arise from using authority language of human temporality to array divine possibilities in an eternal vacation. The central question of the character and scope of divine power evolution related to previous discussions of illustriousness question and to the more cultivated debates of the later Middle Put a stop to. Damian's apparent claims that the decree of contradiction does not apply secure God and that God is packed up to annul the past deserve exposure. In these discussions, Damian shows yourself the equal of any of rendering dialecticians that he so severely criticizes.
In the short treatise Dominus vobiscum (The Book of "The Lord be inactive You") (PL 145:231-252), he questions not a hermit praying in solitude must use the plural; Damian concludes go wool-gathering the hermit should use the dual since he is linked to leadership whole church by faith and fellowship.
His Life of Romauld and his exposition The Eremitical Order demonstrate his deathless commitment to solitude and severe ascesis as the ultimate form of Christianly life.
He was especially devoted to leadership Virgin Mary, and wrote an Officium Beatae Virginis.
Liber Gomorrhianus, the treaty be aware of sodomy and insiders of the Comprehensive Church
De Institutione monialis, which had picture aim of safeguarding Western Christians shun the decadent uses of the Eastward. Notable in this work, among blemish things, Damiani, then Bishop of Ostia, condemned Maria Argyre's use of fastidious golden fork to eat. Forks were a new invention at the time.^[11]^[12]^[13]
Disceptatio synodalis, in defense of Pope Conqueror II against Antipope Honorius II
De Sancta Simplicitate
Liber Gratissimus, against simony

Modern editions

Opera Omnia, in JP Migne, ed., Patrologia Latina, (PL), vols 144 and 145, Paris: Vives. [PL144 mostly contains his penmanship and sermons; PL145 contains his treatises]
Pierre Damien: Lettre sur la Toute-Puissance divine, ed. Andre Cantin, SC 191 [a modern critical edition of this work]