Feb. 21st - St. Peter Damien

   

Today the Church commemorates St. Peter Damien, bishop, monk and doctor of the Church. He was born in the year 1007, and died in 1072. As a boy, he once found a coin and thought for some time, about how he might spend his unexpected treasure. When the idea occurred to him, that he might have a Mass offered for his father, he dropped his visions of pleasure, and gave the coin to a priest, to offer a Mass. Also, as a youth, he wore a hair shirt, and did must fasting and prayer. He helped the poor, often providing meals, and serving them himself. He became a teacher, but in his late twenties, he entered a monastic hermitage. He loved quiet and solitude.

He later received the nickname, “Monitor of the popes” because they often sought his advice. He was made bishop and cardinal, under Pope Stephen the 9^th. He convinced the emperor Henry IV, to not divorce and subsequently became a very good emperor. He eventually repeatedly appealed to popes requesting that he resign as bishop and cardinal, because he wanted to live, as a simple monk. It was finally granted just two years before his death.

St. Peter Damien tried to relate the Cross of Christ, to the virtues in order to teach about them. He speaks of the Cross, as representing faith, hope and charity. The part of the Cross, which is planted in the earth, is faith, which is the foundation of our religion. The top of the Cross, reaching to heaven, stands for hope. The twin arms of the Cross, are the love of God, and the love of neighbor.

With regard to Christmas, he said, “There was a star in the sky, a star on the earth, and the sun in the crib. The star in the sky was that which shone (upon the earth), the (star) on the earth, was the Virgin Mary, the sun in the crib, was Christ the Lord”.

And, in one of his sermons about the Blessed Virgin Mary, he said,

“My Lord is sweet, and my Lady is sweet, because He, my God, is merciful and she, my Lady, is the door of mercy. May She lead us, as the Mother to the Son, as the daughter to the Father, as the bride to the groom, who is forever blessed. Amen!

St. Peter Damien, pray for us, that we may love Our Blessed Lord, and Our Sweet Lady, as you, O most Holy Saint of God!