Saint Peter Damian. Bishop. Confessor. Doctor Of The Church. Feast Day 23 February.

Text from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless stated otherwise.

Saint Peter Damian.
   Bishop. Confessor.
   Doctor Of The Church.
   Feast Day 23 February.

Double.

White Vestments.

English: Saint Peter Damian (Right), depicted with

The Blessed Virgin Mary and Child,

and Saints Augustine, Anne, and Elizabeth.

Deutsch: Portuense-Altar, Szene: Thronende Madonna und Heilige:

Hl. Augustinus, Hl. Anna, Hl. Elisabeth, Hl. Petrus Damiani.

Date: 1481.

Current location: Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, Italy.

Source/Photographer: The Yorck Project: 10.000 Meisterwerke der Malerei.

DVD-ROM, 2002. ISBN 3936122202.

Distributed by DIRECTMEDIA Publishing GmbH.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Peter Damian showed remarkable piety from his childhood. Having, by chance, picked up a coin, he gave it to a Priest, requesting him to offer up The Divine Sacrifice for the Soul of his father. He added to his father's name, that of Damian, his brother, out of gratitude, because it was by his brother's generosity that he was able to pursue his studies.

"Despising Earthly riches" (Collect), he entered a Monastery of Camaldolese of The Benedictine Observance and soon became its Abbot (Communion).

"As a light of Souls, he was to be placed on the candlestick" (Gospel), and became Bishop of Ostia and Cardinal. He rendered immense services to The Sovereign Pontiffs by his learning, his commissions as Legate and many other works.

Taking his share in the Apostolic life of Jesus, he combatted the heresy of The Simonists and died at Fænza in 1072. Pope Leo XII gave him the Title of Doctor of The Church.

Let us imitate in his ardour for Penance, Saint Peter Damian, who contributed so much, by his example and counsel, to spread the penitential practice of the discipline as an atonement for sin.

Mass: In médio.
Commemoration and Last Gospel of The Feria in Lent.
Commemoration: Of The Vigil of Saint Matthias the Apostle, if it be not Leap Year, when The Vigil is on the 24th.