February 21
St. Peter Damian
St. Peter Damian was born in 1007. His parents died when the saint was very young and he became an orphan. An older brother took him in but he neglected and starved him. Then another brother, named Damian, took in his little brother Peter and fed, loved and cared for him. He encouraged him in his studies and Peter eventually became a teacher at the university level.
After several years of teaching at the university, Peter took note that too many people were seeking secular goals over religious ones. He vowed to help people understand that the church of Jesus is the most important thing for which to yearn and that Jesus should shine above all in their lives.
Peter left teaching and entered the monastery. He wrote rules to help the monks love by and was sent to neighboring monasteries to help write their rules as well. Eventually, he was called from the monastery to become a bishop and cardinal. He went on many important missions for the Popes in his lifetime.
St. Peter Damian lived sixty-five years. He wrote many great works of theology and was declared a Doctor of the Church because of his writings. The poet Dante recognized St. Peter Damian in Divine Comedy by placing him in Seventh Heaven, the place for people who contemplate God.
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