Today is the feast day of Saint Peter Damian. Peter was born in 1007 in Italy. 

He was left an orphan as a little child. An older brother brought Peter to live with him, but he treated him as a servant and sent him to take care of the pigs. After some time, another brother named Damian, who was a priest, found out how Peter was being treated. He took over Peter’s care and treated him with love and kindness. Peter was so grateful to his brother Father Damien that he added the name “Damian” to his own name. Father Damian educated Peter and encouraged him in his studies. When Peter grew up, he became a teacher. After a while, Peter decided to give up his teaching so that he could live a life of prayer and fasting with the Benedictines of the reform of Saint Romuald. During his life, Peter became an abbott, the cardinal-bishop of Ostia, and a papal legate. Peter Damian lived at a time when many people in the Church were forgetting that we are all called to live like Jesus. Peter wanted the Church to shine with the holiness of Jesus.  His holy life always shines and is admired and trusted by many. He worked for peace and also the stop of simony (buying and selling of church offices). He loved the poor and was very zealous for the good of souls. When returning to Rome from Ravenna one day he was overcome by a fever and died on February 22, 1072. He was surrounded by monks reciting the Divine Offices. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828. 

Here is one of his sayings which is worth to reflect upon today:

"Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth. Let words of thanks break from your lips."- Saint Peter Damian (1007 - 1072)

Hail Mary full of grace...

St. Peter Damian, pray for us.

Peace in Christ,

Father Vincent-Vuong Nguyen