In about 1308 Dante, the great Italian Renaissance poet, described his visions of Heaven, Purgatory and Hell. He peopled each realm with famous saints and sinners as a commentary on the political turmoil of his day when powerful families and the Church fought one another for supremacy in Italy. Dante has Peter Damian complaining about the state of the Church which has declined again since he helped reform it:
Through heat and cold serenely did I live
On meagre food seasoned with olive oil
Dwelling content in thoughts contemplative.
Our cloister yielded from its fertile soil
Souls to these heavens; but now ‘tis sterile grown.
Soon men will see what sins its fruits despoil.[1]
Peter was born to a very poor family. His elder brother treated him cruelly and if another brother, Damian, had not rescued him he would have been as invisible as all the other poor beggar children in the world. Peter took the name Damian as his surname in gratitude for the education and life his brother made possible for him.
Education has always been an escape route from penury and deprivation and Peter made the most of his chances. He was repelled by the temptations and freedoms of student life and tried to live a virtuous hard working life. By the age of twenty five he had become a famous and popular teacher at the universities of Parma and Ravenna. In about 1035, he gave up his comfortable life and became a monk. His aim was to live a quiet life of prayer and contemplation. But God had other plans for him.
The example of his life inspired his superiors to order him to teach his fellow monks, and then to teach the monks in neighbouring monasteries. His fame spread and the prior of his monastery appointed him as his successor. Much as he disliked the responsibility, obedience demanded that he fulfilled the order and he remained in charge of the monastery from 1043 until his death.
He was not allowed to ease into the life of a prior. His criticism of the extensive abuses in the Church – a bishop could buy a bishopric openly, many priests were known for their immorality, there were popes and anti-popes – brought him to the attention of friends and enemies alike. The newly elected Pope Stephen IX wanted to use Peter’s reputation and charisma to tackle the worst scandals. Peter held out as long as he could but eventually he was made cardinal. Immediately, Peter took the initiative and began to persuade his fellow cardinals to behave properly.
One of the most scandalous places was Milan where the corruption of the Church was open and infamous. Peter was sent in. The clergy rioted in the cathedral but Peter confronted them and persuaded them to submit to reform. He gave penances to the guilty and accepted them back into the Church. Some people in Rome complained that he had not been harsh enough but the Pope backed up Peter’s decision.
Peter kept asking to be released from his frequent trouble shooting missions but he was sent to France and Germany to sort things out. His obvious virtue and fairness were as persuasive as his ability to make a powerful speech. How could any Pope resist using such an asset to the full?
Peter died in Faenza after a short illness and was buried immediately in case anyone should claim (steal?) and then sell his relics. Peter Damian is recognised as a saint throughout the Christian world because of the way he helped bring the Church back from the very brink of complete disgrace. It is significant that Dante chose to place Peter Damian in the highest heavens, just one level below Jesus Himself.
Author: C B Whittle