Pietro Damiani (St Peter Damian), (c. 1007 "five years after the death of the Emperor Otto III" – February 21/22, 1072) was one of the most celebrated, universally loved and zealous reforming monks in the circle of Hildebrand of the 11th century, made a cardinal and (in 1823) declared a Doctor of the Church. Dante placed Peter Damiani in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis. Events Aethelred buys two years of peace with the Danes for 36,000 pounds of silver. ... Events William I of England invades Scotland, and also receives the submission of Hereward the Wake. ... Gregory VII, né Hildebrand (ca. ... (10th century - 11th century - 12th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and appointed by him as a member of the College of Cardinals, during a consistory. ... In Roman Catholicism, a Doctor of the Church is a theologian from whose teachings the whole Christian church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom eminent learning and great sanctity have been attributed by a proclamation of the Pope or of an ecumenical council. ... Dante redirects here. ... Saint Francis of Assisi (born in Assisi, Italy, ca. ...

Early life

He was born at Ravenna, orphaned early, and after a youth spent in hardship and privation, showed such signs of remarkable intellectual gifts that a brother, Damian, who was archpriest at Ravenna, took him away to be educated. Adding his brother's name to his own, he made such rapid progress in his studies of theology and canon law, first at Ravenna, then at Faenza, finally at the University of Parma, that when about twenty-five years old he was already a famous teacher at Parma and Ravenna. For other places named Ravenna, see Ravenna (disambiguation). ... An archpriest is the title of a priest which has supervisory duties over a number of parishes. ... Theology is literally rational discourse concerning God (Greek θεος, theos, God, + λογος, logos, rational discourse). By extension, it also refers to the study of other religious topics. ... In Western culture, canon law is the law of the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches. ... Faenza is an old Italian cathedral town, situated 50 km southeast of Bologna. ... The University of Parma, Italy, (Università degli Studi di Parma) is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. ... Parma is a medieval city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, with splendid architecture and a fine countryside around it. ...

Religious life

About 1035, however, he deserted his secular calling and, avoiding the compromised luxury of Cluniac monasteries, entered the isolated hermitage of Fonte Avellana, near Gubbio. Both as novice and as monk, his fervor was remarkable but led him to such extremes of self-mortification in penance that his health was affected. On his recovery, he was appointed to lecture to his fellow-monks, then, at the request of Guy of Pomposa and other heads of neighboring monasteries, for two or three years he lectured to their brethren also, and (about 1042) wrote the life of St Romuald for the monks of Pietrapertosa. Soon after his return to Fonte Avellana he was appointed economus of the house by the prior, who designated him as his successor. This, in fact, he became in 1043, and he remained prior of Fonte Avellana till his death. Events Harthacanute becomes king of Denmark. ... Cluny nowadays The town of Cluny or Clugny lies in the modern-day département of Saône-et-Loire in the région of France, near Mâcon. ... Gubbio is a town and comune (township) in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia, (Umbria), 43°21N 12°34E. At 522 m (1713 ft) above sea-level, it clings to the first slope of Mt. ... For the city in Texas, see Novice, Texas. ... Penance comprises actions required to complete a confession, such as an act of prayer or an act of restoration to the wronged party. ... Events April 18/April 19 - Emperor Michael V of the Byzantine Empire attempts to remain sole Emperor by sending his adoptive mother and co-ruler Zoe of Byzantium to a monastery. ... Prior can refer to either The head of a priory, a type of monastery. ... Events Births Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, commonly known as The Cid Deaths Categories: 1043 ...

A zealot for monastic and clerical reform, he introduced a more severe discipline, including the practice of flagellation ("the disciplina"), into the house, which, under his rule, quickly attained celebrity, and became a model for other foundations, even the great abbey of Monte Cassino: subject-hermitages were founded at San Severino, Gamugno, Acerata, Murciana, San Salvatore, Sitria, and Ocri. There was much opposition outside his own circle to such extreme forms of penitence, but Peter's persistent advocacy ensured its acceptance, to such an extent that he was obliged later to moderate the imprudent zeal of some of his own hermits. Whipping on a post Flagellation is the act of whipping (Latin flagellum, whip) the human body. ... This article is about an abbey as a religious building. ... The restored Abbey Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about eighty miles south of Rome, Italy, a mile to the west of the town of Cassino (the Roman Cassinum having been on the hill) and about 1700 ft altitude. ...

Another innovation was that of the daily siesta, to make up for the fatigue of the night office. During his tenure of the priorate a cloister was built, silver chalices and a silver processional cross were purchased, and many books added to the library. A siesta is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. ... Cloister of Saint Trophimus, in Arles, France A Cloister is part of cathedrals and abbeys architecture. ... Russian chalice A chalice (from Latin calix, cup) is a goblet, intended to hold just drink. ... A procession (M. Eng. ...

Reformer

Although living in the seclusion of the cloister, Peter Damian watched closely the fortunes of the Church, and like his friend Hildebrand, the future Gregory VII, he strove for reforms in a deplorable time. In 1045 when Benedict IX resigned the pontificate into the hands of the archpriest John Gratian (Gregory VI), Peter hailed the change with joy and wrote to the new pope, urging him to deal with the scandals of the church in Italy, singling out the wicked bishops of Pesaro, of Citta di Castello, and of Fano Gregory VII can refer to: Pope Gregory VII Gregory VII, Patriarch of Constantinople This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Events Emperor Go-Reizei ascends the throne of Japan. ... Benedict IX, né Theophylactus (c. ... Gregory VI, né Johannes Gratianus, pope from 1044 to 1046, had earned a high reputation for learning and probity. ... The Italian Republic or Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana or Italia) is a country in southern Europe. ... Pesaro (in Antiquity, Pisaurum) is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, 43°55N 12°55E; on the Adriatic, at sea-level. ... Città di Castello is a town in the northern part of the Umbria region of Italy. ... This article is about the Italian town. ...

Extending the area of his activities, he entered into communication with the emperor Henry III. He was present in Rome when Clement II crowned Henry III and his consort Agnes, and he also attended a synod held at the Lateran in the first days of 1047, in which decrees were passed against simony. Henry III (1017-1056) was a member of the Salian (sometimes Franconian) dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors. ... Location within Italy The Roman Colosseum Rome (Italian and Latin: Roma) is the capital city of Italy and of its Latium region. ... Clement II, né Suidger of Morsleben (died October 9, 1047), pope (December 25, 1046 - October 1047), son of Count Konrad of Morsleben and Hornburg and his wife Amulrad. ... A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church, convened to decide an issue of doctrine or administration. ... Categories: Italy geography stubs | Buildings and structures stubs | Rome | Vatican City ... Events William the Conqueror, with assistance from King Henry I of France, secured control of Normandy by defeating the rebel Norman barons at Caen the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes Births Deaths October 9 - Pope Clement II Categories: 1047 ... Simony is the ecclesiastical crime and personal sin of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24. ...

Liber Gomorrhianus and Hildebrand's reforms

After this he returned to his hermitage. About 1049, during the pontificate of Pope Leo IX Peter published a scathing treatise on the vices of the clergy, Liber Gomorrhianus, dedicating it to the pope. In this "Book of Gomorrha" Pietro Damiani made an attack on homosexual practices and even masturbation [1]  (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/homo-damian1.html), as subversive disruptions against the moral order occasioned by the madness associated with an excess of lust. It caused a great stir and aroused not a little enmity against its author. Even the pope, who had at first praised the work, was persuaded that it was exaggerated and his coldness drew from Damian a vigorous letter of protest. Meanwhile the question arose as to the validity of the ordinations of simoniacal clerics. Peter Damiani wrote (about 1053) a treatise, the Liber Gratissimus, in favour of their validity, a work which, though much combatted at the time, was potent in deciding the question in their favour before the end of the twelfth century. Leo IX, né Bruno dEguisheim-Dagsbourg (June 21, 1002 - April 19, 1054) was pope from February 12, 1049 to his death. ... Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. ... Homosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love, or sexual desire exclusively for another of the same sex. ... Events June 18 - Battle of Civitate - 3000 horsemen of Norman Count Humphrey rout the troops of Pope Leo IX Good harvests in Europe Malcolm Canmore invades Scotland. ...

Damiani was also a determined foe of simony, but his fiercest wrath was directed against the married clergy. In June, 1055, during the pontificate of Victor II (q.v.), Damian attended a synod held at Florence, where simony and clerical incontinence were once more condemned. Simony is the ecclesiastical crime and personal sin of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24. ... Events January 11 - Theodora becomes Reigning Empress of the Eastern Roman Empire. ... Florence - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Simony is the ecclesiastical crime and personal sin of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus, who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:18-24. ... The word incontinence has several distinct meanings: urinary incontinence is the inability to control urination fecal incontinence is the inability to control defecation the word incontinence can also be used to mean a lack of self-control governing morality. ...

Papal envoy and Cardinal

During his illness the pope died, and Frederic, abbot of Monte Cassino, was elected as Stephen X. In the autumn of 1057, Stephen X determined to create Damian a cardinal. For a long time he resisted the offer, for he was more at ease as an itinerant hermit-preacher than a reformer from within the Curia, but was finally forced to accept, and was consecrated Cardinal Bishop of Ostia on November 30, 1057. In addition he was appointed administrator of the Diocese of Gubbio. The new cardinal was impressed with the great responsibilities of his office and wrote a stirring letter to his brother-cardinals, exhorting them to shine by their example before all. Four months later Pope Stephen died at Florence, and the Church was once more distracted by schism. Peter was vigorous in his opposition to the antipope Benedict X, but force was on the side of the intruder and Damiani retired temporarily to Fonte Avallana. Stephen X, né Frederick of Lorraine (d. ... Events King Macbeth I of Scotland is killed in battle against Malcolm Canmore. ... A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking just below the Pope and appointed by him as a member of the College of Cardinals, during a consistory. ... Cardinal Bishops, or Cardinals of the Episcopal Order, are among the most important persons in the Roman Catholic Church. ... Ostia, an ancient town on the coast facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, in Latium, Italy, was the harbour of ancient Rome and perhaps its first colonia. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events King Macbeth I of Scotland is killed in battle against Malcolm Canmore. ... In some Christian churches, the diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though more often the term episcopal see means the office held by the bishop. ... Gubbio is a town and comune (township) in the far northeastern part of the Italian province of Perugia, (Umbria), 43°21N 12°34E. At 522 m (1713 ft) above sea-level, it clings to the first slope of Mt. ... The word schism, from the Greek σχισμα, schisma (from σχιζο, schizo, to split), means a division or a split, usually in an organization. ... An antipope is one whose claim to being Pope is the result of a disputed or contested election. ...

Milan

About the end of the year 1059 Peter was sent as legate to Milan by Pope Nicholas II. So bad was the state of things at Milan, that benefices were openly bought and sold and the clergy publicly married the women they lived with. But the resistance to the reform of Ariald the Deacon and Anselm, Bishop of Lucca rendered a contest so bitter that an appeal was made to the Holy See. Nicholas II sent Damian and the Bishop of Lucca as his legates. But now the party of the irregular clerics took alarm and raised the cry that Rome had no authority over Milan. Peter boldly confronted the rioters in the cathedral, he proved to them the authority of the Holy See with such effect that all parties submitted to his decision. Events Anselm of Canterbury settles at the Benedictine monastery of Le Bec in Normandy. ... Location within Italy Piazza della Scala Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed of Italian regions. ... Nicholas II, né Gerard of Burgundy (died either July 19 or July 27, 1061), pope from December 1058 to July 1061, was at the time of his election Bishop of Florence. ... Lucca (population 90,000) is a city in Tuscany, northern central Italy, near (but not on) the Ligurian Sea. ... The coat of arms of the Holy See The term Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes, lit. ... A cathedral is a Christian church building, specifically of a denomination with an episcopal hierarchy (such as the Roman Catholic Church or the Anglican churches), which serves as the central church of a bishopric. ...

He exacted first a solemn oath from the archbishop and all his clergy that for the future no preferment should be paid for; then, imposing a penance on all who had been guilty, he re-instated in their benefices all who under took to live in celibacy. This prudent decision was attacked by some of the rigourists at Rome, but was not reversed. Unfortunately, on the death of Nicholas II, the same disputes broke out; nor were they finally settled till after the martyrdom of St. Ariald in 1066. Meanwhile Peter was in vain pleading to be released from the cares of his office. Neither Nicholas II nor Hildebrand would consent to spare him. Penance comprises actions required to complete a confession, such as an act of prayer or an act of restoration to the wronged party. ... Events January 6 - Harold II is crowned King of England the day after Edward the Confessor dies. ...

He rendered valuable assistance to Pope Alexander II in his struggle with the anti-pope, Honorius II. In July, 1061, the pope died and once more a schism ensued. Damian used all his powers to persuade the antipope Cadalous to withdraw, but to no purpose. Finally Hanno, the Regent of Germany, summoned a council at Augsburg at which a long argument by Peter Damiani was read and greatly contributed to the decision in favour of Alexander II. Alexander II, born Anselmo Baggio (d. ... Honorius II (d. ... Events Normans conquer Messina in Sicily Pope Alexander II elected Births Vratislav II, (king from 1085), Bohemian aristocrat Deaths July 19 or July 27 - Pope Nicholas II Categories: 1061 ... Augsburg is a city in south central Germany. ... A number of historical people were named Alexander II: Alexander II of Epirus, King of Epirus 272 B.C. Pope Alexander II, Pope from 1061 to 1073 Alexander II of Scotland (1198-1249), King of Scotland Alexander II of Russia (1818_1881), Emperor of Russia This is a disambiguation page — a...

In 1063 the pope held a synod at Rome, at which Damian was appointed legate to settle the dispute between the Abbey of Cluny and the Bishop of Mâcon. He proceeded to France, summoned a council at Châlon-sur-Saône, proved the justice of the contentions of Cluny, settled other questions at issue in the Church of France, and returned in the autumn to Fonte Avellana. While he was in France the antipope Cadalous had again become active in his attempts to gain Rome, and Damian brought upon himself a sharp reproof from Alexander and Hildebrand for twice imprudently appealing to the royal power to judge the case anew. In 1067 the cardinal was sent to Florence to settle the dispute between the bishop and the monks of Vallombrosa, who accused the former of simony. His efforts, however, were not successful, largely because he misjudged the case and threw the weight of his authority on the side of the bishop. The matter was not settled till the following year by the pope in person. Events Anselm of Canterbury becomes prior at Le Bec Sancho I becomes ruler of Aragon Bishopric of Olomouc is founded Births Deaths Constantine III Lichoudas Patriarch of Constantinople Adelaide Havoise daughter of Robert II of France Tughril Beg first leader of the Seljuk Turks Song dynasty Emperor Jiayou Hungarian ruler... Cluny nowadays The town of Cluny or Clugny lies in the modern-day département of Saône-et-Loire in the région of France, near Mâcon. ... Mâcon is a commune of France, préfecture (capital) of the Saône-et-Loire département, in the Bourgogne région. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Events Constantine X fell out of power in the Byzantine Empire. ...

In 1069 Damian went as the pope's legate to Germany to prevent King Henry from repudiating his wife Bertha. This task he accomplished at a council at Frankfurt and returned to Fonte-Avellana, were he was left in peace for two years. Events Harrying of the North- King William of England (William the Conqueror) reacts to rebellions made by his people against him. ... Frankfurt am Main [ˈfraŋkfʊrt] is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth largest city of Germany. ...

Early in 1072 he was sent to Ravenna to reconcile its inhabitants to the Holy See, they having been excommunicated for supporting their archbishop in his adhesion to the schism of Cadalous. On his return thence he was seized with fever near Faenza. He lay ill for a week at the monastery of Santa Maria degl'Angeli, now Santa Maria Vecchia. On the night preceding the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch, he ordered the office of the feast to be recited and at the end of the Lauds he died, at Faenza. He was at once buried in the monastery church, lest others should claim his relics. Events William I of England invades Scotland, and also receives the submission of Hereward the Wake. ... This is about one of the cities called Antioch in Asia Minor, now Turkey. ... The word relic comes from the Latin reliquiae (remains) and there are many pre-Christian instances of some bone or other part of the corpse, or some intimately associated object, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial. ...

Having served the papacy as legate to France and to Florence, he was allowed to resign his bishopric in 1067. After a period of retirement at Fonte Avellana, he proceeded in 1069 as papal legate to Germany, and persuaded the emperor Henry IV to give up his intention of divorcing his wife Bertha. The Federal Republic of Germany (German: Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is one of the worlds leading industrialised countries, located in the heart of Europe. ... Henry IV (November 11, 1050 — 1106) was King of Germany from 1056 and Emperor from 1084, until his abdication in 1105. ...

During his concluding years he was not altogether in accord with the political ideas of Hildebrand. He died at Faenza, the year before Hildebrand became pope, as [[Gregory VII. "It removed from the scene the one man who could have restrained Gregory," Norman F. Cantor remarked (Civilization of the Middle Ages p 251.).

Although he has never officially been canonised, Pietro Cardinal Damiani is considered to be a saint and was made a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Leo XII in 1828. ... Doctor means teacher in Latin. ... The Roman Catholic Church is the largest religious denomination of Christianity with over one billion members. ... Leo XII, né Annibale della Genga (August 22, 1760- February 10, 1829) was Pope from 1823 to 1829. ... Events January 4 - The Vicomte de Martignac succeeds the Comte de Villèle as Prime Minister of France. ...

Six times has his body been translated, each time to a more splendid resting-place. It now lies in a chapel dedicated to the saint in the cathedral of Faenza since 1898. No formal canonization ever took place, but his cult has existed since his death at Faenza, at Fonte-Avellana, at Monte Cassino, and at Cluny. In 1823 Leo XII extended his feast (February 23) to the whole Church and pronounced him a Doctor of the Church. 1898 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Canonization is the process of making someone into a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she is worthy of sainthood. ... Events July 15 - San Paolo fuori le Mura church in Rome almost completely destroyed by fire September 10 - Peru December 2 - US President James Monroe delivers a speech to the U.S. Congress, announcing a new policy of forbidding European interference in the Americas and establishing American neutrality in future... Leo XII, né Annibale della Genga (August 22, 1760- February 10, 1829) was Pope from 1823 to 1829. ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

The saint is represented in art as a cardinal bearing a knotted rope (the disciplina) in his hand; also sometimes he is depicted as a pilgrim holding a papal Bull, to signify his many legations. For albums named Pilgrim, see Pilgrim (album). ... A Papal bull is a written communication from the Vatican Chancery, bearing a formal papal seal. ...

Writings

Pietro Damiani's voluminous writings relect the spiritual conditions of Italy: the groundswell of intense personal piety that would overflow in the First Crusade at the end of the century was an extremely vigorous controversialist, and his Latin abounds in denunciatory epithets. He was specially devoted to the Virgin Mary, and wrote an Officium Beatae Virginis, in addition to many letters, sermons, and other writings. The First Crusade was launched in 1095 by Pope Urban II to regain control of the sacred city of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Land from Muslims. ... The term Virgin Mary has several different meanings: For the historical and multi-denominational concept of Mary, see Mary, the mother of Jesus. ...

External links

• David Lorenzo Boyd, "Disrupting the Norm: Sodomy, Culture, and the Male Body in Peter Damian's Liber Gomorrhianus" (http://www.luc.edu/publications/medieval/vol11/11ch5.html) from the Catholic Encyclopedia
• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/peter-damian/)

References

• This entry incorporates public domain text originally from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica.

Further reading

• Owen F. Blum, "The Monitor of the Popes: St. Peter Damian," in Studi Gregoriani vol. 2 (1947), pp 459-76
• John Boswell, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality Chicago (1980)
• Pierre J. Payer, 1962. Book of Gomorrah : An Eleventh-Century Treatise against Clerical Homosexual Practices, Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University Press