Doctors of the Church 2:75 St. Peter Damian

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

 DoC-St. Peter Damian

This great saint is one of the Benedictines on the list. He is overlooked by many, who may not even realize his contributions to the Church. He lived in amazing times and counselled more than one pope. Notice his cardinal's 

robes lying on the floor in this painting, as he was humble about his office. His dates are 1007-1072. That the man 

was brilliant may be seen in his biography on several sites. Many of his works which use to be on line years ago, 

have been taken off, by the revamping of certain websites. This is sad, indeed, and a warning at taking for granted 

what is on line.

I present selections from his writings on the link found here in the next few posts. I start with one.

His point here is that it is not merely the choice of life, or the vocation of a person which causes perfection, 

but the cooperation of grace therein....

 For it was certainly not that holy and humble man St. Benedict who, at the very beginning of his 

work, sat himself in the master's seat and usurped the place 
of the loving Father: 'Hearken, O my son, to the precepts of 
thy Master, and incline the ear of thine heart; willingly receive 
the admonition of thy loving Father.' 1 Rather, the Holy 
Spirit made his servant the instrument of his voice, just as he 
did at the beginning of the books of prophecy, when he cried, 
through Isaias: 1 have nourished and brought up children." 2 

Let us see, then, to whom he directs what he has to say, for 
what sort of man all that follows is written. He says: 'To thee, 
therefore, my words are now addressed, whoever thou art that, 
renouncing thine own will, dost take up the strong and bright 
weapons of obedience, in order to fight for the Lord Christ, 
our true king.' 3 As far as we can gather from the words of the 
holy man, the school of the holy Rule was established more 
for the learning of obedience than for the performance of 
penance. This is not to say that it excludes either the sinner or 
the just man, or rejects any sort of person; but rather that its 
whole strength and purpose lies in the teaching of the rules of 
obedience. 

I know that in writing in this way I am displeasing some of 
the brethren, namely those who believe that a turning to our 
way of life brings about both the absolution of our offences 
and the perfection of virtue. I hope it may be enough if I reply 
that in setting forth my opinions I have no desire to cast a 
snare upon any man, -as the Apostle says, 4 but rather wish to 
urge you on towards the good.