February 21 | Saint Peter Damian

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories, because today, you are standing in the middle of a city square. The year is 1059. You are surrounded by a chaotic mob of rioters. These aren't just unhappy citizens. They are people rejecting authority, screaming, and threatening violence. You are the only person standing in their way.

You have no sword. You have no shield. You are an old monk in a simple robe, and you've been sent by the Pope to tell these angry people. That they are wrong. Today, we are looking at the life of a man who literally dealt with some of the biggest headaches in history, and fittingly, he is the patron saint of headaches and insomnia. His name is Saint Peter Damian.

Peter's story didn't start with power or bravery. It started with sadness. He was born in Ravenna, Italy, in the year 1007. While he was still just a little kid, he lost both of his parents. Peter was sent to live with one of his brothers, but this wasn't a happy home. The source tells us that this brother mistreated him. It was a rough, lonely childhood. But then, a hero stepped in.

Peter had another brother named Damien who was a priest. Damien saw Peter's suffering and rescued him. He took Peter in and made sure he got an education. Peter was so grateful for this act of kindness that he actually changed his name. He took his brother's name, Damien, as his own last name. That's why we know him today as Peter Damien, a permanent thank you to the brother who saved him.

Peter became an excellent student, but he didn't want to use his smarts to get rich. He wanted to serve God. He fell in love with serving the poor and spent his time in intense prayer. Eventually, he joined the Benedictines at a place called Fontiavalana. Now, if you think your daily chores are hard, listen to the routine at this hermitage. The monks there were famous for being incredibly strict. They lived mostly on bread and water, and for prayer, they didn't just say a few Hail Marys.

They prayed a 150 psalms every single day. Peter loved this life. He became a skilled preacher and a theologian, and other monks started coming to him to learn how to be holier. By 1043, he was actually in charge, and helping to start five other hermitages.

During this time, the church was dealing with a lot of corruption and immorality. People in charge weren't keeping their promises. They needed someone fearless to clean things up. In 1057, Pope Stephen IX basically dragged Peter out of his quiet monastery.

The pope made him the bishop of Ostia and a cardinal. Peter wrote letters to the other cardinals, telling them they needed to be better examples for the whole church. Then, things got really crazy. When the Pope died, there was a crisis. A new Pope, Nicholas II, was elected, but another guy claimed he was the real Pope. It was a mess of rival claimants and fighting. This brings us back to that riot in Milan I mentioned at the start. Peter was sent as the Pope's delegate to face down rioters who were rejecting the Pope's authority.

He had to use all his courage and his skills as a preacher to resolve moral issues and bring peace to a city on the island. Peter was essentially the church's fixer. When the next pope, Alexander II, was elected, there was another crisis, and Peter helped resolve that too. For six years, the Pope sent him traveling all over the place to solve problems.

While he obeyed faithfully, he strongly desired to return to contemplative life. He missed his quiet cell. He missed the bread and water. He missed the peace. He kept asking to resign, and finally, in 1067, he was allowed to go back to Fonte Avalana.

But, retirement didn't last long. Two years later, the Pope called him up again. The King of Germany was trying to divorce his wife, and the Pope needed Peter to go stop it. Even as an old man, Peter packed his bags and went to do his duty. Peter Damian died in 1072 in a monastery, after getting sick on a journey back from settling disputes in his hometown of Ravenna. He literally worked until the very end. Then, in 1823, Pope Leo XII named him a Doctor of the Church, which is a title reserved for the most important teachers in Catholic history.

Saint Peter Damian is a perfect example of doing what is asked of you, even when you'd rather be doing something else. This week, you might find yourself in a similar spot. Maybe you want to stay in your room and play video games, or read, which are fine things to do, but you probably have chores to do. When that happens, think of Peter Damien. Put down the controller, or the book, and say yes immediately. Do the duty you are asked to do, and do it well, without complaining.

If Peter could face down a riot when he just wanted to pray, you can handle the dishwasher. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.