Friday, 21st February is the (optional) Memorial of St. Peter Damian (1007 – 1072), bishop, monk and doctor of the Church. Born in Ravenna of a poor family, he was orphaned at an early age and brought up by his brother, who was the Archpriest of Ravenna. He was given what in fact was an excellent education and he eventually became a teacher and professor. Always very strict with himself, wearing a hair shirt, fasting rigorously and spending hours in prayer, he decided to leave teaching and become a Camaldolese Benedictine monk, joining the monastery at Fonte Avellana. There, they lived two monks to a hermitage but in time the austere regime broke his health. Nevertheless, in 1043, he was elected abbot and went on to found five new foundations. He took part in various Italian synods called by Pope Leo IX and his eloquence made an impression. In 1057, he was appointed Bishop of Ostia, and a Cardinal. He worked hard to wipe out simony - the buying of church offices – and encouraged priests to observe celibacy and urged even the diocesan clergy to live together and maintain scheduled prayer and religious observance. He sought to restore primitive discipline among religious and priests, warning against needless travel, violations of poverty, and living a too comfortable lifestyle. He wrote many letters, over 170, together with 53 sermons and 7 biographies. In his writings he preferred examples and stories over theory. The liturgical offices he wrote are evidence of his talent as a stylist in Latin. After his retirement as bishop, he returned to monastic life, although he was occasionally called upon to be a papal legate. He died on 22nd February 1072 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828. In his life, St. Peter Damian was always good to the poor. It was an ordinary thing for him to have a poor person or two with him at table and he liked to minister personally to their needs. This Friday let’s remember the Holy Habit of keeping Friday as a day of penance and charity by perform an act of service and charity towards the poor and needy. [Image: Franciscan Media/Livioandronico2013] [Portsmouth Diocese e-News)