Download Feb. 21st - St. Peter Damien - Sunday Homilies for Sunday Homily

Today the Church celebrates St. Peter Damien, bishop, monk
and doctor of the Church. He was born in the year 1007, and died in
1072.
As a boy, he once found a coin and wondered how he might
spend his new treasure. Rather than spending it for himself, he gave
the coin to a priest, to offer a Mass for his father. Also, as a youth, he
wore a hair shirt, and did must fasting and prayer. He helped the
poor, often providing meals, as well as serving them.
He later became a teacher, but in his late twenties, he entered
a monastic hermitage. He loved quiet and solitude. He later received
the nickname, “Monitor of the popes” because they often sought his
advice. He was made bishop and cardinal, under Pope Stephen the
9th. Peter convinced the emperor Henry IV, to not divorce, as a result
he became very good emperor. Later in his life, he requested to
several popes, that he resign, as bishop and cardinal, because he
wanted to live, as a simple monk. It was finally granted just two years
before his death.
St. Peter tried to relate the three cardinal virtues, to that of the
Cross of Jesus, in order to teach others about the virtues. The part of
the Cross, which is planted in the earth, he said is faith, which is the
foundation of our religion. The top of the Cross, reaching to heaven,
stands for hope. He said, the twin arms of the Cross, are the love of
God, and the love of neighbor.
He made other analogies as well, for example, with regard to
Christmas, he said, “There was a star in the sky, a star on the earth,
and the sun in the crib. The star in the sky was that which shone
(upon the earth), the (star) on the earth, was the Virgin Mary, the sun
in the crib, was Christ the Lord”.
And, in one of his sermons about the Blessed Virgin Mary, he
said,
“My Lord is sweet, and my Lady is sweet, because He, my God, is
merciful, and she, my Lady, is the door of mercy. May She lead us, as
the Mother to the Son, as the daughter to the Father, as the bride to
the groom, who is forever blessed. Amen!
St. Peter Damien, pray for us, that we may love Our Blessed
Lord, and Our Sweet Lady, as you, O most Holy Saint of God!