Born as the youngest child to a large impoverished family in 1007 in Italy was Saint Peter Damien. He was orphaned young and was sent to live with a brother who mistreated him and forced him to work as a swine-herd. He was pious and was sent to live with another brother, Damian who was a priest. Peter was so grateful that he took the name Damian. He was well educated and taught, but gave up teaching around 1035 to become a Benedictine monk. He was assigned to teacher his brother monks and then the public. He became prior and held that position for the rest of his life. He expanded monastery, improved its library, and founded other hermitages. He was friends with Pope Gregory VI. He was created a cardinal and did a lot for the pope, and wrote sermons, seven biographies, and poetry which was the best in Latin for its time. He planned to retire to live as a simple monk, but was often called on by the pope to make peace between arguing monastic houses, clergymen, and the government. He died on February 22, 1072 of a fever with his brother monks by his side reciting the Divine Office. He was canonized in 1823 and declared a doctor of the Church in 1828.
"It is not sinners, but the wicked who should despair; it is not the magnitude of one’s crime, but contempt of God that dashes one’s hopes."
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