The young boy was left alone with nothing, hardly even real clothes on his back.
His parents were dead. His brother, his only living relative, was too poor to properly care for him.
He was alone.
In tattered clothes, young Peter Damian wandered the streets of Ravenna, Italy, begging for someone to notice him.
One day, someone did.
A kind-hearted monk noticed the ragged boy wandering the streets. In that moment, grace pulled at the heart of the monk. He invited Peter into the monastery, where the young orphan began his education.
It wasn’t long before Peter’s brilliance shone through. His keen intellect, coupled with his deep and unwavering faith, made him a wonderful fit for monastic life.
As he grew older, Peter entered the Benedictine Order. But the boy who came from nothing was being called beyond the walls of his monastery.
God called Peter to enact radical reforms and help purify the Church. This wasn’t the easiest path, but Peter wasn’t used to things being easy.
One day, Peter was sent on a difficult mission to confront a powerful Church official, who, despite immense arrogance and excess, was extremely powerful.
But Peter, who entered this world with absolutely no position of power or influence, didn’t care too much about these things. Undeterred, he approached the man with nothing but the truth of the Gospel. He didn’t back down.
By the end of their conversation, the official was deeply moved by Peter’s humility and faith. The official underwent his own personal conversion and began to assist Peter in his reform work.
Peter’s reforms and writings had a lasting impact. His focus on celibacy, the moral integrity of the clergy, and the need for a return to authentic Gospel living resonated throughout the Church. His efforts eventually earned him a place in the highest echelons of the Church and he was made a cardinal. Yet, despite his position, he never sought recognition or power.
Peter Damian passed away in 1072. The once-forgotten orphan was eventually declared a Doctor of the Church and one of God’s glorious saints.
St. Peter Damian’s story proves that nothing is impossible for God. Like Peter, you can let God transform your life too! This Black Leather Bracelet, featuring Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things…”), is a daily reminder to trust in His power. Perfect for the Catholic man—available now from The Catholic Company!
