medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Today (21. February) is the feast day of:
Peter Damian (d. 1072). As Marjorie Greene has reminded us, yesterday was Fat Tuesday. Today being Ash Wednesday, what better way to begin Lent than with a brief consideration of that well known ascetic and disciplinarian, P., whose feast the church of Rome has within living memory decided to keep today rather than, as formerly, on 23. February, his _dies natalis_.
A native of Ravenna, P. was cared for in his youth by an older brother, Damian, who sponsored his education and whose name P. took in recognition of this service. He studied liberal arts and canon law and was teaching rhetoric, probably at Ravenna, when in 1035 he underwent a conversion of sorts and entered monastic life at the priory of the Holy Cross at Fonte Avellana in today's Marche. He became prior there in 1043.
Through his extensive writings and important personal contacts P. became a leading figure of monastic reform and of church reform more generally. In 1057 he was named cardinal bishop of Ostia. As a papal advisor he undertook numerous legations in Italy. He died at Faenza while returning to Rome from one such mission to Ravenna. He has an early Vita (BHL 6706) by his successor at Fonte Avellana, St. John of Lodi.
As Peter was born in or about 1007, it has been determined that this is his jubilee year. Several pertinent announcements from the diocese of Faenza-Modigliana are available here:
http://tinyurl.com/22jeob
Will they be passing out commemorative whips, I wonder?
And here's a view of P. at rest in Faenza's cathedral:
http://www.alfonsomartone.itb.it/fzmgjv.jpg
Here are a couple of views of the late tenth-/eleventh-century crypt at the monastery at Fonte Avellana (the monastery's first church; P. would have celebrated Mass here):
http://www.fonteavellana.it/visita_guidata_parte_VII.htm
Start of the Italian-language tour of which that is a part (note the construction of the scriptorium to admit quantities of light):
http://www.fonteavellana.it/visita_guidata_parte_I.htm
And here are some views of the Hermitage of St. Barnabas at Gamogna (FI) in Tuscany, founded by P. in 1053:
distance view:
http://www.zoomedia.it/Nomya/Nomyapict/Eremo01.jpg
other views:
http://www.circolocubo.it/immagine.php?key=294
http://tinyurl.com/ytmafr
page of views of the site:
http://www.appenninoromagnolo.it/itinerari_trek/gamogna.asp
Best,
John Dillon
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