Events for Thursday 22nd February 2024

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Peter Damian,1007-1072, gave up teaching to become a hermit. Later he was Cardinal-bishop of Ostia and an outstanding reformer of Church life and discipline. He fought simony and upheld priestly celibacy. St. Damian was a defender of Gregorian reform and a promoter of religious life. He died on February 22, 1072. He was declared a doctor of the Church in 1828.

A Doctor of the Church, (from the Latin docere, to teach), is a saint from whose writings the whole Church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom "eminent learning" and "great sanctity" have been attributed. The honour is always bestowed posthumously.

St Peter Damian

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On 22nd of February, we celebrate Peter as Bishop of Rome, and recall Christ's choice of Peter for service to the whole Church.

Peter was the first Pope of the Church. He was a fisherman before being called as an apostle. St. Peter died around 64 A.D. by crucifixion. Peter was crucified upside down because he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as our Lord.

Two epistles have been attributed to Peter. Peter is considered to be the source of many of the accounts in St Mark's Gospel. He is mentioned in the Roman Canon. He is the Patron Saint of Bakers, Clock Makers, Fishermen, and Rome.    Video Link

On 12th February 2009, marking eighty years of Vatican City State, Benedict XVI spoke thus:
"Let us ask the Lord, Who guides the fortunes of the 'Ship of Peter' among the not-always easy events of history, to continue to watch over this small State. Above all, let us ask Him to help, with the power of His Spirit, Peter's Successor who stands at the helm of this ship, that he may faithfully and effectively undertake his ministry as the foundation of unity of the Catholic Church, which has its visible centre in the Vatican whence it expands to all the corners of the earth".

At the very end of St Peter's Basilica, Rome, is the tribune, which centres on the Cathedra of St Peter, designed by Bernini in 1666. Above this is the Holy Spirit as a dove, surrounded by 12 rays, symbolising the apostles. Then, around the chair, stand four of the great Doctors of the Church: To our left, St Augustine and St Ambrose, fathers of the Latin (Western) church, and to our right are St Athanasius and St John Chrysostom, fathers of the Eastern church.

St Mark's Gospel