*_February 21st ~ St Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church_* Peter was the youngest child born into a poor but noble family in Ravenna, Italy. After Peter’s parents died, the young boy lived with one of his older brothers who mistreated him and forced him to labor as a swineherd. Eventually, another brother, a priest from Ravenna named Father Damian, took Peter in and provided him with an excellent education. Peter was so grateful to his priest brother that he added his brother’s name to his own, making him Peter Damian. Upon the completion of his education, Peter Damian became a successful teacher. Disenchanted with university life, he withdrew to a monastery in Fonte-Avellana for a forty-day retreat where he discerned a call to monastic life and received the habit. As a monk, Peter Damian lived a secluded life of prayer and extreme penance. He was eventually asked to teach his fellow monks and then did so in neighboring monasteries.