Saint Peter Damian

My dear friends in Christ,

Last Thursday, we celebrated the Feast Day of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of The Church. Did you know he was the Patron Saint for those who lose sleep over things? Saint Peter lost sleep dealing with the countless Church challenges and scandals rampant in his time. We deal with one such issue in our time, one very familiar to us: Clergy and Religious who succumb to the weakness of the flesh. Technically, clergy are Bishops, Priests and Deacons, most of whom make a promise of celibacy and simplicity of life. This excludes married permanent Deacons and married Priests who are converts to the Catholic faith or widowers. Relgious Order Priests who take vows, not merely promises of poverty, obedience and chastity, not just celibacy, include Order Priests, i.e., Franciscans, Dominicans, Augustinian Recollects, Jesuits, etc., and Sisters and Brothers. As in ou r own time, most sexual sins were illicit, not illegal, and thus were confessional matters. So much has changed since the days of Saint Peter Damian over a thousand years ago. He was the one Pope called on for his expertise in dealing with scandalous situations and sinners. Even then, those who abused children or subordinates, were dismissed from the clerical state or religious life.

Last week, each Diocese in New Jersey published a list of priests who have been credibly accused of child abuse. The world’s Bishops summoned to the special Synod in Rome to address clergy sex abuse concluded this weekend.

Through the intercession of Saint Peter Damian, pray for all those who have been abused and for us all, The Church of Christ.

May God bless you all!

Father John