Reading: St. Peter Damian

A Letter from Peter Damian to Rainerius II, marquis of Monte S. Maria 3

To Sir Rainerius, the illustrious marquis, the monk Peter the sinner sends his
greetings. For the sins you confessed to me, noble sir, I have enjoined you to travel
to Jerusalem, and thus appease divine justice by the penance of this long
pilgrimage. But since, according to Scripture, you have no idea what tomorrow will
bring, you are putting off this matter until later; and while fearing the uncertainties
of the journey, you are not providing for yourself a secure city in which you might
live. And so, in your case we see the pronouncement carried out that says: “He who
watches the wind never sows, and he who keeps his eye on the clouds never reaps.”

…Therefore, my dear friend, do not conjure up every possible thing you can
invent or imagine… do not fear misfortunes that might happen unexpectedly, but
“trust in the Lord and do good.” For often, the more anxious we are because of our
dependence on human reason, the more readily divine goodness comes to our aid;
and when we despair of human comfort we often become aware of God’s assistance.

And now to say a few words about the pilgrimage with which we are
concerned. It came to my attention from the report of my brother and fellow monk,
Richard… that this very year eight men are returning from Jerusalem, having
fulfilled the vow they had been so piously intent on making. But as they walked
through uninhabited regions, and had been suffering for four days without food, as
one man they began to beg God’s mercy to help them in their great necessity, and
that “he who gives food to all his creatures,” should not deny them at least some
nourishment in their hour of need. Just as they had finished praying, they saw a
loaf of bread of enormous size and marvelous brightness lying in the road. They
wondered at this sight before their very eyes, not unaware… that something of such
great weight could not have fallen unnoticed from the pack of him who carried it.
They at once recognized this bounty as evidence of God’s goodness…

Bonizo, another brother of ours… once suffered shipwreck as he was
returning by sea from Jerusalem. In the angry waves this ship went down, and all
his companions were lost in the wild storm. But he took hold of a sack that was
filled with baled cotton, and riding on it amid the rolling waves for almost three
days and two nights, like a man fighting for his life, he battled the sea and held
death at bay. Then it happened that several oarsmen in their boat came cutting
through the waves, saw him from some distance away, and after generously
rescuing him and giving him something to eat, treated him most kindly. And so, he
who managed to save Paul, adrift for twenty-four hours on the open sea, also kept
this brother afloat amid the wash of contending waves, lest he be swallowed up by
the storm…

Therefore, noble sir, meditate on these and similar flowers of heavenly mercy,
do not depend on your own ability, but, as is only proper, place your trust in the
unfailing protection of him who is almighty. Our ignoble body is afraid, but the
native ardor of a courageous soul is already on fire. Set out, be up and doing, and
join the fight, for he who rewards our determination will lead the pilgrimage. It is
your task to take on this journey, but it is God who directs the steps of those who
search for him. He who causes the generous heart to love, brings our good works to
fruition. And he who encourages the human spirit to do well, undoubtedly will
fulfill the vows that our piety suggests to us.

3 Peter Damian. The Fathers of the Church – Medieval Continuations: The Letters of Peter Damien, 151-180.

Trans. Owen Blum and Irven M. Resnick. Catholic University of America Press, 2014. 3-6.