St. Peter Damian Novena
Contents
Show HideSt. Peter Damian was a Benedictine monk who lived in Italy. He did a lot of important work for Church reform during the 1000s. He was eventually made a cardinal. He has also been named a Doctor of the Church.
You can use this novena to seek intercession from this holy reformer in your life!
About St. Peter Damian
St. Peter Damian was born in Ravenna, Italy around the year 988. He was the youngest child in his family, and his parents died when he was young.
One of his older brothers was in charge of Peter’s care, but Peter was neglected and treated as a servant. One of Peter’s other brothers felt sorry for Peter’s neglect and arranged for Peter to be educated.
Peter was an excellent student. After studying for some time, he became a professor. As Peter began to advance in holiness, he started to practice penances such as fasting and wearing a hair shirt. He spent a lot of time in prayer, and he gave alms generously to the poor. He also frequently served the poor at his own table.
Soon, Peter decided to enter a Benedictine monastery. He began to suffer from severe insomnia. He also devoted himself to studying Scripture.
The other monks in Peter’s monastery unanimously chose him to be the superior when their current superior should die. Peter was so reluctant to accept this honor that the current superior had to command him to accept under obedience.
When the abbot died, Peter began to lead the monastery wisely and piously. He was most concerned with cultivating a spirit of charity, humility, and solitude in his brothers. Under his rule, many of the monks went on to become important figures in the Church.
In 1057, Pope Stephen IX had Peter leave his hermitage in order to become Cardinal-bishop of Ostia. Peter continually requested that the next Pope, Nicholas II, allow him to return to a life of solitude. But Nicholas refused Peter. Finally, Pope Alexander II allowed Peter to return to the monastic life, on the condition that Peter agree to come back and assist him whenever necessary.
When he returned to monastic life, Peter considered himself retired from his former position of abbot. As he lived a life of quiet and prayer, Peter devoted himself to penance and to holy writing. He wrote with great severity on the duties of monks and priests, and he fought against the evils of simony.
The Pope eventually called on Peter to settle the difficulties that arose when the Archbishop of Ravenna was excommunicated. Though the archbishop had died by the time Peter reached Ravenna, Peter ensured that the archbishop’s accomplices in crime made atonement for their misdeeds.
While returning to Rome after this, Peter contracted a severe fever and died after eight days of sickness in 1072.
St. Peter Damian’s Feast Day: February 21st
Why Pray the St. Peter Damian Novena?
St. Peter Damian does not have an official patronage, but he is a great saint to seek prayers from in many circumstances.
You can ask St. Peter Damian to pray for you if you are discerning a vocation to the Benedictine religious order, since he was a very holy Benedictine monk and abbot. You can also ask him to pray for someone you know who is discerning a vocation to the Benedictines or who is already a Benedictine.
Additionally, St. Peter Damian is a great saint to seek intercession from on behalf of Church leaders, since he was a holy cardinal and did a lot of work for Church reform.
You can pray the St. Peter Damian Novena for any intention!
St. Peter Damian Novena Prayers
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed from the time he was young.
St. Peter Damian, you did not have the benefit of a secure family life after your parents died in your youth. Despite the difficulties you faced under the care of your brother, you began on the path to serving God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served!
You began to devote yourself to holy practices during your time as a student when you were a young man. You continued to grow in holiness throughout the rest of your life.
Pray for me, that I may eagerly serve God in my own life. Pray that I may never allow difficulties and trials to prevent me from striving for holiness.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in the many penitential practices he began as a young man.
St. Peter Damian, you began to practice penances such as fasting and wearing a hair shirt when you were a young man. You continued to grow in holiness and a spirit of penance throughout your life.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You chose to serve God in a life particularly devoted to prayer and penance as a monk. You did all you could to grow in holiness and love for God.
Pray for me, that I may grow in a spirit of holy penance in my life. Pray that I may seek to serve God more devotedly each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in his great charity towards those in need.
St. Peter Damian, you were very concerned with caring for the poor when you were a young man. You generously served the poor out of love for God.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you loved with such devotion!
You frequently served the poor from your own table. You did all you could to care for your brothers and sisters in Christ who were in need.
Pray for me, that I may grow in awareness to the needs of the poor around me. Pray that I may be eager to assist my poor brothers and sisters in Christ out of love for God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in choosing to devote himself to You as a monk.
St. Peter Damian, you began to devote yourself to serving God as a young man. You chose to enter the Benedictine religious order so you could serve God wholeheartedly as a monk.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
Though you longed to remain in the prayerful solitude of monastic life, you answered God’s call to serve His Church in more active roles as well.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to serve God in whatever ways He calls me to. Pray that I may devote my life to God as wholeheartedly as you did.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in choosing to live the monastic vocation.
St. Peter Damian, you were drawn to a life of prayer as a young man. You began many holy practices, and you continued to serve God with devotion for the rest of your life.
Please continue to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You entered the Benedictine religious order, and you entered wholeheartedly into living out your monastic vocation. When you were called out of monasticism to serve the Church, you obeyed but looked forward to your return to a life of quiet prayer.
Pray for me, that I may advance in my prayer life as God calls me to. Pray that I may be eager to grow closer to God each day.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his service to You as a Benedictine monk and abbot.
St. Peter Damian, you chose to enter the Benedictine religious order so that you might serve God wholeheartedly in a life of prayer and solitude.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so wholeheartedly!
You were chosen unanimously by the other monks to succeed the abbot in leading your monastery. Though you were reluctant to accept the honor of abbot, you led the monastery wisely and piously for many years.
Pray for me, that I may be as devoted a servant of God as you were. Pray that I may be eager to devote myself to prayer and penance.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the virtue he showed in obeying the Pope’s request to serve in Church leadership.
St. Peter Damian, you greatly appreciated your life of solitude and prayer as a Benedictine monk. But when the Pope asked you to leave your hermitage in order to become a bishop-cardinal, you humbly submitted yourself to God’s will.
Please bring my petitions before God Whom you served so humbly!
Even after you were able to return to monastic life, you continued to serve the Church in every way God called you to.
Pray for me, that I may always answer God’s call to serve Him in my life. Pray that I may always be eager to do God’s will, no matter what He asks of me.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the devotion to You he showed in his holy work of writing.
St. Peter Damian, you eagerly returned to monastic life when Pope Alexander II allowed you to resign your leadership role. Even in your secluded life of monasticism, you did not cease working for the good of the Church.
Please do not cease bringing my petitions before God!
You wrote many letters and spiritual works in your life of quiet and prayer, doing all you could to help bring about reform within the Church and to combat abuses.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to preach the truth. Pray that I may do all I can to help bring others to holiness.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
St. Peter Damian Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Peter Damian as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed in his work to bring about reform within Your Church.
St. Peter Damian, you saw clearly that the Church in your day was suffering from many problems. You did all you could to help combat these abuses.
Please do all you can to bring my petitions before the throne of God!
You wrote with great severity on the duties of monks and priests, knowing that they needed to be urged to faithfulness in their vocations. You fought against the evils of simony, and you did a lot of good for the Church.
Pray for me, that I may always be eager to do what I can to serve the Church. Pray that I may never weary of doing all I can to serve God.
Please also pray for (mention your intentions here).
St. Peter Damian, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.