Project BLACK MAMBA: Backlog Edition

Tuesday, 21 February was the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (circa 1007-1073): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Saint Peter Damian was a reforming Benedictine monk & cardinal in the circle of Pope (St.) Leo IX (19 April). Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis of Assisi (4 October).

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Peter escaped poverty & the neglect of his own brother when his other brother, who was archpriest of Ravenna, took him under his wing. His brother sent him to good schools & Peter became a professor. Soon, he decided to leave his teaching & give himself completely to prayer with the Benedictines of the reform of Saint Romuald (19 June) at Fonte Avellana. They lived two monks to a heritage. Peter as so eager to pray & slept so little that he soon sufered from severe insomnia. He found he had to use some prudence in taking care of himself. When he was not praying, he studied the Bible. The abbot commanded that when he died Peter should succeed him. Abbot Peter found five other heritages. He wrote many letters; some one hundred seventy survive. We also have fifty-three of his sermons & seven lives, or biographies, that he wrote. He preferred examples & stories rather than theory in his writings. The liturgical offices he wrote are evidence of his talent as a stylist in Latin.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Pepin of Landen, Confessor (circa 580-646), ancestor of Blessed Charlemagne, the inaugural Holy Roman Emperor (28 January): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Noël Pinot, Priest & Martyr (1747-1794), martyred in the reign of the National Convention: Martyr-link, Wikipedia-link List, & Wikipedia-link Oath.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Book of Sirach, chapter two, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Thirty-seven, verses three & four, eighteen & nineteen, twenty-seven & twenty-eight, & thirty-nine & forty;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter nine, verses thirty thru thirty-seven;

or, for St. Peter Damian:
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter four, verses one thru five;
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight.