Way of the Fathers

5.7 St. Peter Damian: Monitor of the Popes

Way of the Fathers

Show Notes

St. Peter Damian (1007 - 1072 AD) was an advisor to, and sometimes corrector of, Popes, Emperors, and Kings. Through his writings he was a reformer of the clergy, and the monasteries, especially calling out and confronting immorality among the clergy. He was a member of the first college of cardinals as we know it today, and took part in wrestling away from royals and nobles the power to appoint Popes, restoring the process of papal elections. Links Listen to the Catholic Culture audio book of St. Peter Damian's The Lord Be With You: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-peter-damian-lord-be-with-you/ Listen to previous episodes of The Way of the Fathers on the subject of the validity of the Sacraments: Episode 4.8 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 1: The Good): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/48-novatian-good-bad-ugly-pt-1-good/ Episode 4.9 - Novatian: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Part 2: The Bad and the Ugly): https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/49-novatian-part-2-bad-and-ugly/ Pope St. Stephen and the Sacraments: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/pope-st-stephen-and-sacraments/ Fr. Owen J. Blum's Dissertation - St. Peter Damian: His Teaching on the Spiritual Life: https://www.faithandfamily.pub/st-peter-damian-his-teaching-on-the-spiritual-life/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: http://www.jimpapandrea.com Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch To ask questions, make comments, or interact with Dr. Papandrea, join the conversation in the Original Church Community: https://theoriginalchurch.locals.com/ Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

More from Way of the Fathers

Oct 16, 2026

Called "The Little Flower," and "St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus," St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 - 1897) is our most recent doctor of the Church. She only lived to be 24 years old, but in her short life she became an example of humble service and redemptive suffering.

Sep 22, 2026

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) is one of the most popular and widely-read spiritual writers of all time, and yet his most significant contribution to the Church was his moral theology, including the guidance he gave to clergy for hearing confessions. Links AUDIO BOOK - Liguori's Uniformity With God's Will - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-alphonsus-liguori-uniformity-with-gods-will/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2680738 Classics of Western Spirituality, Alphonsus Liguori: Selected Writings - https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/3771-2/alphonsus-de-liguori.aspx Liguori's Duetto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyHfHbHRxc Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini on St. Alphonsus Liguori (1987) - https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritus-domini-8413 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Sep 9, 2026

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696 - 1787) was a priest, bishop, spiritual director, retreat leader, musician and composer. Co-founder of the Redemptorists, he was a teacher of prayer, and a very popular confessor, who knew how to bring people to repentance. Links Liguori's Duetto - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYyHfHbHRxc Pope St. John Paul II Apostolic Letter Spiritus Domini on St. Alphonsus Liguori (1987) - https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/spiritus-domini-8413 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Aug 26, 2026

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) has been called a spiritual director by correspondence, for his many letters, and for the fact that he was a pioneer of Catholic publishing, spreading his pamphlets across Switzerland, writing for the spiritual growth of the laity. Links AUDIOBOOK - An Introduction to the Devout Life - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-francis-de-sales-introduction-to-devout-life-full/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2667242 Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on St. Francis de Sales: Rerum Omnium Perturbationem (1923) - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4950&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2667245 Article on the teaching of St. Francis de Sales on predestination - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getchap.cfm?worknum=214&chapnum=22&id=2078&repos=7&subrepos=0&searchid=2667248 The book: The Sign of the Cross - https://sophiainstitute.com/product/the-sign-of-the-cross/ SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

Aug 12, 2026

What St. Peter Canisius and St. Lawrence of Brindisi did for Germany, St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) did for Switzerland. Born just three years after John Calvin died, St. Francis de Sales found the Catholics of Geneva a persecuted minority, but by the time he was finished there, the region was mostly Catholic again. Links AUDIOBOOK - An Introduction to the Devout Life - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/st-francis-de-sales-introduction-to-devout-life-full/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2667242 Encyclical of Pope Pius XI on St. Francis de Sales: Rerum Omnium Perturbationem (1923) - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=4950&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=2667245 Article on the teaching of St. Francis de Sales on predestination - https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/most/getchap.cfm?worknum=214&chapnum=22&id=2078&repos=7&subrepos=0&searchid=2667248 SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's Newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters/ DONATE at: http://www.catholicculture.org/donate/audio Dr. Papandrea's Homepage: https://jimpapandrea.wordpress.com/ Dr. Papandrea's latest book - Praying the Wisdom: Inspired Prayers for Lectio Divina and Contemplative Prayer: https://sophiainstitute.com/product/praying-the-wisdom/ Dr. Papandrea's YouTube channel, The Original Church: https://www.youtube.com/@TheOriginalChurch Theme Music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed: https://www.ccwatershed.org/

See all episodes →