Spiritual Precepts

The beginnings of the great, world-historical struggle between the Empire and the Papacy lead us to the man whose life represents the purpose of the following essay. Its importance for the political and ecclesiastical history of the 11th century has long been recognized, and he was in ancient and modern times the subject of repeated treatment and examination. When it comes to mysticism and contemplation stemming from the ‘Church Fathers', there are but scant works outside of that of Bernard of Clairvaoux. My intention is to the life and effectiveness of Damian’s as completely as possible, first by a biographical display in history, his work as reformer of monks, chosen life as a contemplative and hermit, his intervention inchurch reform and its relationship with its forth - projecting contemporaries, especially to the popes.