Saint Cyril of Alexandria was one of the many bishops in the early centuries, who was used and duped by the Arian prelates, but the Holy Ghost won out and rather than caving to the heretics, this Doctor became one of holy Mother Church's staunchest defenders and presided over the Third Ecumenical Council at Ephesus. He stood tall when all about him were caving to heresy, mainly because of his sincere unyielding devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, honoring her as Christ asks us to honor His Mother. Like the Prodigal Son, he repented of having taken part in the persecution of St. John Chrysostom and made amends, joining in condemning Arianism and Nestorianism. In fact, as the Patriarch of Alexandria he effectively squashed the Nestorian heresies. This holy Doctor of the Church is remembered for all time as the Defender of Theotokos

The first Doctor of the Church to be made a cardinal, St. Peter Damian had much to do in ecclesiastical reform, including weeding out the antipopes during the Dark Ages. Where, oh where, are the St. Peter Damians in our dark ages today? In honor of the Double Feast of the holy Bishop Saint Peter Damian, we feature a brief profile on this holy Doctor of the Church who lived during the reign of sixteen pontiffs - some antipopes, no less. He was the first Doctor in over three centuries - a time when the Church sank into laxity and corruption, especially when violation of the disciplines and simony were rampant. It was truly the "Dark Ages" and into this darkness God sent a guiding light to reform His holy Church early in the second millennium. This holy monk counseled seven popes. St. Peter Damian was truly The Guiding Light of the Dark Ages