Today the church remembers Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles.
On June 29 the Church celebrates the feast day of Saints. Peter &
Paul. As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy
tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both Saint Peter and Saint
Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the
See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there.
Peter,
who was named Simon, was a fisherman of Galilee and was introduced to
the Lord Jesus by his brother Andrew, also a fisherman. Jesus gave him
the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means ‘Rock,’ because he was to
become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church.
Peter
was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognize that
Jesus was “the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” and eagerly pledged
his fidelity until death. In his boldness, he also made many mistakes,
however, such as losing faith when walking on water with Christ and
betraying the Lord on the night of His passion.
Yet despite his
human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of
the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the
Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the
first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith.
St.
Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through
persecution and eventually being martyred in the year 64. He was
crucified upside-down at his own request, because he claimed he was not
worthy to die as his Lord.
He was buried on Vatican hill, and St. Peter's Basilica is built over his tomb.
St.
Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles. His letters are included in the
writings of the New Testament, and through them we learn much about his
life and the faith of the early Church.
Before receiving the name
Paul, he was Saul, a Jewish pharisee who zealously persecuted Christians
in Jerusalem. Scripture records that Saul was present at the martyrdom
of St. Stephen.
Saul's conversion took place as he was on his way
to Damascus to persecute the Christian community there. As he was
traveling along the road, he was suddenly surrounded by a great light
from heaven. He was blinded and fell off his horse. He then heard a
voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He answered:
“Who are you, Lord?” Christ said: “I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting.”
Saul continued to Damascus, where he was baptized
and his sight was restored. He took the name Paul and spent the
remainder of his life preaching the Gospel tirelessly to the Gentiles of
the Mediterranean world.
Paul was imprisoned and taken to Rome, where he was beheaded in the year 67.
He is buried in Rome in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
In
a sermon in the year 395, St. Augustine of Hippo said of Sts. Peter and
Paul: “Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one;
and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter
went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy
for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their
life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their
confession of faith.”
Almighty
God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their
martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and
example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm
upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and
reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
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