Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 06-29-05, Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles

June 29, 2005
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
Mass during the Day

Psalm: Wednesday 29

Reading I
Acts 12:1-11

In those days, King Herod laid hands upon some members of the Church to harm them.
He had James, the brother of John, killed by the sword,
and when he saw that this was pleasing to the Jews
he proceeded to arrest Peter also.
—It was the feast of Unleavened Bread.—
He had him taken into custody and put in prison
under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each.
He intended to bring him before the people after Passover.
Peter thus was being kept in prison,
but prayer by the Church was fervently being made
to God on his behalf.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial,
Peter, secured by double chains,
was sleeping between two soldiers,
while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him
and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying,
"Get up quickly."
The chains fell from his wrists.
The angel said to him, "Put on your belt and your sandals."
He did so.
Then he said to him, "Put on your cloak and follow me."
So he followed him out,
not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real;
he thought he was seeing a vision.
They passed the first guard, then the second,
and came to the iron gate leading out to the city,
which opened for them by itself.
They emerged and made their way down an alley,
and suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter recovered his senses and said,
"Now I know for certain
that the Lord sent his angel
and rescued me from the hand of Herod
and from all that the Jewish people had been expecting."

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (5) The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear him.

Reading II
2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18

I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have competed well; I have finished the race;
I have kept the faith.
From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me,
which the Lord, the just judge,
will award to me on that day, and not only to me,
but to all who have longed for his appearance.

The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,
so that through me the proclamation might be completed
and all the Gentiles might hear it.
And I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil threat
and will bring me safe to his heavenly Kingdom.
To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Gospel
Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi
he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Simon Peter said in reply,
"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

From: Acts 12:1-11

Persecution by Herod. Peter's Arrest and Deliverance

[1] About that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who
belonged to the church. [2] He killed James the brother of John with
the sword; [3] and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded
to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread.
[4] And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, and delivered him
to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover
to bring him out to the people. [5] So Peter was kept in prison; but
earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

[6] The very night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was
sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries
before the door were guarding the prison; [7] and behold, an angel of
the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter
on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell
off his hands. [8] And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put
on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your mantle
around you and follow me." [9] And he went out and followed him; he did
not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was
seeing a vision. [10] When they had passed the first and the second
guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened to
them of its own accord, and they went out and passed on through one
street; and immediately the angel left him. [11] And Peter came to
himself, and said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and
rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people
were expecting."

Commentary:

1-19. This is an account of persecution of the Church by Herod Agrippa
(37-44), which took place before the visit of Paul and Barnabas to the
Holy City(cf. 11:30).

The information given in this chapter about the latest persecution of
the Jerusalem community--more severe and more general than the earlier
crises (cf. 5:17; 8:1)--gives an accurate picture of the situation in
Palestine and describes events in chronological sequence. Prior to this
the Roman governors more or less protected the rights of the Jerusalem
Christians. Now Agrippa, in his desire to ingratiate himself with the
Pharisees, abandons the Christians to the growing resentment and hatred
the Jewish authorities and people feel towards them.

This chapter brings to an end, so to speak, the story of the first
Christian community in Jerusalem. From now on, attention is
concentrated on the church of Antioch. The last stage of the
Palestinian Judeo-Christian church, under the direction of James "the
brother of the Lord", will not experience the expansion enjoyed by
other churches, due to the grave turn which events take in the Holy
Land.

1. This Herod is the third prince of that name to appear in the New
Testament. He was a grandson of Herod the Great, who built the new
temple of Jerusalem and was responsible for the massacre of the Holy
Innocents (cf. Mt 2:16); he was also a nephew of Herod Antipas, the
tetrarch of Galilee at the time of our Lord's death. Herod Agrippa I
was a favorite of the emperor Caligula, who gradually gave him more
territory and allowed him to use the title of king. Agrippa I managed
to extend his authority over all the territory his grandfather had
ruled: Roman governors had ruled Judea up to the year 41, but in that
year it was given over to Herod. He was a sophisticated type of person,
a diplomat, so bent on consolidating his power that he had became a
master of intrigue and a total opportunist. For largely political
motives he practiced Judaism with a certain rigor.

2. James the Greater would have been martyred in the year 42 or 43. He
was the first Apostle to die for the faith and the only one whose death
is mentioned in the New Testament. The Liturgy of the Hours says of
him: "The son of Zebedee and the brother of John, he was born in
Bethsaida. He witnessed the principal miracles performed by our Lord
and was put to death by Herod around the year 42. He is held in special
veneration in the city of Compostela, where a famous church is
dedicated to his name."

"The Lord permits this death," Chrysostom observes, "to show his
murderers that these events do not cause the Christians to retreat or
desist" ("Hom. on Acts", 26).

5. "Notice the feelings of the faithful towards their pastors. They do
not riot or rebel; they have recourse to prayer, which can solve all
problems. They do not say to themselves: we do not count, there is no
point in our praying for him. Their love led them to pray and they did
not think along those lines. Have you noticed what these persecutors
did without intending to? They made (their victims) more determined to
stand the test, and (the faithful) more zealous and loving" ("Hom. on
Acts", 26).

St Luke, whose Gospel reports our Lord's words on perseverance in
prayer (cf. 11:13; 18:1-8), here stresses that God listens to the
whole community's prayer for Peter. He plans in his providence to save
the Apostle for the benefit of the Church, but he wants the outcome to
be seen as an answer to the Church's fervent prayer.

7-10. The Lord comes to Peter's help by sending an angel, who opens the
prison and leads him out. This miraculous freeing of the Apostle is
similar to what happened at the time of Peter and John's detention
(5:19f) and when Paul and Silas are imprisoned in Philippi (16:19ff).

This extraordinary event, which must be understood exactly as it is
described, shows the loving care God takes of those whom he entrusts
with a mission. They must strive to fulfill it, but they will "see" for
themselves that he guides their steps and watches over them.

Source: "The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries". Biblical text
taken from the Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries
made by members of the Faculty of Theology of the University of
Navarre, Spain. Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock,
Co. Dublin, Ireland.

From: 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18

The Crown of Righteousness

[6] For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my
departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me
the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will
award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have
loved his appearing.

[17] For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength to proclaim the word
fully, that all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the
lion's mouth. [18] The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me
for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Commentary:

6-8. Conscious of his closeness to death, St Paul writes in poetic
strain about his life in the service of the Gospel, about the meaning
of death and his hope of heaven. The imagery he uses shows how he
interprets his experience in the light of faith. "On the point of being
sacrificed": literally "poured out in sacrifice": death is an offering
to God, like the libations of oil poured on the altar of sacrifices.
Death is the beginning of a journey: "the point of my departure has
come", the anchor is being weighed, the sails unfurled.

The Christian life is like magnificent Games taking place in the
presence of God, who acts as the judge. In Greece the Games had close
connections with religious worship; St Paul presents the Christian life
as a type of spiritual sport: "races" indicates the continuous effort
to achieve perfection (cf. Phil 3:14); training for athletics indicates
the practice of self-denial (cf. 1 Cor 9:26-27); fighting stands for
the effort required to resist sin even if that means death, as can
happen in the event of persecution (cf. Heb 12:4). It is well
worthwhile taking part in this competition, because, as St John
Chrysostom points out, "the crown which it bestows never withers. It is
not made of laurel leaves, it is not a man who places it on our head,
it has not been won in the presence of a crowd made up of men, but in a
stadium full of angels. In earthly competitions a man fights and
strives for days and the only reward he receives is a crown which
withers in a matter of hours [. . .]. That does not happen here: the
crown he is given is a glory and honor whose brilliance lasts forever
("Hom. on 2 Tim, ad loc".).

All Christians who "have loved his appearing", that is, who stay true
to Christ, share St Paul's expectation of eternal life. "We who know
about the eternal joys of the heavenly fatherland should hasten to
reach it by the more direct route" (St Gregory the Great, "In Evangelia
Homiliae", 16).

9-18. In his letters St Paul often asks people to do things for him;
his messages here are particularly moving, given as they are on the eve
of his martyrdom. He is following the example of Christ: he puts his
trust in God even though his friends desert him (vv. 10-12, 16); his
enemies harass him more than ever, yet he forgives them (vv. 14, 16);
in the midst of his sufferings he praises the Lord (v. 18). His mention
of Thessalonica, Galatia, Dalmatia, Ephesus, Troas, Corinth and Miletus
show how warmly he remembers places which were very receptive to the
Christian message. These few verses constitute a mini-biography.

His generosity of spirit is shown by the fact that he mentions so many
disciples by name; to all he gave of his best; some of them fell by the
wayside but most of them stayed faithful; some are mentioned in the
Acts of the Apostles or in other letters, but for others this is the
only mention in the New Testament. However, all without exception must
have been very present to the Apostle who became "all things to all
men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Cor 9:22).

16-17. St Paul points to the contrast between the way men treat him and
the way God does. Because of the hazards involved in staying with Paul
or defending him, some of his friends, even some of his closest
friends, have deserted him; whereas God stays by his side.

"You seek the company of friends who, with their conversation and
affection, with their friendship, make the exile of this world more
bearable for you. There is nothing wrong with that, although friends
sometimes let you down. But how is it you don't frequent daily with
greater intensity the company, the conversation, of the great Friend,
who never lets you down?" ([St] J. Escriva, "The Way", 88).

From: Matthew 16:13-19:

Peter's Profession of Faith and His Primacy

[13] Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He
asked His disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of Man is?" [14] And
they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others
Jeremiah or one of the prophets." [15] He said to them, "But who do
you say that I am?" [16] Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the
Son of the living God." [17] And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you,
Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but
My Father who is in Heaven. [18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on
this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not
prevail against it. [19] I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven."

Commentary:

13-20. In this passage St. Peter is promised primacy over the whole
Church, a primacy which Jesus will confer on him after His
Resurrection, as we learn in the Gospel of St. John (cf. John
21:15-18). This supreme authority is given to Peter for the benefit of
the Church. Because the Church has to last until the end of time, this
authority will be passed on to Peter's successors down through
history. The Bishop of Rome, the Pope, is the successor of Peter.

The solemn Magisterium of the Church, in the First Vatican Council,
defined the doctrine of the primacy of Peter and his successors in
these terms:

"We teach and declare, therefore, according to the testimony of the
Gospel that the primacy of jurisdiction over the whole Church was
immediately and directly promised to and conferred upon the blessed
Apostle Peter by Christ the Lord. For to Simon, Christ had said, `You
shall be called Cephas' (John 1:42). Then, after Simon had
acknowledged Christ with the confession, `You are the Christ, the Son
of the living God' (Matthew 16:16), it was to Simon alone that the
solemn words were spoken by the Lord: `Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jona. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in Heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My Church, and the powers of Hell shall not prevail
against it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you loose
on earth shall be loosed in Heaven' (Matthew 16:17-19). And after His
Resurrection, Jesus conferred upon Simon Peter alone the jurisdiction
of supreme shepherd and ruler over His whole fold with the words, `Feed
My lambs....Feed My sheep' (John 21:15-17) [...]

"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that the blessed Apostle Peter was
not constituted by Christ the Lord as the Prince of all the Apostles
and the visible head of the whole Church militant, or that he received
immediately and directly from Jesus Christ our Lord only a primacy of
honor and not a true and proper primacy of jurisdiction: let him be
condemned.

"Now, what Christ the Lord, Supreme Shepherd and watchful guardian of
the flock, established in the person of the blessed Apostle Peter for
the perpetual safety and everlasting good of the Church must, by the
will of the same, endure without interruption in the Church which was
founded on the rock and which will remain firm until the end of the
world. Indeed, `no one doubts, in fact it is obvious to all ages, that
the holy and most blessed Peter, Prince and head of the Apostles, the
pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received
the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and the
Redeemer of the human race; and even to this time and forever he
lives,' and governs, `and exercises judgment in his successors' (cf.
Council of Ephesus), the bishops of the holy Roman See, which he
established and consecrated with his blood. Therefore, whoever
succeeds Peter in this Chair holds Peter's primacy over the whole
Church according to the plan of Christ Himself [...]. For this reason,
`because of its greater sovereignty,' it was always `necessary for
every church, that is, the faithful who are everywhere, to be in
agreement' with the same Roman Church [...]

"(Canon) Therefore, if anyone says that it is not according to the
institution of Christ our Lord himself, that is, by divine law, that
St Peter has perpetual successors in the primacy over the whole Church;
or if anyone says that the Roman Pontiff is not the successor of St
Peter in the same primacy: let him be condemned.

"We think it extremely necessary to assert solemnly the prerogative
which the only-begotten Son of God deigned to join to the highest
pastoral office. "And so, faithfully keeping to the tradition received
from the beginning of the Christian faith, for the glory of God our
Savior, for the exaltation of the Catholic religion, and for the
salvation of Christian peoples, We, with the approval of the sacred
council, teach and define that it is a divinely revealed dogma: that
the Roman Pontiff, when he speaks "ex cathedra", that is, when, acting
in the office of shepherd and teacher of all Christians, he defines, by
virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, doctrine concerning faith or
morals to be held by the universal Church, possesses through the divine
assistance promised to him in the person of St. Peter, the
infallibility with which the divine Redeemer willed His Church to be
endowed in defining doctrine concerning faith or morals; and that such
definitions of the Roman Pontiff are therefore irreformable because of
their nature, but not because of the agreement of the Church.

"(Canon) But if anyone presumes to contradict this our definition (God
forbid him to do so): let him be condemned" (Vatican I, "Pastor
Aeternus", Chaps. 1, 2 and 4).

Catholic Culture

Collect:
Lord our God, encourage us through the prayers of Saints Peter and Paul. May the apostles who strengthened the faith of the infant Church help us on our way of salvation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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Activities:

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Prayers:

June 29, 2005

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, apostles

Old Calendar: Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Veneration of the two great Apostles, Peter and Paul, has its roots in the very foundations of the Church. They are the solid rock on which the Church is built. They are at the origin of her faith and will forever remain her protectors and her guides. To them Rome owes her true greatness, for it was under God's providential guidance that they were led to make the capital of the Empire, sanctified by their martyrdom, the center of the Christian world whence should radiate the preaching of the Gospel.

St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in A.D. 66 or 67. He was buried on the hill of the Vatican where recent excavations have revealed his tomb on the very site of the basilica of St. Peter's. St. Paul was beheaded in the via Ostia on the spot where now stands the basilica bearing his name. Down the centuries Christian people in their thousands have gone on pilgrimage to the tombs of these Apostles. In the second and third centuries the Roman Church already stood pre-eminent by reason of her apostolicity, the infallible truth of her teaching and her two great figures, Sts. Peter and Paul.

St. Peter

Peter's original name was Simon. Christ Himself gave him the name Cephas or Peter when they first met and later confirmed it. This name change was meant to show both Peter's rank as leader of the apostles and the outstanding trait of his character — Peter (in Hebrew Kephas) the Rock. Peter was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. Like his younger brother Andrew, he was a fisherman and dwelt at Capernaum. Peter's house often became the scene of miracles, since the Master would stay there whenever He was teaching in that locality. Together with his brothers John and Andrew, Peter belonged to the first of Jesus' disciples (John 1:40-50).

After the miraculous draught of fish on the Sea of Galilee, Peter received his definitive call and left wife, family, and occupation to take his place as leader of the Twelve. Thereafter we find him continually at Jesus' side, whether it be as spokesman of the apostolic college (John 6:68; Matt. 16:16), or as one specially favored (e.g., at the restoration to life of Jairus' daughter, at the transfiguration, during the agony in the garden). His sanguine temperament often led him into hasty, unpremeditated words and actions; his denial of Jesus during the passion was a salutary lesson. It accentuated a weakness in his character and made him humble.

After the ascension, Peter always took the leading role, exercising the office of chief shepherd that Christ had entrusted to him. He delivered the first sermon on Pentecost and received the first Gentiles into the Church (Cornelius; Acts 10:1). Paul went to Jerusalem "to see Peter." After his miraculous deliverance from prison (Easter, 42 A.D.), Peter "went to a different place," most probably to Rome. Details now become scanty; we hear of his presence at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15:1), and of his journey to Antioch (Gal. 2:11).

It is certain that Peter labored in Rome as an apostle, that he was the city's first bishop, and that he died there as a martyr, bound to a cross (67 A.D.). According to tradition he also was the first bishop of Antioch. He is the author of two letters, the first Christian encyclicals. His burial place is Christendom's most famous shrine, an edifice around whose dome are inscribed the words: Tu es Petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Against frenzy; bakers; bridge builders; butchers; clock makers; cobblers; Exeter College Oxford; feet problems; fever; fishermen; foot problems; harvesters; locksmiths; longevity; masons; net makers; papacy; Popes; ship builders; shipwrights; shoemakers; stone masons; Universal Church; watch makers; Poznan, Poland; Rome; Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi; Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; diocese of Marquette, Michigan; Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

Symbols: Two keys saltire; pastoral staff and two large keys; inverted cross; inverted cross and two keys saltie; crowing cock; fish; two swords; patriarchal cross and two keys slatire; two keys and a scroll; sword.
Often portrayed as: Bald man, often with a fringe of hair on the sides and a tuft on top; book; keys; man crucified head downwards; man holding a key or keys; man robed as a pope and bearing keys and a double-barred cross.

St. Paul

Paul, known as Saul (his Roman name) before his conversion, was born at Tarsus in the Roman province of Silicia about two or three years after the advent of the Redeemer. He was the son of Jewish parents who belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, was reared according to the strict religious-nationalistic party of the Pharisees, and enjoyed the high distinction of Roman citizenship.

As a youth he went to Jerusalem to become immersed in the Law and had as a teacher the celebrated Gamaliel. He acquired skill as a tent-maker, a work he continued even as an apostle. At the time of Jesus' ministry he no longer was at Jerusalem; neither did he see the Lord during His earthly-life. Upon returning to the Holy City, Paul discovered a flourishing Christian community and at once became its bitter opponent. When Stephen impugned Law and temple, Paul was one of the first at his stoning; thereafter his fiery personality would lead the persecution. Breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of Jesus, he was hurrying to Damascus when the grace of God effected his conversion (about the year 34 A.D.; see January 25, Conversion of St. Paul).

After receiving baptism and making some initial attempts at preaching, Paul withdrew into the Arabian desert (c. 34-37 A.D.), where he prepared himself for his future mission. During this retreat he was favored with special revelations, Christ appearing to him personally. Upon his return to Damascus he began to preach but was forced to leave when the Jews sought to kill him. Then he went to Jerusalem "to see Peter." Barnabas introduced him to the Christian community, but the hatred of the Jews again obliged him to take secret flight. The following years (38-42 A.D.) he spent at Tarsus until Barnabas brought him to the newly founded Christian community at Antioch, where both worked a year for the cause of Christ; in the year 44 he made another journey to Jerusalem with the money collected for that famine stricken community.

The first major missionary journey (45-48) began upon his return as he and Barnabas brought the Gospel to Cyprus and Asia Minor (Acts 13-14). The Council of Jerusalem occasioned Paul's reappearance in Jerusalem (50). Spurred on by the decisions of the Council, he began the second missionary journey (51-53), traveling through Asia Minor and then crossing over to Europe and founding churches at Philippi, Thessalonia (his favorite), Berea, Athens, Corinth. He remained almost two years at Corinth, establishing a very flourishing and important community. In 54 he returned to Jerusalem for the fourth time.

Paul's third missionary journey (54-58) took him to Ephesus, where he labored three years with good success; after visiting his European communities, he returned to Jerusalem for a fifth time (Pentecost, 58). There he was seized by the Jews and accused of condemning the Law. After being held as a prisoner for two years at Caesarea, he appealed to Caesar and was sent by sea to Rome (60 A.D.). Shipwrecked and delayed on the island of Malta, he arrived at Rome in the spring of 61 and passed the next two years in easy confinement before being released. The last years of the saint's life were devoted to missionary excursions, probably including Spain, and to revisiting his first foundations. In 66 he returned to Rome, was taken prisoner, and beheaded a year later. His fourteen letters are a precious legacy; they afford a deep insight into a great soul.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch

Patron: Against snakes; authors; Cursillo movement; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; lay people; missionary bishops; musicians; poisonous snakes; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; writers; Malta; Rome; Poznan, Poland; newspaper editorial staff Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Diocese of Covington, Kentucky; Diocese of Birmingham, Alabama; Diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts;

Symbols: Book and sword, three fountains; two swords; scourge; serpent and a fire; armour of God; twleve scrolls with names of his Epistles; phoenix; palm tree; shield of faith; sword; book.
Often portrayed as: Thin-faced elderly man with a high forehead, receding hairline and long pointed beard; man holding a sword and a book; man with 3 springs of water nearby;

Things to Do:

From the Directory on Popular Piety, this feast is important because "it is always useful to teach the faithful to realize the importance and significance of the feasts of those Saints who have had a particular mission in the history of Salvation, or a singular relationship with Christ such as St. John the Baptist (24 June), St. Joseph (19 March), Sts. Peter and Paul (29 June), the Apostles and Evangelists, St. Mary Magdalen (22 July), St. Martha (29 July) and St. Stephen (26 December)."
The Directory on Popular Piety also explains the devotion of the Christian Pilgrimage. During the Middle Ages in particular, "pilgrims came to Rome to venerate the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, (ad Limina Apostolorum), the catacombs and basilicas, in recognition of the service rendered to the universal Church by the successor of Peter."
Besides the recipes in our database, Cooking With the Saints by Ernst Schuegraf has 7 recipes alone for the feast of St. Peter. This is a wonderful book, beautifully illustrated with art of the saints and the actual dishes. This would be a great addition to your liturgical year library.
Learn more about St. Paul, read Paul of Tarsus

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title:	Heroes Aren't Born, They're Made!
Author:	Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date:	Wednesday, June 28, 2005

Acts 12:1-11/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19

A salesman rang the doorbell at a rather fine suburban home, and the door was answered by a nine-year-old boy who was puffing on a long black cigar! Hiding his amazement, the salesman asked, "Is your mother home?"

The boy took the cigar out of his mouth, flicked the ash on the carpet, and asked, "What do YOU think?"

+ + +

That nine-year-old has a long way to go before he's finished. So do we all. And in the process we get an awful lot of things wrong, before we get them right. The two heroes we celebrate on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul are perfect examples of that.

Peter, the first pope, spent a good part of his life trying to remember that it's only a closed mouth that gathers no foot! Year in and year out, he talked first and thought later. He promised undying loyalty to Jesus and within hours denied he even knew him. He was on the wrong side of the debate about whether to let non-Jews become Christians! And yet in the end, he was a rock for his fellow Christians to lean on; and he gave his life for them.

Paul, on the other hand, was a perfectionist. He wanted to be perfect, and thought he could be, and his imperfections drove him crazy. So he compensated by attacking other people's imperfections: And while he was still a Jew, that meant killing Christians! Even after his conversion, he was often a whiner and a self-righteous bore. And yet in the end, he finally let go of playing perfect, and instead let God BE God for him. He learned to relax in the Lord, and IN the Lord he found the strength to do whatever was needed, and that included giving his life.

Heroes aren't born; they're made — very slowly, with the help of God's grace. Today, as we celebrate the triumph of God's grace in Peter and Paul, we're also celebrating that we too can become great — each in our own way. And we're rejecting all those lying fears that keep telling us we're stuck forever with what we are today, all those fears that tell us even God can't grow us bigger on the inside, even GOD can't make us great.

God CAN and God WILL grow us great, if we lay aside fear and let him touch us, let him heal all those places deep within us that are hurt or sick or broken. God can do for us what he did for Peter and for Paul, if we trust him enough to let him in, and if we work with him till the work is truly done.

It's never too late, so let us begin again. And this time, with God's help, let's not stop till we're done!

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