From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

June 29th - The Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Saint Augustine wrote of these holy men: =E2=80=9CBoth apostles share the s= ame
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.=E2=80=9D

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,
for ever and ever.

Saint Peter (1-64), disciple of Christ, first Pope, and =E2=80=9Crock=E2=80= =9D of the
Church., was born Simeon, but renamed by Christ to reflect his special
role in the formation of the Church. He later confirmed his =E2=80=9Cnew=E2= =80=9D
name, and endowed him with the powers of the keys of heaven:

16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was
not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell
you that you are Peter [translated as =E2=80=9Cthe rock=E2=80=9D], and on t= his rock I
will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind
on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will
be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16: 16-19)

Jesus also specifically charged Saint Peter with the task of
shepherding His flock as first Vicar of the Church. In Saint Peter and
his successors, we have a visible sign of unity and communion in faith
and charity:

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon
son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love
me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. (John 21: 15-17)

Peter was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee. Like his younger
brother Andrew, he was a professional fisherman and dwelt at
Capernaum, where Jesus would stay, performing miracles, whenever he
was preaching in that area. Following the miraculous catch of fish
that Christ used to make them =E2=80=9Cfishers of men,=E2=80=9D together wi=
th his
brothers John and Andrew, Peter felt the call to become the first of
Jesus' disciples.

Following his encounter with Jesus, Peter's life changed dramatical=
ly.
We know that he left his wife, family, and job to follow Christ. He
served as the leader of the disciples, especially following the
crucifixion, but beforehand as well. Peter occupied a privileged
station as spokesperson for the group, as well as selection to be
present at the Transfiguration and the Agony in the Garden. Somewhat
quick to anger and temperamental, Peter's words and deeds sometimes
got him into trouble, but also set the stage for his thrice-over
denial of Jesus, a lesson which led to great humility and prepared him
for his position as Pope.

After the Ascension of Christ, we know that Peter took a leading role, embracing the office of shepherd that had been entrusted to him. He
delivered the first sermon on Pentecost, during the descent of the
Holy Spirit, and confirmed the first Gentiles into the Church:

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is
the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All
the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him
receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (Acts 10: 42-43)

But much of Saint Peter's life is lost to history. We know that he =
was
present at the Council of Jerusalem (where he gave support to
preaching to the Gentiles, leading to the universality of the Church),
became the first bishop of Antioch, received and visited with saint
Paul, and labored in Rome as an apostle. He is responsible for
appointed the replacement of Judas Iscariot, and was the first to
perform miracles in the name of the Lord. He further wrote two
epistles, the first Papal Encyclicals of the Church.

16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were
eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from
God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory,
saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."18
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with
him on the sacred mountain. (2 Peter 1: 16-18)

Saint Peter was imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa, and was miraculously
freed by an angel. Rather than turn from his apostolic mission, he
returned to Jerusalem, traveled teaching the Good News, and returned
to Rome (where he labored for 25 years, building the Church of God).
He was crucified by Emperor Nero on Vatican Hill, and his relics are
now enshrined under the high alter of Saint Peter's Basilica. From =
the
earliest days of the Church, Peter was recognized as the Prince of the
Apostles and the first Supreme Pontiff. His see, Rome, has thus
enjoyed the position of primacy over the entire Catholic Church.

O Glorious Saint Peter, because of your vibrant and generous faith,
sincere humility and flaming love our Lord honored you with singular
privileges and especially leadership of the whole Church. Obtain for
us the grace of a living faith, a sincere loyalty to the Church,
acceptance of all her teaching, and obedience to all her precepts. Let
us thus enjoy an undisturbed peace on earth and everlasting happiness
in heaven. Amen.

Saint Paul (10-67), was born in Tarsus, and was educated as a Jewish
Talmudic student. He worked as a tentmaker, and actively persecuted
the Church for years until receiving a divine message from the Lord on
the road to Damascus. Following his conversion, Saint Paul went on to
become the most prolific writer and preacher of the early Church,
traveling throughout the Middle East and Asia Minor, converting many.
Selected to bring Christ's name to all peoples, he is the greatest
missionary of all time, the advocate of pagans, the Apostle of the
Gentiles.
by Jacob

Saint Quote:
Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.
--St. Catherine of Siena

Bible Quote:
=E2=80=9CThis man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Genti= les
and their kings and before the people of Israel.=E2=80=9D (Acts 9: 15b)


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Homily on the feast of SS. Peter and Paul

God does not send suffering but sometimes He does allow it and turns
it to a greater good. St Leo the Great in his homily on the feast of
SS. Peter and Paul taught that what comes from God cannot be
destroyed, in fact the adversaries instead end up contributing to the consolidation and progress of God's plan: "The religion founded by the
mystery of the cross of Christ cannot be destroyed by any form of
cruelty. The Church is not diminished by persecutions; on the
contrary, they make for its increase. The field of the Lord is clothed
in a richer harvest. When the grain which falls dies, it is reborn and multiplied " [St. Leo the Great, Homily on the Feast of St. Peter and
St. Paul].
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