St Peter and Paul– 29th June

0629 St Peter and Paul 2p SMC 8.5 x 11 R1R 20240411

It is difficult to think of two men more different from each other in history and vocation than Saint Peter and Paul were. Yet, not only are they both remembered as two bulwarks of faith, and symbols of the Catholic Church itself, but they even share the same feast, June 29.On that date, in 67 A.D. Saint Peter and Saint Paul were martyred in Rome during the persecutions ordered by the emperor Nero against the Christians. This according to the Roman Martyrology, the Sinassari of the Eastern Churches (collections of lives of saints) and the Decretum Gelasianum, a document of the fifth century that contains several lists of religious material, from written texts to be recognized or rejected, to the list of synods.

Although it is almost certain that both Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom by the will of Nero, the first crucified upside down,the second beheaded between 64 A.D. and 67 A.D., the fact that the two killings took place on the same day of the same year is highly unlikely. It is more plausible that the choice to commemorate the death of both Saints Peter and Paul on 29 June derives from the desire to convert a pagan feast into a Christian celebration, as has happened over the centuries for many other religious holidays. In fact, June 29 coincided with the feast of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome. Christians have probably wished to pay homage to the two founders of the Church on that same day, as if to celebrate the birth of anew Christian Rome.

Prayer

O holy apostles, Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and for ever to be my special patrons and advocates; thee, St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, because thou art the Rock, upon which Almighty God hath built His Church; thee, St. Paul, because thou wast forechosen by God as the Vessel of election and the Preacher of truth in the whole world. Obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith, firm hope and burning love; complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be able to overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and may be made worthy to appear before the chief and eternal Shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth for endless ages, to enjoy His presence and love Him forever.
Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be
V. Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth,
R. They shall be mindful of Thy Name, O Lord.

Let us pray

O God, whose right hand raised up blessed Peter, when he walked upon the water and began to sink, and thrice delivered his fellow-Apostle Paul from the depths of the sea, when he suffered shipwreck: graciously hear us and grant, by the merits of them both, that we also may attain unto everlasting glory: Who livest and reignest world without end.
Amen.

Collect Prayer

Almighty God,
whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul
glorified you in their death as in their life:
grant that your Church,
inspired by their teaching and example,
and made one by your Spirit,
may ever stand firm upon the one foundation,
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Prayer to Saints Peter and Paul

Blessed Redeemer, Saints Peter and Paul were leaders and models in strengthening the faith of the infant Church, and I ask them to pray for my faith to grow strong. Saint Paul wrote in his second letter to Saint Timothy, “I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have.” Wherever I am still a baby in my relationship with You, weak and uncertain, I ask Saints Peter and Paul to pray for me to grow into spiritual maturity. Help me, O Lord, to increase in faith and trust. Where Your presence is but a spark in me, fan it into a flame that brightens other people’s lives. Saints Peter and Paul, pray for me.
Amen.

Prayer to Saints Peter and Paul

O most glorious Apostles Peter and Paul,
who gave over your souls for Christ,
and watered His pastire with your blood:
Hearken unto the prayers and sighing of your children,
that are now brought to you with a contrite heart.
For behold, we are darkened by our iniquities,
and for this cause we are enveloped by troubles as by a cloud;
but we are destitute of the oil of good living,
and cannot offer resistance to the predatory wolves
that so boldly seekto tear apart the inheritance of God.
O ye strong ones!
Bear our weaknesses, depart not from us in spirit,
lest we be cut off at last from the love of God;
but defend us by your powerful intercession,
so that the Lord may have mercy on us all by your prayers,
and may destroy the handwritten account of our immeasurable sins,
and grant us to partake with all the Saints
of the blessed Kingdom and the marriage feast of His Lamb:
to Whom be honor and glory, thanksgiving and worship,
unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Prayers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

O holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, intercede for us. Protect, O Lord, your people who trust in the patronage of your Apostles, Peter and Paul, and by their constant protection protect your people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God,
that we may be sustained
by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
that, as through them you gave your Church
the foundations of her heavenly office,
so through them you may help her to eternal salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayers for the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

O God, who on the Solemnity
of the Apostles Peter and Paul,
give us the noble and holy joy of this day,
grant, we pray, that your Church
may in all things follow the teaching
of those through whom she received
the beginnings of right religion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer to Saints Peter and Paul

Oh, Lord our God, Saints Peter and Paul steered the early Church by Your Power and were leaders who modelled and strengthened the faith of the Church. Therefore I ask Saints Peter and Paul to pray for my faith to grow stronger and stronger every day.
In his second letter to St Timothy, St Paul reminded him to stir into flame the gift of God that he had.
I plead with Saints Peter and Paul to pray for me to become mature spiritually. Wherever I become an infant in my relationship with You, weak and uncertain, help me, O Lord, to increase in faith and trust.
Dear Lord, Enkindle Your fire that flickers inside me and let it become a big flame that brightens other people’s lives.
Saints Peter and Paul, pray for me.
Amen.

ST PETER’S STORY

Peter was born at Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. Peter, whose name was originally Simon, was a fisherman along with his brother Andrew. Andrew was one of the first followers of Jesus and he encouraged his brother to join him.

During Jesus’ ministry, the gospels show Peter as the foremost apostle in declaring faith in him as the Christ. The name Peter, meaning ‘rock’, was selected by Jesus to indicate that he would be the rock-like anchor for the unity of the Church. Jesus also promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which is why depictions of Peter generally show him holding a pair of keys. At the time of the arrest of Jesus, Peter cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest with a sword but then, as had been predicted by Jesus, he denied three times that he had ever known him. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter re-affirmed his love for Jesus and was commanded to “feed (his) lambs”, to take care of the Church.

The Acts of the Apostles show Peter taking the lead in addressing the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. As the leader of the christians in Jerusalem, he was targeted by Herod for execution but miraculously freed from prison on the night before he was to stand trial.

Peter then left Jerusalem and travelled to spread the Gospel. Those rooster crowing must have haunted Peter for many years (got up everyday during the crowing of the rooster , wept bitterly) and may have helped him stay humble, watchful, and committed to his calling. According to tradition, he was in Rome in 63/64AD during the rule of the Roman emperor Nero. In 64 AD Nero blamed the christians for a disastrous fire in the city. Peter was one of the christians who was taken prisoner and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. At his own request, he was crucified with his head downwards because he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same posture as his Divine Master.

In Matthew 16:16, Peter declares, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”. This confession is a pivotal moment, leading to Jesus designating Peter as the “rock” upon which the church will be built.

John 6:68, after many disciples leave Jesus, Peter proclaims, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. This demonstrates his commitment to Jesus despite the challenges.

Peter is often presented as the leader of the apostles. He speaks for the group in various situations, and his name is frequently mentioned first in lists of the twelve.

In John 13:6-10, Peter initially objects to Jesus washing his feet, but then agrees, highlighting his initial resistance to Jesus’s humility and his eventual acceptance.

John 21:1-23 includes an account of Peter and other disciples fishing with Jesus after the resurrection, showing a more personal and intimate side of their relationship.

The first letter attributed to Peter, while not spoken by him in the Gospels, contains his teachings and encouragement to Christians facing persecution. It emphasizes themes of suffering, hope, and holiness.

St. Paul

Before Conversion

Paul, the “Apostle of the Gentiles,” was born in Tarsus, capital city of the Roman province of Cilicia, in southeast Asia Minor. A strict Pharisee who was educated at the feet of Gamaliel, we first find him in Jerusalem, where he was present at and consented to the death of the Christian martyr Stephen. He then began a vicious campaign of persecution against Christians.

Conversion

As Paul – who was also known as Saul – was on the road to Damascus to extend his ravages, he suddenly saw a blinding light and fell to the ground, hearing Jesus speak to him. He was then led by hand, blind, to Damascus, where a Christian named Ananias met him. Paul was cured of his blindness, believed on Jesus, and was baptized.

First Years

Immediately following his conversion, Paul departed to Arabia, eventually returning to Damascus. Fleeing an assassination plot in that city, he headed to Jerusalem, where two events of great importance for his future life occurred. First, he met a Fellow-Christian and future companion, Barnabas. He also saw a vision in the temple that commanded him to take the gospel to the gentiles. Another assassination plot sent him fleeing to Caesarea, then back to Tarsus. Eventually, ending up in Syrian Antioch, he partnered with Barnabas and took a short journey down to Jerusalem to bring relief to that church, after which time he returned to Antioch.

First Missionary Journey

While in Antioch, both Paul and Barnabas were clearly called to the Lord’s service. They soon set sail for Cyprus, where they met two men. Paul preached to Sergius Paulus, a Roman deputy who believed the gospel, despite the efforts of Barjesus, who was blinded for trying to hinder Paul. Setting sail, the evangelists continued on to Perga, Pisidian Antioch (where Paul delivered his first evangelistic sermon to the Jews), Iconium, and Lystra – all cities of Asia Minor. While in Lystra Paul healed a cripple, which almost caused the city to worship him; when Jews arrived, the citizens changed their mind and stoned him, leaving him for dead. After recovering, Paul and Barnabas returned to Syrian Antioch.

Second Missionary Journey

The ‘Jerusalem Council,’ the great council of the earlyPaul 2 church, convened in Jerusalem to discuss the question of the law. After determining that Christians were not bound by the law of Moses, it sent Paul as a messenger to deliver the verdict. Paul traveled northwest through Anatolia before crossing into Macedonia. While in Philippi he cast out a spirit of divination but ended up in prison as a result. After the jailor was converted, he was free to travel to Thessalonica, where a great persecution against Christians soon broke out. Journeying south into the heartland of Greece, he delivered his famous Mar’s Hill Sermon at Athens. The journey concluded with time at Corinth before heading back to Jerusalem.

Third Missionary Journey

Paul’s intention after leaving Jerusalem was to strengthen the churches of Galatia and Phrygia in Anatolia. Weaving his way over the roads of Asia Minor, he eventually came to the bustling coast city of Ephesus, where he lived for some time. As the church grew, the new Christians burned their occult books, but trouble was in the air. Demetrius, a silversmith who made idols, stirred up the whole city into an uproar, forcing Paul to leave Ephesus.

The apostle headed to Greece, where he stayed three months, then returned through Macedonia. Sailing along the coast of Anatolia toward Jerusalem, he revived a young man named Eutychus at a stop in Troas. At Miletus he met with the Ephesian elders and exhorted them in their noble work. He remained firm in his decision to visit Jerusalem even as he received a prophecy from Agabus about his imminent arrest.

Journey to Rome

After visiting with James in Jerusalem, Paul headed to the heart of the city, the temple. He was quickly surrounded by a murderous mob who believed he had defiled the sacred space, yet the commander of the Roman garrison rescued him, only to threaten him with scourging. With Roman security, Paul was given permission to address the mob twice, only to require further Roman rescue.

Soon, the Jews began plotting even more elaborately, and the Romans were forced to evacuate their prisoner to the safety of Caesarea, the Roman provincial capital. Here the apostle defended himself before Felix and Festus, finally appealing to Caesar as a Roman citizen. After another eloquent defense before King Agrippa, Paul was put on a ship for Rome.

During a routine stop at Crete, Paul advised the sailors to winter in the secure harbor; when they ignored his warning, the ship wrecked off the coast of Malta. Paul eventually made it to Rome where he lived for two years, preaching the kingdom of God. The Biblical account ends here, though there is speculation that Paul was freed for further years of ministry, until he again ended up in a Roman jail and was beheaded by the Roman tyrant Nero.

His teachings

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

Romans 12:10

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself.” – 1 Corinthians 11:27-29

Be subject to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, and I mean in reference to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” – Ephesians 5:21-33

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” – Ephesians 6:10-18

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

F or, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

S urely you know that you are God’s temple, where the Spirit of God dwells. Anyone who destroys God’s temple will himself be destroyed by God, because the temple of God is holy; and you are that temple.

I n a word,

Never let go on these three things:

Faith, hope and love.

And know that the greatest of these

Will always be love

T hough I speak with the tongues of men and angels,

And have not love,

I am no better than a clanging gong or a brass bell.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and know every hidden mystery; and though I have faith enough to move mountains,

And have not love,

I am nothing.

And though I give away all I own to the poor, and offer my body to be burned,

And have not love, I do not gain a thing.

Love is patient, love is kind,

Love knows not jealousy,

Love is never boastful, nor proud, nor unseemly.

Love is not selfish nor easily provoked.

Love knows nothing of wrong and does not rejoice at the misfortune of others. It only delights in the Truth.

There is nothing love cannot bear, no limit to its faith, its hope, or its endurance.

The reign of love will never end.

We walk by faith, not by sight.” — St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:7

He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities — all things were created through him and for him.” –St. Paul, Colossians 1:15–16