Subj : June 29th - The Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul To : All From : rich Date : Thu Jun 28 2018 10:11:06 From: rich 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) <><><><> 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]. --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2 * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4) .