Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Apostles, Evangelists, Martyrs

Sunday 30 June '24

" ...these two also were as one.

We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles.

Let us love their faith,

their lives,

their labours,

their sufferings,

their confession of faith,

their preaching."

St Augustine (354-430)

- from a Sermon on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

Saint Peter

Peter's name was originally Simon.
Peter, an ordinary fisherman from Galilee, would become the Leader of the Church.
He was one of the twelve apostles and was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew.
Even though Peter's faith wavered when asked to walk on water, Jesus called him the Rock on which he would build his Church.
Overwhelmed with fear, Peter denied Jesus three times. Yet, Jesus gave him the Keys of the Kingdom.
Peter did not know how to read and write yet, by the power of the Holy Spirit, he was able to preach to large crowds.
St. Peter was the first pope. The succession of every pope can be traced back to him.
The Acts of the Apostles illustrate his role as the Church's head.
He died by crucifixion, requesting to be crucified upside down, because he considered himself unworthy to die as Jesus did.

Saul of Tarsus, a Jewish pharisee, zealously persecuted Christians in Jerusalem.
An encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus changed him from persecutor to preacher, from Saul to Paul. He went on to be baptized.
As Saul he made others suffer; as Paul he bore suffering for his fidelity to Christ.
The ultimate missionary, he travelled over 10,000 miles throughout many countries and lands, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He established various churches during his travels and was imprisoned several times.

His letters to the new Christian communities reflects his burning love for Christ and his concern for the people.
His letters in the New Testament shed light on the faith of the early church. He was imprisoned and beheaded under Emperor Nero. He died in the year 67.
He is buried in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome.
He is the patron saint of missionaries and evangelists.

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation.

Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.

Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together.

There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

God our Father,

you give us the joy of celebrating the feast of the apostles Peter and Paul.

Through them, your Church first received the faith.

Keep us true to their teaching.

Amen.