FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and according to
that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” 8 Now when Pilate
heard this statement, he became even more afraid, 9and went back into
the praetorium and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” Jesus did not answer
him.
Pilate
was afraid of diabolical and fanatical men but not of God. Let us not be like
Pilate. How often are we like Pilate when we go about our daily business? Pilate
symbolically washed his hands to remove his guilt. Did it work? To remind
myself of this as I wash my hands throughout the day during the washing I say
the Hail Mary and ask our Lady to help me not betray the sacrifice of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. I try to remember He became hopeless to give us hope.
Today
is the grand rejoicing in the two Princes of the Apostles and founders of the
Church in Rome.
PETER,
formerly called Simon, was a son of Jonas, of Bethsaida, in Galilee, and a
brother of Andrew, by whom he was brought to Christ, Who at once changed his
name and called him Peter. When, soon after, Jesus said to both of them on the
Sea of Tiberias, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” they both left
their nets and followed Him. From this time forward Jesus was constantly giving
him particular proofs of His love. From the ship of Peter He taught the
thronging multitude, and to him He promised that on him, as upon a rock, He
would build His Church, against which the gates of hell should not prevail. Our
Lord took Peter with Him at the raising of Jairus daughter from the dead; at
His own transfiguration on Mount Tabor; at the beginning of His passion in the
Garden of Gethsemani. To him He promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven; for
him He specially prayed that his faith might not fail; and him He commanded to
strengthen his brethren. After His resurrection He appeared particularly to
Peter, and three times commanded him to feed His flock. But Peter had, above
all the other apostles, made himself worthy of this preeminence by his living
faith, his humility, his love, and his zeal for the honor of Jesus; for he it
was who, before the other apostles, made the confession, “Thou art Christ, the
Son of the living God.” He showed his humility when, at the miraculous draught
of fishes, he said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Out of
love he desired to remain always with Christ on Mount Tabor to prevent Him from
suffering; and out of love he declared himself ready with Christ to live or
die; nay, he even declared most confidently that, though all should be
scandalized in Christ, yet he would not be. When Jesus was taken prisoner,
Peter showed himself to be most courageous by cutting off the ear of one of his
Master’s enemies, and by following Him to the house of Caiphas. Three times,
indeed, did he, as no one else did, deny his Lord out of fear; but the look of
forgiving love which Jesus cast upon him forced from him tears of the deepest
contrition, and three times afterwards, accordingly, he made that confession,
“Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee.” After he had received the Holy Ghost,
full of courage, he confessed Christ crucified, and preached Him in Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Ionia, and Bithynia. At Jerusalem he was once already
condemned to death, but was set free by an angel. In the year 54 he went to
Rome, whence, after a nine years residence, he was banished, with many other
Christians. Upon returning thither again he was confined in the Mamertine
prison, and finally, on June 29, in the year A.D. 67, under the Emperor Nero,
he was crucified; his head, by his own desire, hung downwards, because he
thought himself unworthy to die like Christ.
Paul, before his conversion called
Saul, was of the tribe of Benjamin, a native of Tarsus, in Cilicia, and a pupil
of Gamaliel. Full of zeal for the law, he bitterly opposed the Christians. As
he was travelling to Damascus to persecute them he was, on the way, converted
by Christ. How indefatigably he thenceforward worked in the vineyard of the
Lord, and what dangers and persecutions he underwent, no pen can describe. It
is almost incredible with what zeal and perseverance he preached Christ, in
chains and fetters, under blows and scourges, in hunger and thirst, and untold
times at the peril of his life. And yet he was so humble that he counted
himself the least of the apostles, and always praised God that He had thought
him worthy to suffer for His name. After he had at last fought a good fight,
and finished his course having everywhere zealously preached the Gospel, and
still more zealously practiced it he received the crown of justice (n. Tim. iv.
6). The Emperor Nero caused him to be beheaded on the same day that Peter was
crucified.
Of
the Pope
What is the Pope to the Catholic? The representative of Jesus
Christ, and the visible head, appointed by Him, for the government of His
Church.
Did Christ actually appoint such a
supreme head? Yes,
and that in the person of St. Peter. He gave him the significant name Peter the
rock, distinguished him always above the other apostles, and laid upon him the
charge to feed His lambs, that is, the faithful, and His sheep, that is, the
bishops themselves; and this power Peter uniformly exercised.
Why did Christ appoint a visible
head for the Church? Because
the Church is an outward, visible society, united together not only by inward
faith in Christ, but also by outward, visible signs. Such a visible head is as
necessary for the Church as for a body, a family, a society, a state, to
prevent disunion, confusion, and the consequent destruction of the whole; this
supreme head is the center of the whole, the final judge, the authoritative
teacher.
Who is now this supreme head? The Bishop of Rome, or the Pope.
It is undeniable that Peter occupied the bishop’s see at Rome, and that he died
there. Equally indisputable is it that the successor of St. Peter entered upon
possession of his rights, and, together with the episcopal see of Rome,
inherited also the office possessed by him. From the first centuries this has
ever been acknowledged by the faithful, who have accordingly called the Bishop
of Rome Pope that is, the father of the faithful. And how clearly does history
show that Peter and his successors are the rock upon which the Lord has
immovably founded His Church! What storms have not broken upon the Church!
Persecutions from without and
within, heresies and schisms without number, and infidelity in its most hideous
form, have raged against the Church, and what has been the consequence? Nations have often fallen away
from the Church, single bishops have proved betrayers of their flocks, the sees
of the apostles themselves have been subject to the vicissitudes of time. And
amid all these storms Rome alone has, for over eighteen hundred years, stood
firm. She has come out of every contest victorious, has remained the center of
faith and discipline, and has preserved the unbroken succession of bishops from
Peter. Who does not see herein the assistance of Him Who forever fulfills that
promise of His, “Upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it” The Pope is, therefore, the visible supreme head
of the Church, appointed by Christ for all time; the invisible, all-governing
head is Christ Himself.
Things
to do[2]
·
Take
a pilgrimage to Rome to visit the burial places of St. Peter and Paul.
·
Go
fishing in honor of St. Peter. He was a fisherman before he became Jesus'
disciple, and is the patron saint of fisherman and net makers.
·
Go
camping in honor of St. Paul. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul
was a tent maker. He is the patron saint of tent makers as well as
writers. In addition to being an accomplished preacher, Paul wrote epistles
that are included in the Bible's New Testament.
·
Attend
Mass and learn how both Peter and Paul, two men with very different visions,
formed the early church and how Christianity rapidly spread.
Combine
a dozen or so men with large sankes draped over their shoulders; ox-drawn carts
bearing the image of San Paolo (himself holding a snake and a book in one hand,
a sword pointing to the heavens in the other); squads of flagbearers and
swordsmen; a cotillion of old men with black berets playing an indescribable
array of instruments (many homemade); a piazza packed with local residents
dressed in Sunday finery; and long tables filled with all manner of food and
beverage, and you have a beginner's idea of what to expect if you find yourself
in Aragona in southern Sicily on June 29, the feast of St. Paul. (If you decide
to visit the church however, you no longer have to fear the ritual called La
benedizione deglie serpe, whereby residents presented snakes to the priest
for benediction. The ritual was done away with a few years ago. If you do
venture to Aragona for this festival, the blood orange and red onion salad
presented here is one of the many foods you're likely to sample. Although any
type of orange can be substiuted to following is made with tarocci or
blood oranges, which are one of Sicily's most famous products. Exceptionally
high in vitamin C, strongly fragrant, and with brilliant red peel and pulp, the
tarocci is widely used in salads, frozen ice cream desserts, and sorbets.
INGREDIENTS
- 4
blood oranges or other small, sweet oranges
- 1
small red onion, cut into very thin slices*
- 4
Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 3
Tbsp. freshly chopped Italian parsley, stems discarded
- Salt
to taste
- Freshly
ground pepper to taste
Details
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
DIRECTIONS
Italians have become very
fond of cipolle de tropea a type of sweet red onion that comes from
Calabria and is not yet available in the US. To achieve the same sweetness,
soak the sliced red onion in water for thirty mintues before using. 1. Peel the oranges and remove the pith. Cut horizontally into thin slices. Put in a bowl and set aside.
2. Separate the onion slices into individual laeyers and put in the bowl with the oranges. Add the oil and half the parsley to the bowl, season with salt and pepper, and toss until all ingredients are well coated.
3. Arrange the orange and onion slices in a circular pattern on a round platter. Drizzle with the oil left in the bowl, sprinkle with the remaining parsley, and serve.
Make Ahead: The oranges can be tossed with the marinade earlier in the day.
How to Serve: On its own as a midsummer appetizer, followed by a light pasta, or as a salad course accompanying an especially piquant entree.
"Read
these counsels slowly. Pause to meditate on these thoughts. They are things
that I whisper in your ear-confiding them-as a friend, as a brother, as a
father. And they are being heard by God. I won't tell you anything new. I will
only stir your memory, so that some thought will arise and strike you; and so
you will better your life and set out along ways of prayer and of Love. And in
the end you will be a more worthy soul."
4. Get used to saying No.
Daily Devotions
·
Please
pray for me and this ministry
·
Please
Pray for Senator
McCain and our country; asking Our Lady of Beauraing to
intercede.
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