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The Light of the World
Special Feasts
June 29, SS. Peter and Paul
The feast of SS. Peter and Paul is important for the Church. “On this day Simon Peter ascended
the gibbet of the cross, alleluia. Today the bearer of the keys to the kingdom joyfully went to
Christ. Today the apostle Paul, the light of the world, bent his head and received the crown of
martyrdom for the name of Christ, alleluia” (Magnificat antiphon).
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church” (Gospel). With these words the
Lord rewards the confession which Simon Peter made in the name of the other apostles: “Thou
art Christ, the Son of the living God.” Christ had asked His disciples: “Whom do men say that
the Son of Man is?” And His disciples replied, “Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias,
and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets” (Gospel). There are still many false opinions about
Christ; but only one true answer has ever been given to the question, “Who is Christ?” That
was the answer of Simon Peter: “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.” With this answer
of Peter and the apostles we also agree. With them we acknowledge Christ’s divinity. For two
thousand years the Church has repeated this answer in spite of the ridicule of pseudo-scientists:
“Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.”
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.” Peter and the Church are
inseparable. Peter is the foundation upon which the Church is built: Peter, the man of faith,
the man who left all things to follow Christ (Mt 19:27). The Church is founded on Peter, who
sacrificed his life for his faith under the emperor Nero, and who shared the crucifixion of the
Lord. To Peter the Lord said: “I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever
thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven” (Gospel). To him, the Prince of the Apostles,
is given the greatest power on earth. The Church of Christ can be only where Peter is, either in
person or in his successors. Although the powers of hell are to attack Peter and the Church, the
“gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Gospel), for it is built on Peter, the rock. We are one
with Peter; we are established on this rock, and we have no cause for fear. We are grateful that
we have been established on so firm a foundation. We have only to remain united with Peter
and the Church founded on him, and we shall draw ever closer to Christ.
“And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” “In those days [in the year 42 or 43] Herod
the king stretched forth his hand to afflict some of the Church; and he killed James, the brother
of John, with the sword. And seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also”
(Epistle). Thus the Church of Christ falls for the first time into the hands of her enemies. But
“the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” “Peter, therefore, was kept in prison; but prayer was
made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought
him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. . . .
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him . . . [and] raised him up, saying: Arise quickly.
And the chains fell off from his hands.” Peter put on his sandals, cast his garment about him,
and followed the angel. “Passing through the first and second ward, they came to an iron gate
that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them; and going out they passed on through
one street; and immediately the angel departed from him. And Peter, coming to himself, said:
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