We celebrate the pillars of the church
St. Peter holding the keys to the Kingdom.
St. Paul, with the sword by which he was executed.
This is a very unusual coincidence. Over the past two Sundays we have celebrated the Solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity, and the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord. Normally we would celebrate the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time this Sunday, but because it falls on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, that feast is celebrated instead.
Peter and Paul are the two great pillars of the Church who Jesus left in charge of his people. Peter is the Apostle to the Jews, and the first pope. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles and the greatest missionary that the Church has ever known.
Peter was one of the first of the Twelve to be called, along with his brother Andrew. From the earliest days, he becomes the central figure among the Apostles. If Jesus is asking questions of the group, it is Peter who almost always is the speaker. Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter, the Rock, and said, “Peter you are Rock, and on this Rock I will build my Church. I give to you the Keys to the Kingdom, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. What you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and what you declared loosed on earth, will be loosed in Heaven.” Thus, he declared Peter to be the first pope.
Paul began life as Saul. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, he adopted the name Paul. He became the known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. As a missionary, Paul would travel from major city to major city. He preached as far as Athens, Greece. After returning to Jerusalem, he was arrested and put on trial. As a Roman citizen, Paul declared his right to be tried in Rome, so he was sent there and was put under house arrest for a year. Then he was taken outside the city and was executed by beheading.
In Christian symbology, Peter is always portrayed holding the keys, and Paul is shown holding the sword, by which he was executed. We have two large statues in front of Mother of God Church of these two great saints.
Peter and Paul are the two great pillars of the Church who Jesus left in charge of his people. Peter is the Apostle to the Jews, and the first pope. Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles and the greatest missionary that the Church has ever known.
Peter was one of the first of the Twelve to be called, along with his brother Andrew. From the earliest days, he becomes the central figure among the Apostles. If Jesus is asking questions of the group, it is Peter who almost always is the speaker. Jesus changed Peter’s name from Simon to Peter, the Rock, and said, “Peter you are Rock, and on this Rock I will build my Church. I give to you the Keys to the Kingdom, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. What you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and what you declared loosed on earth, will be loosed in Heaven.” Thus, he declared Peter to be the first pope.
Paul began life as Saul. After his conversion on the road to Damascus, he adopted the name Paul. He became the known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. As a missionary, Paul would travel from major city to major city. He preached as far as Athens, Greece. After returning to Jerusalem, he was arrested and put on trial. As a Roman citizen, Paul declared his right to be tried in Rome, so he was sent there and was put under house arrest for a year. Then he was taken outside the city and was executed by beheading.
In Christian symbology, Peter is always portrayed holding the keys, and Paul is shown holding the sword, by which he was executed. We have two large statues in front of Mother of God Church of these two great saints.