SAINT FEAST DAY 29 JUNE: ST PETER AND ST PAUL

EXCERPTS FROM ST AUGUSTINE'S SERMON ON THE SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

‘This day has been made holy by the martyrdom of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul. We are, therefore, not talking about some obscure martyrs. For as scripture says, ‘Their voice has gone forth to all the world, and their message to the ends of the earth.’ These martyrs realised what they taught: they followed the path of integrity, they confessed the truth, and they died for it.

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Saint Peter, the foremost of the apostles and a passionate lover of Christ, heard his merits acknowledged when the Lord addressed him: ‘I say to you that you are Peter.’ For he had himself said: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Then Christ said: ‘And I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.’ Therefore, I will build my Church on you, for you are Peter. The name Peter comes from the word for rock, just as the word Christian comes from Christ. In a virtually unique way then, Peter can be said to represent the entire Church. And because of the role which he alone had, he merited to hear the words: ‘To you I shall give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.’…

THE LAMB OUT OF THE WOLF

Paul emerges out of Saul, the lamb out of the wolf; at first an enemy, he becomes an apostle; at first a persecutor, he becomes the preacher. The Lord showed him the things that he too had to suffer for his name: chains, beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks. The Lord sustained Paul in his sufferings, and brought him to this day.

BOTH APOSTLES SHARE THE SAME FEAST DAY

Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one, even although they were martyred on different days. Peter went ahead, Paul followed. Let our way, then, be made straight in the Lord. It is a narrow, stony, hard road we tread; and yet with so many gone before us, we shall find the way smoother. The Lord himself trod this way, the unshakeable apostles and the holy martyrs likewise. So let us celebrate this feast day made holy by the blood of these two apostles. Let us embrace their faith, their life, their labours, their sufferings, their preaching, and their teaching.'

Bible Text - "Thou art Peter"

➡️ Saint Peter in Chains

➡️ Saint Paul Shipwrecked

➡️ The Conversion of Saint Paul

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog