ST. PETER
ST. PETER
FEASTS February 22, June 29, November 18
LIFE Also called Simon, Cephas, Simon Peter, or Prince of the Apostles. Fisherman and brother of St. Andrew the Apostle, who led him to Christ. Was renamed ‘Peter’ (Rock) by Jesus to indicate that he would be the solid foundation on which the Church would be built. Contributed to the content of the Gospel of Mark and wrote First and Second Letters of Peter. Our first Pope and a miracle worker. Martyred circa 64 by upside-down crucifixion, declaring himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus.
SYMBOLS St. Peter holds a set of keys, referring to Jesus’ proclamation: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:19 NRSV. St. Peter also holds a scroll representing the Gospel that Jesus commanded him to proclaim.
PATRONAGE bakers, bridge builders, butchers, clock makers, fishermen, harvesters, locksmiths, masons, net makers, shipwrights, shoemakers, foot problems, fever sufferers, longevity, the papacy, the Universal Church; Codeceda, Portugal; Rome, Italy
SCRIPTURE TO PONDER He said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:15-16 NRSV
Bold
St. Peter had a childlike, impetuous, and endearing faith, but he denied Jesus three times on Holy Thursday. After his seaside reconciliation with the risen Christ, St. Peter’s faith rallied all the more.
Do I wish to be as certain of Jesus as St. Peter was? Do I yearn for reconciliation?