Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.  June 29th is the liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of these two great apostles.  They both died as martyrs for the faith in the early 60’s, just thirty years after the death of Jesus.

Peter was crucified upside down in the court yard to the left of St. Peter’s Basilica and Paul was beheaded outside the walls of the ancient city of Rome in a place called the Fontane (three fountains).

St. Peter was buried in the nearest cemetery which was on top of Vatican Hill.  St. Peter’s was later built over his grave. Paul was also buried in the nearest cemetery and the Basilica of St. Paul’s outside the walls was later built on top of his tomb.  In both cases the altar of each Basilica is directly above each tomb.

Peter was the first Pope and kept the Church united as it grew following Pentecost.  Paul is the great missionary to the Gentiles (the non-Jews).  He brought many non-Jewish people into the Church.

Peter and Paul had very important tasks in the early Church: Peter maintained the unity in the Church, and Paul taught that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament hopes and the Savior of all mankind.  Statues of St. Peter usually has him holding a set of keys symbolizing his duty as head of the Church and Paul holds a Bible symbolizing his preaching ministry.

Just as Peter and Paul had strengths and weaknesses, so to do you and I.  We are called as these great apostles were to bring our talents to the service of the Church.

Today’s Feast is a reminder to each of us that our talents and our weaknesses too can become a means of helping others, if we allow God’s grace to work with us.  We don’t have to be perfect for God to work through us; God can work through us faults and all, as he did with Peter and Paul.

God Bless,

Msgr. Powell