Apostles (†67)
This feast day commemorates the martyrdom of the
two great Apostles, assigned by tradition to the same day
of June in the year 67. They had been imprisoned in the
famous Mamertine Prison of Rome and both had
foreseen their approaching death. Saint Peter was
crucified; Saint Paul, a Roman citizen, was slain by the
sword. Tomorrow the Church commemorates the
Apostle of the Gentiles; today is dedicated primarily to
Saint Peter.
The Chief of the Apostles was a native of Galilee like
Our Lord. As he was fishing on its large lake he was
called by Our Lord to be one of His apostles. Peter was
poor and unlearned, but candid, eager, and loving. In his
heart, first of all, his conviction grew, and then from his
lips came the spontaneous confession: “Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the living God!” Our Lord chose him
and prepared him to be the Rock on which He would
build His Church, His Vicar on earth, the Head and
Prince of His Apostles, the center and indispensable
bond of the Church’s unity, the unique channel of all
spiritual powers, the guardian and unerring teacher of
His truth.
All Scripture is alive with Saint Peter; his name appears
no fewer than 160 times in the New Testament. But it is
after Pentecost that he stands out in the full grandeur of
his office. He sees to the replacement of the fallen
disciple; he admits the Jews by thousands into the fold
and in the person of Cornelius, opens it to the Gentiles;
he founds and for a time rules the Church at Antioch.
Ten years after the Ascension Saint Peter transferred
his apostolic capital to Rome, going in person to the
center of the majestic Roman Empire, where were
gathered the glories and Church of Alexandria in Egypt.
In Rome Saint Peter’s Chair was placed; there for
twenty-five years he labored at building up the great
Roman Church. He was crucified by order of Nero and
buried on the Vatican Hill, where now the Basilica stands
which bears his name.
Saint Peter is the author of two profoundly doctrinal
epistles. He still lives on in his successors who maintain
the same holy and immutable doctrine; he still rules and
feeds the flock committed to him. The reality of our
devotion to him is the surest test of the purity of our faith.