St. Peter and St. Paul

St. Peter and St. Paul (1st c.) were the foremost Apostles of Jesus Christ; St. Peter was the leader of the Twelve, while St. Paul followed Christ after His ascension into heaven. Together the two saints are the founders of the Church in Rome through their apostolic preaching, ministry, and martyrdom in that city. They are the solid rock on which the foundation of the Catholic Church is built, and they will forever remain her protectors and guides. To them Rome owes her true greatness, for it was under God's providential guidance that they transformed the capital of the Roman Empire into the heart of the Church, with the mission to radiate the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. Both saints were martyred in close proximity to one another; Peter first, then Paul, though some traditions claim they were killed on the same day. St. Peter was crucified upside down and buried on the hill of the Vatican where St. Peter's Basilica now stands. St. Paul was beheaded on the via Ostia and buried where the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls now stands. St. Peter and St. Paul are the patron saints of Rome and they share a feast day on June 29, a tradition going back to the earliest centuries of the Church.

The great solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul gives us an opportunity to reflect on our own lives as apostles and disciples of Jesus. One way we can do that is by asking ourselves what similarities there are between these two giants and ourselves. You might be surprised at how similar we are.

Both St. Peter and St. Paul were perfectly imperfect human beings. So are we. Everyone who has ever read the Gospels or the Acts of the Apostles knows that both of these men were sinners; some might say great sinners. We are all sinners. Both of these men were chosen by God for a special mission. Again, so were we. Perhaps the only difference between these two great saints and us is that they are honored and revered by all of Christendom. Honors and reverence are usually reserved for those who have died. This is where we are different. You and I are still living and working in the world, looking forward to the day when we will join these saints, looking forward to the day when we will walk the halls of heaven as saints among the saints.

St. Peter was one of the first to see Jesus in the flesh after his resurrection. St. Paul was among the last to see him. He encountered Jesus as he was on his way to Damascus, an encounter which changed his life forever.