The meaning of the celebration
+ Today’s feast, an ancient celebration of the authority entrusted to Saint Peter and his successors, highlights the reality of Peter’s special role in the life of the Church.
+ The Gospel for this feast recounts the confession of Simon that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (see Matthew 16:13-19). In response to this statement of faith, Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, signifying his new mission and identity: Peter becomes the “Rock” on which the Church is built and the powers of evil and death will never be able to conquer it.
Spiritual bonus
Today the Church remembers the bishop Saint Papias. Honored as one of the “Apostolic Fathers,” a group of early Christian writers from the first generations after the Apostles, Papias wrote extensively on the lives of Jesus and the Apostles. Unfortunately, only fragments of Papias’ writings have come down to us. Saint Papias, a friend of Saint Polycarp, died in Hieropolis (in modern-day Turkey) in the first part of the second century.
Quote
“Sometimes I wonder if Jesus chose Peter not despite his imperfections but because of them. Peter’s knowledge of his own limits led him to understand his reliance on God. It also enabled him to appreciate the love that Jesus had for him, as well as to celebrate the fact that God can work through anyone, no matter how human. And that’s not such a bad message to carry to the ends of the earth.”—James Martin, SJ, My Life With the Saints
Prayer
Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the Living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...