Dear Parishioners, It’s rare that June 29th falls on a Sunday. It’s even more rare that this feast (or any feast) of Sts. Peter & Paul, which is commemorated on June 29, is permitted to trump the ordinary celebration of a Sunday. Given the antiquity of this commemoration as well as the enormous significance of these two pillars of the church, we are privileged to honor them on the Lord’s Day. The great esteem in which all the apostles were held in the early church is evident in the New Testament letter to the Ephesians (2: 19-20) that proclaims, the community of the saints and members of the household of God is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

These 12 disciples of Jesus, uniquely chosen by him to be his closest followers, were eyewitnesses to his teachings and miraculous deeds. They were also the messengers charged with announcing the Gospel of salvation to the ends of the earth. They did this faithfully and courageously even by the ultimate witness of their very lives. All of them, with the exception of John, willingly embraced a martyr’s death.

All of this is particularly true of the apostle Peter whom Jesus himself identified as the rock upon whom he would build his church and the one to whom he gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 16: 18-19) While the individual apostles were venerated chiefly in the places where their tombs were located, this was especially true of Peter. Peter is said to have been crucified upside down in the Roman Circus Maximus by the emperor Nero (54-68). Originally his grave was in a simple site with minimal identification given that this was a time of persecution. Eventually however, the emperor Constantine erected a majestic basilica over Peter’s grave. This church was later destroyed and then rebuilt into St. Peter’s Basilica which today stands as the largest, most impressive edifice in all of Christendom.

Directly under the high altar of the basilica is the tomb of St. Peter which, excavated as recently as the late 20th century, houses what are believed to be the authentic mortal remains of this apostolic leader. His bones can be seen in the original concrete niche where they were discovered in the necropolis at the bottom most level of the present St. Peter’s which is called the Scavi. People are able to tour the Scavi by registering on line in advance. But beware, to procure the actual tickets for the Scavi tour, one must pass through an entrance carefully guarded by two intimidating Swiss Guards. Even though wearing my Benedictine habit, I enjoyed no special favor from these formidable guardians of papal property. When passing by them, it is best to simply smile and hope they understand English.

St. Paul, while not one of the original 12 apostles, experienced a unique revelation of the Lord Jesus while furiously travelling on the road to Damascus during his persecution campaign against Christians. While in route he was suddenly struck by a blinding light and heard the voice of Jesus who identified himself as the one Paul was persecuting. Shortly thereafter, Paul recovered his sight, was baptized and became the most illustrious and fearless missionary of the Christian faith. He would be the one to preach the Gospel beyond the confines of Judaism to the Gentile nations. We know from the Acts of the Apostles, that toward the end of his life, Paul was put under house arrest in Rome while awaiting trial.

Legend claims that he was beheaded in Rome and that his body was later entombed in in a grave outside the walls of the city. Today this grave is adorned by a massive basilica that is appropriately named St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. This basilica has the distinction of being connected to a monastery of Benedictine monks who have been entrusted with its care and with pastoral service to the pilgrims who pray there. Several years ago I had the privilege of making a retreat at this monastery for a week in February. While the monks were warmly hospitable and their food abundant and delicious, the monastery was one of the coldest places I ever stayed. This explains why monks have traditionally worn layers of wool with hooded robes while chanting their daily prayers – it was not only stay warm, but to stay alive!

Today we honor the apostles Peter and Paul with ritual solemnity and profound gratitude. While their mortal remains are fittingly enshrined in magnificent places of worship, their spirits permeate the hearts of believers who live on because of the unstoppable efforts and unshakeable faith of these two men. The opening prayer for the Mass on this day succinctly expresses one of our most heartfelt desires:

O God, who on the solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those from whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessings,

Fr. Gabriel Baltes, O.S.B.

BACK TO LIST