Simon Peter or Cephas, the first Pope, Prince of the
Apostles, and founder, with St. Paul, of the See of
Rome. Peter was a native of Bethsaida, near Lake Tiberias,
the son of John, and worked, like his brother St. Andrew,
as a fisherman on Lake Genesareth. Andrew introduced
Peter to Jesus, and Christ called Peter to become a
disciple.
In Luke is recounted the story that Peter caught so
large an amount of fish that he fell down before the
feet of Jesus and was told by the Lord, “Do not
be afraid; from now on you will be catching men”.
Jesus also gave Simon a new name: Cephas, or the rock.
Becoming a disciple of Jesus, Peter acknowledged him
as "...the Messiah, the son of the living God”.
Christ responded by saying: "...you are Peter and
upon this rock I will build my church... He added: “I
will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever
you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever
you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.
Peter was always listed as the first of the Apostles
in all of the New Testament accounts and was a member
of the inner circle of Jesus, with James and John.
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Statue
of Saint Peter, in our Church. |
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He is recorded more than any other disciple, and was
at Jesus’ side at the Transfiguration, the raising
of Jairus’ daughter, and the Agony of the Garden
of Gethsemane. He helped organize the Last Supper and
played a major role in the events of the Passion. When
the Master was arrested, he cut off the right ear of
a slave of the high priest Malchus and then denied Christ
three times as the Lord predicted. Peter then “went
out and began to weep bitterly”. After the Resurrection,
Peter went to the tomb with the “other disciple”
after being told of the event by the women. The first
appearance of the Risen Christ was before Peter, ahead
of the other disciples, and when the Lord came before
the disciples at Tiberias, he gave to Peter the famous
command to “Feed my lambs... Tend my sheep...
Feed my sheep”.
In the time immediately after the Ascension, Peter stood
as the unquestionable head of the Apostles, his position
made evident in the Acts. He appointed the replacement
of Judas Iscariot; he spoke first to the crowds that
had assembled after the descent of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost; he was the first Apostle to perform miracles
in the name of the Lord; and he rendered judgment upon
the deceitful Ananias and Sapphira.
Peter was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to the
Gentiles. He baptized the Roman pagan Cornelius, and
at the Council of Jerusalem he gave his support to preaching
to Gentiles, thereby permitting the new Church to become
universal. Imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa, he was
aided in an escape by an angel. He then resumed his
apostolate in Jerusalem and his missionary efforts included
travels to such cities of the pagan world as Antioch,
Corinth, and eventually Rome. He made reference to the
Eternal City in his first Epistle by noting that he
writes from Babylon.
It is certain that Peter died in Rome and that his martyrdom
came during the reign of Emperor Nero, probably in 64.
Testimony of his martyrdom is extensive, including Origen,
Eusebius of Caesarea, St. Clement I of Rome, St. Ignatius,
and St. Irenaeus. According to rich tradition, Peter
was crucified on the Vatican Hill upside down because
he declared himself unworthy to die in the same manner
as the Lord. He was then buried on Vatican Hill, and
excavations under St. Peter’s Basilica have unearthed
his probable tomb, and his relics are now enshrined
under the high altar of St. Peter’s.
From the earliest days of the Church, Peter was recognized
as the Prince of the Apostles and the first Supreme
Pontiff; his see, Rome, has thus enjoyed the position
of primacy over the entire Catholic Church. While Peter’s
chief feast day is June 29, he is also honored on February
22 and November 18. In liturgical art, he is depicted
as an elderly man holding a key and a book. His symbols
include an inverted cross, a boat, and the rooster.
Source: http://www.catholic.org
Read more at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11744a.htm
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