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Saint Peter the Apostle
Also known as: Simon; Cephas
Profile
Fisherman. Brother of Saint Andrew the Apostle who led him to Christ.
Apostle. Renamed "Peter" (rock) by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be
the rock-like foundation on which the Church would be built. Bishop.
Miracle worker. First Pope.
Born: as Simon
Died: martyred c.64 crucified head downward because he claimed he
was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ
Canonized: Pre-Congregation
Name Meaning: rock
Patronage
against frenzy, bakers, bridge builders, butchers, clock makers, cobblers,
Cologne, Germany, Exeter College Oxford, feet problems, fever, fishermen,
foot problems, harvesters, diocese of Jackson Mississippi, diocese of Las
Vegas Nevada, locksmiths, longevity, diocese of Marquette Michigan,
masons, Moissac, France, net makers, papacy, archdiocese of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania Popes, Poznan Poland, diocese of Providence Rhode Island,
Rome, diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania, ship builders, shipwrights,
shoemakers, stone masons, Universal Church, watch makers, Worms, Germany
Representation
bald man, often with a fringe of hair on the sides and a tuft on top;
book; keys; man crucified head downwards; man holding a key or keys; man
robed as a pope and bearing keys and a double-barred cross
Readings
Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside of all nations
and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the church.
Though there are in God's people many bishops and many shepherds, Peter is
thus appointed to rule in his own person those whom Christ also rules as
the original ruler. Beloved, how great and wonderful is this sharing in
his power that God in his goodness has given to this man. Whatever Christ
has willed to be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the
Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has
not refused to bestow on them.
Jesus said: "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it." On this strong foundation, he says, I will
build an everlasting temple. The great height of my Church, which is to
penetrate the heavens, shall rise on the firm foundation of this faith.
Blessed Peter is therefore told: "To you I will give the keys of the
kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in
heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven."
from a sermon by Pope Saint Leo the Great
Saint Paul
the Apostle
Profile
Talmudic student. Pharisee. Tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and
persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint
Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of
them, he was knocked to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and
given the message that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting
Christ. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, causing his
conversion to Christianity. He was baptized, changed his name to Paul to
reflect his new persona, and began traveling and preaching. Martyr.
Born
c.3 as Saul at Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey)
Died
beheaded c.65 at Rome, Italy
Patronage
against snakes, authors, Catholic Action, Cursillo movement, diocese of
Birmingham Alabama, diocese of Covington Kentucky, evangelists,
hailstorms, hospital public relations, journalists, Kavala, Greece,
diocese of Las Vegas Nevada, lay people, Malta, missionary bishops,
musicians, newspaper editorial staff archdiocese of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania poisonous snakes, Poznan Poland, diocese of Providence Rhode
Island, public relations personnel, public relations work, publishers,
reporters, Rome, rope braiders, rope makers, saddle makers, saddlers,
snake bites, tent makers, diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, writers
.
Representation
thin-faced elderly man with a high forehead, receding hairline and long
pointed beard; man holding a sword and a book; man with 3 springs of water
nearby; sword; book
Readings
I assure you, brothers, the gospel I proclaimed to you is no mere human
invention. I did not receive it from any man, not was I schooled in it. It
came by revelation from Jesus Christ.
You have heard, I know, the story of my former way of life in Judaism. You
know that I went to extremes in persecuting the Church of God, and tried
to destroy it.
But the time came when he who had set me apart before I was born and
called me by his favor chose to reveal his Son to me, that I might spread
among the Gentiles the good tidings concerning him. Immediately, without
seeking human advisers or even going to Jerusalem to see those who were
apostles before me, I went off to Arabia; later I returned to Damascus.
Three years after that I went up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas, with
whom I stayed fifteen days. I did not meet any other apostles except
James, the brother of the Lord.
The communities of Christ in Judea had no idea what I looked like; they
had only heard that "he who was formerly persecuting us is now preaching
the faith he tried to destroy," and they gave glory to God on my account.
from a letter from Saint Paul the Apostle to the Christians in Galatia
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I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the
imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but
rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your
testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your
share of the hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from
God.
Saint Paul in his second letter to Saint Timothy
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