Saint Peter and Saint Paul

Pray for Us

Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, celebrated on this day since the year 67 AD!

Saint Augustine (+430), known as the Doctor of Grace, wrote:

It is the birthday of the apostles Peter and Paul which has dawned today, not the birthday which entangled them in the world, but the one which set them free from the world.  It is in virtue of human feebleness, of course, that people are born for distress, and in virtue of Christian charity that martyrs are born for a crown.  And it is on account of their merits that this day has been set before us for the solemn celebration of their feast and the imitation of their holiness, so that by recalling the glory of the martyrs we might love in them what those who slew them hated, and by loving their manly courage we might honor their sufferings.

It was by their courage that their merit was acquired, and by their sufferings that their reward was earned.

One day for two martyrs and two apostles; as far as we have gathered from the tradition of the Church, they did not suffer on one and the same day, and yet the did suffer on one and the same day.  Peter was the first to suffer on this day, Paul suffered on this day later on.

Their merits gave equal value to their sufferings; this was brought about for them by the one who was in them, who was suffering in them, who was suffering with them, who was helping them as they fought, awarding them the crown when they won.

~Saint Augustine of Hippo (+430)

We wish all Peters and Pauls a happy feast day today!

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, 
which is proof against all arguments 
and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance~ 
that principle is contempt prior to investigation.

~Herbert Spencer