Letter of July 22, 2006

PETER AND PAUL, SHEPHERD-MISSIONARY
The Most Reverend Carl F. Mengeling, Bishop of Lansing
The Church has annually celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul for nearly 1,700 years. The oldest "Roman Calendar" goes back to the year 354. It lists the 29th of June (third day before the Kalends of July) as the celebration of
Peter "in the catacombs". And for the same day Paul "on the Ostian Way". It links the feast with the Roman Consuls Tuscus and Sassus in 258.

This Solemnity has two liturgies: Vigil Mass and Mass of the Day. The best preparation is a prayerful reflection on the Bible Readings of these two Masses. There is also a special Preface that beautifully ties all together in a few words:

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. You fill our hearts with joyas we honor your great apostles:Peter, our leader in the faith,and Paul, its fearless preacher.Peter raised up the Churchfrom the faithful flock of Israel.Paul brought your call to the nations,and became the teacher of the world.Each in his chosen way gathered into unitythe one family of Christ.Both shared a martyr’s death and are praised throughout the world.  Now, with the apostles and all the angels and saints, we praise you for ever.

Over thirty years ago St. Peter was the theme of Pope Paul IV in his Addressduring a General Audience on June 28, 1972. This pope served as Chief Shepherd for 15 years. He died on August 6, 1978. He delivered, as we say: "a brief popular sermon about the symbols of Saint Peter". Here are the six symbols.

"... ON THIS ROCK"
Beginning with the very name, Peter! Who gave this name to Simon, son of John? It was Jesus Christ himself who, after the inspired declaration the Apostle had made to Him: "You are Christ, the Son of the living God," proclaimed: "... and I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." What does it entail, this metamorphosis, carried out by Christ Himself, of Simon into Peter, who was then put in place as the cornerstone of the building planned by Christ; a place that should have belonged only to the Lord Himself? What concepts does it recall, what duties does it impose, what prerogatives does it reveal, what ecclesiology does it establish, what permanent historical miracle does it announce... the choice of this name, invented and imposed by the Lord on his disciple, who, humanly speaking, did not seem prepared for it? Try thinking about it.

KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
Another symbol: the keys. Christ told Peter that He would give him the keys. What keys? "The keys of the kingdom of heaven," the Lord says. What does it mean? The keys indicate authority, they indicate the faculty of disposing,
opening and closing on behalf of the master of the house. What house? The kingdom of heaven, that is, the economy of salvation, the mysterious plan of supernatural order hidden for centuries and installed by Christ between God
and men. "The gift of the key is therefore the investiture with power over the whole house". Peter, and with him the college of the other Apostles, is nominated as the intermediary necessary for normal access to the kingdom of heaven... Also this symbol, so simple and so clear, but so pregnant with meaning, invites us to think.

TO FISH FOR MEN
And the net? What is the concept? It is the reminder of the humble but fine profession of Simon Peter. He was a fisherman. And Jesus uses this title, referring to the occupation of the disciple and of others likewise, to signify, under the image of fishing, the mission for which Peter and the Apostle will be destined: "I will make you fishers of men", the Lord says after the surprise of the miraculous drought of fishes. To fish for men! That is: approach them, get to know their customs and needs, be able to wait for them, be able to adapt oneself to their mobility, have the art of attracting them, a heart capable of loving them, the wisdom to conceive them; this is the apostolic office, this is the
exercise of a patient ministry, this is the prospect of a universal extension of evangelical preaching, this is Christ's tacit promise that the bold enterprise of converting the world to Him will be able to have a successful outcome more than could be hoped for, not thanks to human ability, and in spite of the obstinate resistance of men, but by divine virtue.

THE BOAT SAILS ON
Peter the fisherman makes us think of another sign that characterizes him: his boat; that boat which Jesus got into and sitting there taught the "people who pressed upon him... by the lake of Gennesaret"; the boat from which Jesusordered him to let down the nets, and they because so full of fish that another boat was called to help them, but not without fear that both boats would sink. Peter, an experienced fisherman, at once noticed the miraculous character of the fact and, in a stupendous act of humility, fell down at Jesus’ knees, exclaiming: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man O Lord". That boat in which Jesus, sitting in the stern, mysteriously fell asleep; a sudden storm began to rage, and the disciples, terrified, woke him, and Jesus stood up and bade the violent wind to abate and the raging sea to be still; and at once there was a great calm. That boat, which seems to symbolize the changeable and relative
aspect of the Church, which sails on the waves of time and history, and which still figures as the coat of arms of Peter in the seal used to give authenticity to the most important documents of the Church, the "Fisherman’s ring".

BEFORE THE COCK CROWS TWICE...
Yet another sign tells us Peter’s story, the cock. That implacable cock that crowed in the night of denial, the night of Jesus’ trial, as Jesus had predicted: "Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times". Peter the man
appears to us in this dramatic psychological complexity, in his human frailty; he was good, sincere, he was exuberant in feelings and in words; swept along by his enthusiasm, he trusted, he trusted himself. The devil prevailed over him.
And suddenly he was overcome with fear, and denied, and lied to loyalty and love: "I do not know this man!" Fortunately - oh! how good Christ is to his weak and chosen witness! - Jesus, just at that moment, "turned and looked at Peter"; and that was enough to plunge the poor apostle into remorse and weeping. He went away, but he did not despair. Jesus had also predicted to him that he would come to himself and that his task would then be to "strengthen his brethren".

PETER THE SHEPHERD
We conclude this series of symbols by recalling the last one, that of the Shepherd, another title of Jesus. The risen Lord, after bringing forth the profession of love from Peter s heart three times, entrusts to him three times the mission of being the shepherd of Christ’s flock; the shepherd, in his place, of his Church. Just think: Peter the Pastor, living in his successors, "the perpetual and visible source and foundation of unity" in faith, hope and charity!

He who is speaking to you now, exults and trembles when evoking these evangelical images concerning Peter, in whom the Church honors Jesus Christ today; and you can understand why. So say a prayer, beloved Brothers and
Sons, also for us, the unworthy, but true successor of Peter, who blesses all of you warm-heartedly.