Saints Peter and Paul
Today we honor the great apostles of Christ, Peter and Paul. Throughout the year while we are constantly honoring one Saint or another today’s feast is one that is a Solemnity, the highest rank a feast can be. This is a rank that most Saints don’t enjoy besides All Saints Day, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist and of course the Blessed Mother as Queen of All Saints. We honor Peter and Paul this way because without them the faith would not be shared universally as it is today. This is because God willed that guided by the Holy Spirit the Church would witness to the Life and Paschal Mystery of His Son, Jesus Christ. This post is dedicated to the honor of Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the Church.
June 29th is the day we honor the feast of the first Pope, Peter and the great defender of the faith, Paul. This feast celebrates together the martyrdom by crucifixion and sword of Peter and Paul respectively. St. Peter and St. Paul encompass the pillars of the Church because Peter and Paul dialogued about whether Christianity was meant for only Jewish people or gentiles as well, representing all the faiths of the earth during their time. Of course now the faith is truly for all, hence the name Catholic from the Greek word meaning universal. Throughout the Church Year we celebrate another feast of St Peter: His Chair on February 22nd. The once seperate feast of His Chains on August 1st is now linked to today's feast. St. Paul is honored on January 25th, the feast of His conversion. They are honored together on November 18th, the day honoring the dedication of a church in their names. The liturgical color for June 29th is red, recalling the blood shed by these martyrs. For this cause, Popes are buried in red to symbolize their being successors of St. Peter. Cardinals also wear this color as a witness to the faith and as closest to the Pope as a statement of their willingness to die for the Church. Indulgences on June 29th can be gained under the usual conditions by visiting a cathedral or Basilica and praying for the Pope's intentions. Also, there are churches named for these saints in Western New York so visiting those churches with prayers for the Pope has indulgences attached. Also to use a devotional object blessed by the Pope or any Bishop and praying an approved Creed of Faith has an indulgence attached.
Legends and Customs for the June 29th Feast
Legend states that those who pray the Angelus (especially when kneeling) will receive the Pope's blessing. There's also the custom of weaving flowers together for the Saints honor. If you pray devoutly today, no snake will bite you throughout the year, legend states. Today the flower "Peter's plant" is prepared for a remedy against against snake and dog bite. In Hungary symbols are weaved from straw, blessed and suspended over the table, grain and bread is blessed today.
Facts About the June 29th Feast
The Feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul with St. Gertrude
Virtual Tour of St. Peter's Basilica
See Also: Imperium: St. Peter and Paul the Apostle (St. Paul played by Johannes).
St. Peter's Martyrdom Foretold as Seen by a Mystic (2nd last paragraph of 400-second last paragraph of 402).
An Alternative Look at St. Paul and LGBTQ+ Letters (By reflecting on their mission (especially at the close of Pride Month) we see the vast history of the Church, Her history and the influences the world and today’s honored Saints have on them. Just as Catholics today have a respect for the late Pope Benedict XVI despite his narrow views on the queer community, so too are to look at St. Paul’s writings and to not let his legacy be darkened by bigoted and false interpretations that shun the Holy Spirit that liberates all people to love.)
All About the Papacy
When a Pope Dies and the Papal Election
Why St. John Lateran is The "Head" Church
Papal Signature, PP: Pastor Pastorum, Shepherd of Shepherds
Papal Customs: The kissing of the ground when the Pope exists a plane is to show reverence for the nation he is visiting.
Castel Gandolfo the Pope’s vacation home.
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