The two pillars of the church are honored today on their liturgical feast day. Even though they became known as the most popular apostles, their beginning was not as pleasant. Peter was the rough and tough type fisherman who had to be fine-tuned and polished by Jesus and eventually became the first Pope. However there were some conflicting moments in his life, especially during Jesus’ passion when Peter three times denied even knowing Jesus. Some friend eh! However Jesus forgave him, after the triple affirmation of faith, and changing his name from Simon to Peter, the Rock, on which the church was to be built. It must have worked, because from the 12 apostles, we are now up to 1.2 billion Catholics.
St Paul on the other hand was even more
aggressive as he used to persecute Christians, only to be converted on his way
to Damascus when Jesus appeared to him, and his complete turnaround started. He
eventually travelled all over Eastern Europe, through Greece, modern day Turkey
and even venturing on the sea being shipwrecked on my homeland of Malta where
he baptized all the inhabitants. He also wrote letters to the many communities
he visited, beautiful theological reflections which we read every Sunday in our
2nd reading at Mass. Both Peter and Paul were martyred, Peter being crucified
upside down, and Paul being beheaded in Rome. Thousands of people every day visit the two
majestic basilicas built in their honor, St. Peter’s Basilica and St Paul outside
the Walls, both in Rome.
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