Solemnity of St Peter and Paul
Solemnity of St Peter and Paul Today, June 29th, we celebrate the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, a day made holy for us by their exemplary life of courage and testimony of the two pillars of the Church. Apart from Mother Mary, St Joseph and St John the Baptist, these two saints are the only humans commemorated in the Catholic calendar with a ‘Solemnity’. Peter (or Cephas) was the older brother of the apostle Andrew and son of John/Jonas of Bethsaida , and a fisherman by trade who was married and settled in Capernaum. Peter was the first Apostle to be named ( Mark 1:16-18 ). We can relate to his sense of doubt causing him to nearly drown when walking on the water ( Matthew 14:28-31 ), his denial of Jesus three times ( Mark 14:66-72 ) and weakness of sleeping during the passion in the Garden of Gethsemane ( Mark 14:32-42 ) even as we admire his passionate devotion to Christ ( Mark 14:29-30 ). He was the first one to recognise Christ as the Messiah, prompting Jesus to christ...