Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul

Dear St. Francis Parishioners and Friends,

As I am writing this on Tuesday it is the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul. Peter’s faith is the “rock” on which the Church is built. From Jerusalem, Peter brought the faith to the important city of Antioch. He is considered its first Bishop and later was martyred while in Rome. He is considered the first Bishop of Rome and his successor as Bishop of Rome is Pope. Pope Francis falls into the line going back to antiquity of those who knew somebody, who knew somebody, who knew Peter.

St. Paul, born into the Israelite tribe of Benjamin, was a staunch pharisee bent on destroying the very young church which was most frequently referred to as “the followers of the way.” In this case the way of Jesus. Paul undergoes a tremendous conversion experience and becomes the great apostle to the Gentile peoples even as Peter was the apostle to the Jews. Paul was also martyred in Rome, by beheading. Paul is usually depicted with a sword and St. Peter with a set of keys, the keys to the Kingdom.

Both St. Peter and St. Paul are martyred in Rome around the years 6467 during the ascendency of the power of the Roman Empire. The Empire expands and grows but eventually crumbles. The Vandals and Goths invade. The Colosseum partially collapses and the gold covering the dome of the Pantheon is stripped away. Nothing remains of the great Empire of Rome except in history books and museums. The “followers of the way,” the Christians, however, are still here. St. Peter and St. Paul both went to Rome to give witness, to the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Church Jesus founded will endure forever.

Go make Jesus famous,
Fr. Olson