St Peter, foremost confessor of the faith, pray for us!

Saints Peter and Paul are two inspiring pillars of the Church.  Some defining moments for Peter- the Galilean fisherman – are when Jesus asks him …who do you say I am? he responds …You are the Christ!…  Jesus changes his name to Cephas, meaning rock; he is the one on whom the Church is built.  Peter thus receives the keys of the kingdom and is her leader and Christ’s representative on earth.  Jesus gives him the authority to bind and to loose; authority passed on to his successors – the Popes.  St Peter died (64AD) under the Emperor Nero; crucified upside down because he felt unworthy to die as Jesus died.  Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, was a learned Pharisee and persecutor of the Christian community until he received a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Being highly educated and a great communicator Paul preached to the Gentile world.  As a Roman citizen St Paul was beheaded (64AD) also under Nero.  Two very different characters with different backgrounds and strengths but both shared the same desire to spread Gospel message, both gave the ultimate witness to Jesus and both continue to give inspiring witness to us today.                                                                                                     St Paul, fearless preacher, pray for us!