Peter’s Toes

September 9, 2012 By 3 Comments

In the Middle Ages, pilgrims who made the arduous trip to Rome to visit St. Peter’s Basilica gazed with fondness and awe upon a larger-than-life bronze statue of St. Peter.  The statue, sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in the 13th century, depicted the first pope—his right hand extended to confer a blessing, while his left hand clutched the keys of the Kingdom, holding them close to his heart.

But for many pilgrims who snaked, single-file, into the great Basilica, it was Peter’s feet that captured their attention.  Mounted, as he was, on a tall alabaster pedestal, the feet were at eye-level for travelers; and medieval pilgrims would fervently kiss or at least rub the right foot, which was extended forward from the pedestal—at the same time offering a prayer to St. Peter to be merciful and open the heavenly gates for them, if they should die while on the pilgrimage.  So many pilgrims revered the bronze toes, in fact, that the statue has been worn down.

Floor plan of St. Peter’s Basilica, showing the spot (red dot) where St. Peter’s statue can be found.

In 1871, St. Peter was given a grand backdrop:  A red and gold mosaic, resembling heavy brocade draperies, was mounted behind him.  A mosaic medallion of Pope Pius IX, the first pope since Peter to reign for more than 25 years, was installed above his head on the pillar.

Visitors who are in Rome on June 29, the Feast of St. Peter, are treated to another surprise:  The statue is vested in an amice, alb, tiara, stole, red cope and a papal ring.

Filed Under: Art, Catholic, Papacy, Rome, Vatican Tagged With: 3 Comments

God Needed Heroes– But Was This What He Meant?

June 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

JUNE 29 – FEAST OF STS. PETER AND PAUL

There is an old adage:  “God doesn’t call the qualified; he qualifies the called.”

And if you’re looking for a man who proved that by his life, the apostle Peter is your guy.  Peter, you’ll recall, denied Christ three times in the courtyard on Holy Thursday night.  Peter had seen his Master beaten and condemned to death, and he feared the Romans and the Jews who had treated Jesus so cruelly.

Poor, bedraggled Peter—fearing for his life, he had three times denied knowing Jesus.  He skulked back after the Crucifixion, hiding in the Upper Room, afraid after seeing how they’d brutalized and murdered Jesus.

But then came Pentecost, and the Paraclete burst forth in a Wind of Grace and a Fire of Truth, reached down and touched Peter’s heart, touched his lips, touched his soul, filling him to overflowing with grace and courage and fortitude….  Peter, emboldened, stepped onto the balcony and spoke to the crowds, preaching and teaching.  When they tried to stop him from speaking about the truth of Christ, his beloved Savior, Peter would not be silenced.  A burly, powerful leader, he went forth and continued to preach, facing hardships, traveling through Jerusalem, Antioch, Corinth and eventually Rome, converting thousands.

Even under penalty of death, Peter could not deny the Master who had shown Himself to be the Christ, the Messiah.  Peter suffered a martyr’s death, being crucified upside down since he claimed he was not worthy to die in the same way as Jesus.

Indeed, Peter had become one of the most powerful figures in the history of Christendom.

*     *     *     *     *

Also powerful in the history of the Church was Paul, the “apostle to the Gentiles.” Paul wasn’t one of the original Twelve, but he was instrumental in the spread of Christianity through Asia Minor and all the way to Rome.

In fact Paul, a Roman citizen, had once been relentless in his persecution of the early Christians. But that was before the Spirit knocked him off his horse on the road to Damascus, blinding him to all but the truth of Christ.

Once the scales had been removed from his eyes and he recognized Jesus as the Redeemer, Paul became a vigorous teacher and preacher, embarking on a journey through Asia Minor, all the way to Rome.  He traveled through Antioch, Cyprus, Phrygia, Galatia, and Philippi, through Thessalonica and Corinth and beyond, establishing churches and preaching the Gospel along the way.  He willingly suffered imprisonment, shipwreck and eventual martyrdom for the fledgling church, never wavering in his commitment to Christ Jesus.

*     *     *    *     *

So it is that St. Peter and St. Paul—compatriots, converts, contemporaries—together helped to spread the Gospel to foreign lands, inspiring by their very lives and, in that way, building Christ’s Church.  The two of them—while they didn’t actually work side by side as a team— together helped to expand and instruct the young church, converting thousands, until today there are 1.2 billion Catholics worldwide (2.2 billion adherents, when one considers all the denominations which consider themselves “Christian”).

It was Oscar Wilde who wrote, “Every saint has a past; and every sinner has a future.” Peter and Paul, true heroes of the faith, were sinners who became great saints.  We can do it, too!

St. Peter and St. Paul, pray for us.

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Does “Both/And” Theology Rescue Peter and His Keys?

August 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A guest post by Deacon Jerry Schiffer

Today is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time and today’s readings offer a look at a foundational Catholic teaching that is often contested in the rest of the Christian world.

At issue is the establishment of Peter as the head of Christ’s Church on earth.  Supporting that premise – from a Catholic standpoint—are the following verses:

And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

To many, it is this passage that justifies the Church’s teaching that Peter has been named the leader of the Church with the charism of infallibility. He is, after all, the “rock” that Jesus refers to, is he not?  The rock upon whom the Church will be built?

Well, yes and no.

Preceding the words of the Gospel cited above is another relevant passage which is often used to contest these conclusions regarding Peter.  Perhaps you will remember this exchange between Jesus and his disciples:

“But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my heavenly Father.

Enter the controversy:

At issue is the meaning of the term “rock” in the declaration by Jesus that “. . . you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”

Books have been written about this very topic, defending or attacking the Catholic understanding of this passage. Some examine the original Greek; others consider the message in Jesus’ spoken Aramaic. All lobby for position in the debate, with the institution of the papacy hanging in the balance.

Those who find no scriptural basis for the institution of the papacy typically argue that in using the term “rock,” Jesus is not referring to Peter, but rather to Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Catholic apologists typically understand “rock” to refer to Peter, himself, thus justifying the Catholic teaching regarding Peter and the papacy. So when the occasional Catholic commentator adopts the ‘Protestant’ position that the “rock” refers to Peter’s confession, eyebrows are understandably raised.

To the rescue, it appears, comes an old stalwart of Catholicism – “both/and” theology. This approach to the study of God offers premises such as: Christian life is based on both Christian Scripture and Tradition; that we can know God by virtue of both faith and reason; that salvation results both from God’s gift of grace and our response to that gift, and so on.

Well, by now you know where this is going. With “both/and” vision, we can understand the “rock” as both Peter and his confession of faith. Witness these offerings from the Catholic Catechism:

881 The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.” This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.

424 Moved by the grace of the Holy Spirit and drawn by the Father, we believe in Jesus and confess:  ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. On the rock of this faith confessed by St. Peter, Christ built his Church.

552 Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve; Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Through a revelation from the Father, Peter had confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Our Lord then declared to him:  “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” Christ, the “living Stone”, thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it.

From all of this we can perhaps draw the following conclusions: First, you can understand “rock” as both Peter and his confession of faith – that vital principle that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. And second, however you understand it, the Catholic Church will always consider Peter the first pope and Benedict as a direct successor, and both with the charism of infallibility.

Happy 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time!

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