Feast of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul
Double of the First Class Feast Red Vestments
Editor's Note: All Scriptural Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims version of the Latin Vulgate Bible. The preface commentaries are a combination of thoughts from various sources. Red type indicates Our Lord's direct words in Holy Scripture. Italicized Maroon type indicates Latin with priests' refrain and server's response in bold..
This feast, as a Double of the First Class supercedes the semi-double feast of the Third Sunday After Pentecost or the Sunday With the Octave of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus The ApostlesSaint Peter and Saint Paul are the two Princes of the Apostles, the foundations of the Church, on which she is firmly established as on a rock. This Feast is almost entirely devoted to St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome, the great Apostle of the Gentiles being more specially honored on June 30. The lessons and prayers of this Mass describe how his Lord and Master Jesus Christ prepared the frevent Apostle, St. Peter, for the supreme office of the Papacy.
After the Descent of the Holy Ghost, St. Peter preached the Gospel in Judea and was cast into prison by the cruel Herod. He was miraculously delivered by an Angel and setablished his see first at Antioch, and then finally at Rome, where the first Pope exercised during twenty-five years the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ Himself. Then he was arrested, and like St. Paul suffered martyrdom A.D. 65. This Feast marks the day of the translation of their relics.
One, Peter, could be considered the "Salt" as in the "salt of the earth"; the other, Paul, could be the "shaker" since he is the one who, after converting from the murdering Saul, really shook things up for the better and wasn't afraid to "pepper" his flocks with the truth and rebuke them when they were wrong. These two saints are lovingly referred to as the "Salt and Pepper" of the Church.
Source: Marian Missal and St. Andrew Daily Missal and 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Readings for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
INTROIT: [Acts 12: 11] (Nunc scio vere ). Now I know in very deed, that the Lord hath sent His Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews. V. [Psalm 138. 1, 2]. Lord, Thou hast proved me, and known me: Thou hast known my sitting down and my rising up.
Glory be to the Father... Now I know in very deed... Kyrie... and Gloria
Dominus Vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.
COLLECT: O God, who hast made this day holy by the martyrdom of Thine Apostles, Peter and Paul: grant that Thy Church may in all things follow the precepts of those, through whom she received the beginnings of the Faith. Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.
EPISTLE: (Acts 12: 1-11) In those days, Herod the king stretched forth his hands to afflict some of the Church: and he killed James, the brother of John, with the sword; and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to take up Peter also. Now it was in the days of the azymes: and when he had apprehended him, he cast him into prison, delivering him to four files of soldiers to be kept, intending after the pasch to bring him forth to the people. Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing by the Church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and the keepers before the door kept the prison: and behold, an Angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shined in the room; and he striking Peter on the side, raised him up, saying: Arise quickly, and the chains fell off from his hands; and the Angel said to him: Gird thyself, and put on thy sandals; and he did so; and he said to him, cast thy garment about thee, and follow me; and going out, he followed him: and he knew not that it was true which was done by the Angel; but he though he saw a vision. And passing through the first and the second ward, they came to the iron gate that leadeth to the city, which of itself opened to them; and going out, they passed on through one street, and immediately the Angel departed from him. And Peter coming to himself, said, Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent His Angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
Deo Gratias.
GRADUAL [Psalm 44: 17-18]
Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy name, O Lord. V. Instead of fathers, sons are born to thee: therefore shall people praise Thee.
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Matth. 16. 18). Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church. Alleluia.
Sequentia sancti Evangelii secundum N... Gloria tibi, Domine.
GOSPEL: (Matthew 16: 13-19)
At this time, Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples saying: "Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?" But they said: "Some, John the Baptist," and other some, "Elias," and others, "Jeremias, or one of the prophets." Jesus saith to them: "But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered, and said: "Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus answering, said to him: "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, by My Father who is in heaven: and I say to thee: That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven."
Laus tibi, Christe.
See Father Louis Campbell's Sermon for Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul which supercedes the Third Sunday After Pentecost and Within the Octave of the Sacred Heart
Dominus Vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.
OFFERTORY: (Psalm 68: 21)
Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth: they shall remember Thy name, O Lord, throughout all generations.
SECRET: May the prayers of the Apostles accompany the sacrifices which we bring to Thee, O Lord to be consecrated to Thy Name: and by the same prayer, grant that we may be cleansed and defended.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God... Per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.
PREFACE OF THE APOSTLES
Dominus Vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Sursum Corda Habemus ad Dominum Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro. Dignum et justum est.
Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, Te Domine suppliciter exorare, ut gregem tuum pator aeterne, non deseras: sed per beatos Apostolos tuos continua protectione custodias. Ut iisdem rectoribus gubernetur, quos operis tui vicarios eidem contulisti praeesse pastores. Et ideo cum Angelis et Archangelis, cum Thronis et Dominationibus, cumque omni militia caelestis exercitus, hymnum gloriae tuae canimus, sine fine dicentes: SANCTUS, SANCTUS, SANCTUS... |
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It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd, but, through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:HOLY, HOLY, HOLY...
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COMMUNION: (Matthew 16: 18)
Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.
Dominus Vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus.
POSTCOMMUNION: Through the intercession of the Apostles, do Thou, O Lord, guard from all adversity those whom Thou hast fed with Heavenly Food.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
Who livest and reignest with God the Father, in unity with the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
For the Prayers at the End of the Low Mass, see Leonine Prayers
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