THE BEGINNINGS OF
CHRISTIANITY
Duquesne
University
Theo 274
Class schedule
•
Study on St. Peter.
•
Class presentations.
•
Background reading:
P. Haffner,
Early Christianity
, chapter 2 “St Peter and St Paul”.
Saint Peter
Introduction
•
St. Peter is also known as Cephas, Simon Peter, the first Pope.
•
Peter was born in Bethsaida which is located near Lake Tiberias.
•
Peter
and
his
brother,
Andrew
worked
as
fishermen
on
Lake
Gennesareth.
•
Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be His Apostles.
Peter’s name
•
After
Jesus,
Peter
is
the
most
known
and
quoted
personality
in
the
New Testament.
•
He
is
mentioned
154
times
with
the
nickname
“Petros,”
“stone,”
“rock,”
which
is
the
Greek
translation
of
the
Aramaic
name
that
Jesus
Christ
gave
him
directly,
“Kefa,”
used
on
nine
occasions,
especially in Paul’s letters.
•
Also
the
name
Simon
is
used
frequently
(75
times),
which
is
the
form
adapted
to
the
Greek
of
his
original
Hebrew
name,
Simeon
(used twice: Acts 15:14; 2 Peter 1:1).
Peter’s new name
•
With
the
exception
of
the
nickname
“sons
of
thunder,”
addressed
in
a
specific
circumstance
to
the
sons
of
Zebedee
(cf.
Mark
3:17),
and
that
afterward
He
would
not
use,
Jesus
never
attributed
a
new
name
to
one
of
His disciples.
•
He
did
so,
however,
with
Simon,
calling
him
Cephas,
a
name
that
was
later
translated into Greek as “Πέτρος” and in Latin “Petrus.”
•
It
was
not
just
a
name;
it
was
a
“mandate”
that
Petrus
thus
received
from
the Lord.
•
The
new
name
“Petrus”
will
return
on
several
occasions
in
the
Gospels
and
will
end
up
by
replacing
his
original
name,
Simon.
This
detail
is
of
particular
importance
if
one
keeps
in
mind
that,
in
the
Old
Testament,
a
change
of
name
announced
in
general
the
conferring
of
a
mission
(cf.
Genesis 17:5; 32:28ff, etc.).
St. Peter
•
He
was
a
faithful
Jew,
who
believed
in
God’s
active
presence
in
the
history
of
his
people,
and
was
pained
at
not
seeing
His
powerful
action in the events of which he was, at that time, a witness.
•
He
was
married
and
his
mother-in-law,
cured
one
day
by
Jesus,
lived
in
the
city
of
Capernaum,
in
the
house
where
Peter
also
stayed,
when
he
was
in
that
city
(cf.
Matthew
8:14ff;
Mark
1:29ff;
Luke 4:38ff).
•
Recent
archaeological
excavations
have
brought
to
light,
under
the
mosaic
floor
of
octagonal
shape
of
a
small
Byzantine
church,
the
remains
of
a
more
ancient
church,
built
in
that
house,
as
attested
by the graffiti with invocations to Peter.
St. Peter’s House
•
By
the
mid-1st
century
AD,
there
is
evidence
that
one
room
in
this
complex
was
singled
out
for
public
use:
pottery
and
lamps
replace
utensils
of
normal
family
use,
and
there
are
ancient
graffiti
in
the
plastered walls, some of which mention Jesus as Lord and Christ.
•
The
house
was
certainly
a
church
by
the
time
the
pilgrim
Egeria
made
her
pilgrimage
in
381,
which
she
said
included
the
original
walls:
•
“In
Capernaum
the
house
of
the
prince
of
the
apostles
has
been
made into a church, with its original walls still standing.”
St. Peter’s House
•
The
church
of
Capernaum
was
founded
on
the
traditional
site
of
St. Peter’s home.
•
Closer
to
the
shore
than
the
synagogue,
the
house
was
in
a
poor
area
where
the
drystone
basalt
walls
would
have
supported
only
a
light
roof
(which
perfectly
suits
the
lowering
of
the
paralytic
in
Mk
2:1-12) and could have no windows.
•
The
floors
of
these
houses
and
courtyards
were
made
of
black
basalt
cobbles,
in
which
it
would
have
been
easy
to
lose
a
coin
(Lk
15:8).
St. Peter’s House
Three
stages
of
development
of
the
House of St. Peter (shaded in grey).
Source:
Oxford Archaeological Guide
.
Ruins
of
the
5th-century
octagonal
basilica
over
the
House
of
St.
Peter,
before
they
were
covered over by a Franciscan basilica in 1990.
St. Peter’s House
The
house
of
St.
Peter,
often
mentioned
by
the
Synoptic
Gospels
in
relation
to
the
activity
of
Jesus
in
Capharnaum,
and
recorded
later
on
by
pilgrims,
was
rediscovered
in
1968
under
the
foundations
of
the
octagonal
church
some
30m
south
of
the
synagogue.
The
history
of
that
house
where
Jesus
lived,
can
be summarised as follows:
1
.
the house was built in the Late Hellenistic period;
2
.
in
the
late
first
century
A.D.
it
was
changed
into
a
domus-ecclesia
,
it
became
a
house for religious gatherings;
3
.
in
the
fourth
century
A.D.
the
same
domus-ecclesia
was
enlarged
and
was
set
apart from the rest of the town through an imposing enclosure wall;
4
.
in
the
second
half
of
the
fifth
century
A.D.
an
octagonal
church
was
built
upon
the house of St. Peter and remained in use until the seventh century A.D.;
5
.
the
identification
of
the
house
of
St.
Peter
is
based
on
the
combination
of
archaeological data and literary sources which converge in a wonderful way.
St. Peter’s House
Aerial view of Capernaum
St. Peter’s House
Excavating under the Octagonal Byzantine Church
St. Peter’s House
Closer
look
at
the
octagonal
House of St. Peter.
Modern
Franciscan
church
over
the
House of St. Peter, with ruins of
ancient houses in the foreground.
St. Peter’s House
The House of St. Peter after it was excavated
St. Peter’s House
Modern church over the House of St. Peter: in the centre there is a glass floor
where you can see the old remains
St. Peter’s House
Modern church over the House of St. Peter: in the centre there is a glass floor
where you can see the old remains
St. Peter’s House
Modern church over the House of St. Peter: in the centre there is a glass floor
where you can see the old remains
St. Peter’s Faith
•
St. Peter made two professions of faith.
•
The first regarded the Eucharist in John 6.
•
The
second
regarded
Christ
the
Son
of
the
living God in Matthew 16.
St. Peter and the Holy Eucharist
•
“The
bread
which
I
shall
give
for
the
life
of
the
world
is
My
flesh”
(John
6:51).
Jesus
announces
the
Cross
and
with
the
Cross,
the
true
multiplication
of
Loaves,
the
Holy
Eucharist,
His
absolutely
new
way
of
being
King,
a
way
totally
contrary
to
the
people’s
expectations.
•
We
can
understand
that
these
words
of
the
Master
were
truly
difficult for some of the people.
•
“Gives
His
flesh”:
what
does
this
mean?
And
even
for
some
disciples, what Jesus said at this moment seemed unacceptable.
•
It
was
a
“hard”
saying
that
put
faith
to
the
test
(cf.
John
6:60).
Many
of the disciples withdrew.
St. Peter and the Holy Eucharist
•
Peter
reacted
with
the
outburst
of
his
generous
heart, guided by the Holy Spirit.
•
In
the
name
of
all
he
responds
with
immortal
words, which are also our words:
•
“Lord,
to
whom
shall
we
go?
You
have
the
words
of
eternal
life;
and
we
have
believed,
and
have
come
to
know,
that
You
are
the
Holy
One of God” (cf. John 6:66-69).
•
Caesarea
Philippi
was
the
place
where
Jesus
called
Simon
by
his
new
name,
Peter,
which
literally
means “rock.”
•
It
was
here
that
Jesus
asked
His
Apostles,
“Who
do
you
say
that
I
am?” (Matt. 16:18).
St. Peter professes Christ,
Son of the living God
Caesarea Philippi
•
Peter
answered,
“You
are
the
Christ,
the
Son
of
the
living God.”
•
Jesus
said
in
response,
“…you
are
Peter
and
upon
this
rock I will build my church.”
Christ gave two significant gifts to Peter:
1
.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.”
2
.
“Whatever
you
bind
on
earth
shall
be
bound
in
heaven,
and
whatever
you
loose
on
earth
will
be
loosed
in
heaven.”
(This
is
the
power
to
bind
and
loose.)
(Matthew
16:19)
Two Gifts
•
The “key” is a symbol of authority.
•
When
Christ
gave
Peter
the
power
to
bind
or
to
loose,
this
command
was
understood
by
witnesses
that
Peter
had
been
given authority to guide and lead the Church.
The Power of the Keys
•
The
power
to
forgive
sins
is
often
referred
to
as
“the
power
of
the
keys.”
•
We
know
that
only
God
has
the
power
to
forgive
sins,
but
Jesus
entrusted to His Apostles the administration of that grace.
•
In
the
Sacrament
of
Reconciliation,
the
Church,
through
the
bishops and priests, forgive sins in the name of Jesus Christ.
Throughout
the
New
Testament,
there
is
evidence
that
Peter’s
role
of
leadership
was
recognized
by
the Apostles and disciples.
Peter’s preeminence
•
Christ’s
will
to
attribute
to
Peter
a
special
prominence
within
the
apostolic
college is manifested with many clues:
•
At Capernaum, the Master stays in Peter’s house (Mark 1:29);
•
When
the
crowds
pressed
upon
Him
on
the
shores
of
the
Lake
of
Gennesaret,
between
the
two
moored
boats,
Jesus
chose
Simon’s
(Luke
5:3);
•
When
in
particular
circumstances
Jesus
remains
only
in
the
company
of
three disciples, Peter is always recalled as the first of the group:
▪
In the raising of Jairus’ daughter (cf. Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51),
▪
at the Transfiguration (cf. Mark 9:2; Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28),
▪
and
finally
during
the
agony
in
the
Garden
of
Gethsemane
(cf.
Mark 14:33; Matthew 16:37).
Christ raising Jairus’ daughter
The Transfiguration of
Christ
Christ in the Garden
Peter’s preeminence
•
The
tax
collectors
for
the
Temple
went
up
to
Peter,
and
the
Master
paid
for
Himself
and
for
Peter,
and
only
for
him
(cf.
Matthew
17:24-27);
•
Peter
was
the
first
one
whose
feet
He
washed
in
the
Last
Supper
(cf. John 13:6);
•
Christ
prays
only
for
him
so
that
his
faith
would
not
fail
and
so
that
later
he
will
be
able
to
confirm
the
other
disciples
in
it
(cf.
Luke 22:30-31).
Peter’s finds coin in fish’s mouth
Peter’s preeminence
•
Moreover, Peter himself is aware of this particular position he has.
•
He
is
the
one
who
speaks
often
on
behalf
of
the
others,
asking
for
explanations of a difficult parable (Matthew 15:15),
•
or
to
ask
about
the
exact
meaning
of
a
precept
(cf.
Matthew
18:21),
•
or the formal promise of a reward (Matthew 19:27).
Peter at the Last Supper
•
At
the
Last
Supper,
Jesus
came
to
Simon
Peter,
who
said
to
him,
“Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
•
Jesus
answered,
“At
the
moment
you
do
not
know
what
I
am
doing, but later you will understand.”
•
“Never!”
said
Peter.
“You
shall
never
wash
my
feet.”
Jesus
replied,
“If I do not wash you, you can have no share with Me.”
•
Simon
Peter
said,
“Well
then,
Lord,
not
only
my
feet,
but
my
hands
and my head as well!” (John 13:6-9).
St. Peter denies his Master
•
Peter was generous and also impetuous.
•
He
said
to
Jesus
after
the
Last
Supper
“Even
if
all
fall
away
from
you, I will never fall away.”
•
Jesus
answered
him,
“In
truth
I
tell
you,
this
very
night,
before
the
cock crows, you will have disowned me three times.”
•
Peter
said
to
Jesus,
“Even
if
I
have
to
die
with
you,
I
will
never
disown you.” (Matthew 26:33-35).
St. Peter denies his Master
•
Although
Peter
was
ready
to
defend
Jesus
with
his
sword,
and
cut
off
the
ear
of
Malchus,
the
high
priest’s
servant
(John
18:10),
he
later denied Him three times.
•
The
moment
comes
when
he
also
gives
way
to
fear
and
falls:
he
betrays the Master (cf. Mark 14:66-72).
•
The
school
of
faith
is
not
a
triumphal
march,
but
a
journey
strewn
with
sufferings
and
love,
trials
and
faithfulness
to
be
renewed
every
day.
St. Peter denies his Master
St. Peter denies his Master
•
Peter,
who
had
promised
absolute
faithfulness,
knows
the
bitterness
and
humiliation
of
denial.
Peter,
too,
must
learn
that
he
is
weak
and
in need of forgiveness.
•
When
Peter
finally
falls
and
he
understands
the
truth
of
his
weak
heart
of
a
believing
sinner,
he
breaks
out
in
liberating
tears
of
repentance.
•
After this weeping, he is now ready for his mission.
Peter is reconfirmed in his mission
•
On
a
spring
morning,
this
mission
would
be
entrusted
to
him
by
the
risen
Jesus.
The
meeting
would
take
place
on
the
shores
of
the
Lake
of
Tiberias.
The
Evangelist
John
relates
the
dialogue
that
took
place
in
that
circumstance between Jesus and Peter.
•
One
notes
a
very
significant
play
of
words.
In
Greek
the
word
“filéo”
(φιλέω)
expresses
the
love
of
friendship,
tender
but
not
total,
whereas
the
word
“agapáo”
(ἀγαπάω)
means
the
love
of
God
for
man
and
of
man
for
God.
Peter is reconfirmed in his mission
•
Jesus
asks
Peter
the
first
time:
“Simon
…
do
you
love
me
(’agapâs-me’)”
with this total and unconditional love (cf. John 21:15)?
•
Before
the
experience
of
the
betrayal,
the
apostle
would
certainly
have
said: “I love you (’agapô-se’) unconditionally.”
•
Now
that
he
has
known
the
bitter
sadness
of
infidelity,
the
tragedy
of
his
own
weakness,
he
says
with
humility:
“Lord,
I
love
you
(’filô-se’),”
that
is,
“I love you with my poor human love.”
•
Christ insists: “Simon, do you love me with this total love that I want?”
•
And
Peter
repeats
the
answer
of
his
humble
human
love:
“Kyrie,
filô-se,”
“Lord, I love you as I know how to love.”
Peter is reconfirmed in his mission
Peter is reconfirmed in his mission
•
The
third
time
Jesus
only
says
to
Simon:
“Fileîs-me?”,
“Do
you
love
me?”
Simon
understood
that
for
Jesus
his
poor
love,
the
only
one
he
is
capable
of, is enough.
•
Yet
he
is
saddened
that
the
Lord
had
to
say
it
to
him
in
this
way.
Therefore,
he
answered:
“Lord,
you
know
everything;
you
know
that
I
love
you
(’filô-
se’).”
•
After Jesus’ arrest, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times.
•
In
repentance
for
these
denials,
Peter
gave
a
threefold
affirmation
of
love.
Jesus forgave him and told him to feed and care for His sheep.
(See John 18:15-27 and 21:15-17.)
Peter’s Preeminence
•
We
saw
ample
evidence
in
the
New
Testament
that
Peter
was
first
in
authority
among
the
Apostles.
Whenever
they
were
named,
Peter
headed
the
list.
This
is
also
true
after
the
Resurrection
and
Ascension of Christ.
•
On
Pentecost,
it
was
Peter
who
first
preached
to
the
crowds
(Acts
2:14-40)
and
who
worked
the
first
healing in the Church age (Acts 3:6-7).
Peter’s Preeminence
•
Peter
is
given
Christ’s
flock
to
shepherd
(John 21:17).
•
An
angel
was
sent
to
announce
the
Resurrection to Peter (Mark 16:7).
•
It
was
Peter
that
headed
the
meeting
that
replaced Judas with Matthias (Acts 1:13-26).
Peter’s Preeminence
•
Peter inflicted the first punishment (Acts 5:1-11).
•
Peter excommunicated the first heretic (Acts 8:18-23).
•
Peter raised Dorcas (Tabitha) from the dead (Acts 9:36-40).
•
Peter
received
the
revelation
that
Gentiles
were
to
be
baptized
and
accepted as Christians (Acts 10:1-48).
•
Peter led the first Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
Peter’s raised Dorcas
Masolino da Panicale, 1425.
Peter’s vision of unclean animals
•
Peter
was
imprisoned
by
King
Herod
Agrippa
but
was
helped
to
escape by an angel.
•
He
continued
his
ministry
in
Jerusalem,
Antioch,
Corinth
and
eventually Rome.
Peter in Rome
•
St Peter wrote in his first letter:
•
By
Silvanus,
a
faithful
brother
as
I
regard
him,
I
have
written
briefly
to
you,
exhorting
and
declaring
that
this
is
the
true
grace
of
God;
stand
fast
in
it.
She
who
is
at
Babylon,
who
is
likewise
chosen,
sends
you
greetings;
and
so
does
my
son
Mark.
Greet
one
another
with
the
kiss
of
love.
Peace
to
all
of
you
that
are
in
Christ
(1
Peter
5:12–14)
•
Babylon
is
a
code
name
for
Rome,
so
this
is
an
indication
from
St
Peter himself that he was in Rome.
Peter in Rome
Early Testimonies to St. Peter’s Ministry in Rome
Pope
St
Clement
I
indicates
that
Peter
and
Paul
both
ministered and were martyred in Rome. (
1 Clement
5–6 )
St.
Ignatius
of
Antioch
,
in
his
Epistle
to
the
Romans
,
dated
between
98
and
117,
written
en
route
to
his
martyrdom
at
Rome,
mentions
Saints
Peter
and
Paul
(
Epistle
to
the
Romans
IV).
He
placed
Peter
and
Paul
as
a
pair,
and
implied
that
the
Romans
have
had
personal
contact
with
the
Apostles,
who
enjoined
them with authority.
I
do
not
enjoin
you
in
the
manner
of
Peter
and
Paul.
They
were
Apostles;
I
am
a condemned man. They were free; I, until this moment, am a slave.
Peter in Rome
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
:
St.
Irenaeus,
writing
around
180,
is
the
earliest
writer
who
stated
directly
that
Peter
ministered
in
Rome
(
Against
Heresies
III.1.1):
For,
after
Our
Lord
rose
from
the
dead,
the
apostles
were
invested
with
power
from
on
high
when
the
Holy
Spirit
came
down
upon
them,
and
they
departed
to
the
ends
of
the
earth,
preaching
the
glad
tidings
of
the
Gospel
from
God
to
us…
Peter
and
Paul
were
preaching
at
Rome,
and
laying
the
foundations of the Church.
And again (
Against Heresies
, III.3.1-2):
We
refute
the
heretics
by
indicating
that
tradition
derived
from
the
apostles,
of
the
very
great,
the
very
ancient,
and
universally
known
Church
founded
and
organized
at
Rome
by
the
two
most
glorious
apostles,
Peter
and
Paul.
For
it
is
a
matter
of
necessity
that
every
Church
should
agree
with this Church, on account of its preeminent authority.
Peter in Rome
Tertullian
Tertullian,
writing
probably
around
180-200,
attested
to
Peter
and
Paul’s
ministry
and
martyrdom
in
Rome
in
a
passage
from
De
praescriptionem
haereticorum
(
Prescription against Heretics
36):
You
have
Rome,
from
which
there
comes
even
into
our
own
hands
the
very
authority
of
Apostles
themselves.
How
happy
is
its
Church,
on
which
Apostles
poured
forth
all
their
doctrine
along
with
their
blood!
Where
Peter
endures
a
passion
like
his
Lord’s!
Where
Paul
wins
his
crown
in
a
death
like
John’s
where
the
Apostle
John
was
first
plunged,
unhurt,
into
boiling
oil,
and
thence
remitted
to
his
island-
exile!
Peter in Rome
Eusebius of Caesarea
Eusebius,
compiling
his
Church
History
in
the
290s,
firmly
stated
the
well-established
tradition
of
Peter’s
martyrdom
in
Rome (
Church History
II.25.5):
It
is,
therefore,
recorded
that
Paul
was
beheaded
in
Rome
itself,
and
that
Peter
likewise
was
crucified
under
Nero.
This
account
of
Peter
and
Paul
is
substantiated
by
the
fact
that
their
names
are
preserved
in
the
cemeteries
of
that
place
even
to
the
present
day.
Eusebius
cited
the
presence
of
Peter’s
grave
monument
on
Vatican
Hill
in
ca.
210
(
Church
History
II.25.6–7),
mentioning
Gaius, a member of the Church who said:
But
I
can
show
the
trophies
of
the
Apostles.
For
if
you
will
go
to
the
Vatican
or
to
the
Ostian
way,
you
will
find
the
trophies
of
those who laid the foundations of this Church.
Quo vadis, Domine?
•
Quo
vadis,
Domine?
is
a
Latin
phrase
meaning
“Where
are
you
going, Lord?”
•
The
phrase
refers
to
Christian
tradition,
related
in
the
apocryphal
Acts
of
Peter
(Vercelli,
Acts
XXXV),
in
which
Saint
Peter
meets
Jesus
as Peter is fleeing from likely crucifixion in Rome.
•
Peter
asks
Jesus
the
question
“
Quo
vadi
s?”
Jesus’
answer,
“I
am
going
to
Rome
to
be
crucified
again”
(
Eo
Romam
iterum
crucifigi
),
prompts
Peter
to
gain
the
courage
to
continue
his
ministry
and
eventually become a martyr.
Quo vadis, Domine?
Quo vadis, Domine?
Martyrdom of St. Peter
•
Tradition
has
it
that
St
Peter
suffered
martyrdom
under
Nero
in
the
year
67,
having
arrived
in
Rome
under
the
Emperor
Claudius
(according
to
Jerome,
in
42).
He
would
thus
have
completed
in
Rome twenty-five years of Papacy.
•
Reference
to
Peter’s
martyrdom
can
be
found
in
the
writings
of
Origen,
Eusebius
of
Caesarea,
St.
Clement
I
of
Rome,
St.
Ignatius,
and St. Irenaeus.
•
It
is
part
of
the
Church’s
tradition
that
Peter
was
crucified
upside
down
because
he
felt
unworthy
to
die
in
exactly
the
same
way
that
Jesus had died.
•
The
Church
honors
St.
Peter,
along
with
St.
Paul,
on
June
29.
The
primacy
of
St.
Peter
as
Pope
is
celebrated
on
February
22,
the
Feast
of
the
Chair
of
St.
Peter.
Also
August
1,
the
feast
of
St.
Peter
in Chains commemorates his suffering for Christ.
St Peter’s Tomb
http://www.culturaltravelguide.com
This
video
explains
the
different
stages
that
the
Tomb
of
Apostle
Saint
Peter's
went
through
up
until
Emperor
Constantine
I
decided
to
build
his
huge
Basilica
around
it.
This
video
is
based
on
the drawings by Father José Antonio Iñíguez.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oJDbnDh7iA
St Peter’s Tomb
•
At
the
time
of
Constantine
a
niche
was
carved
inside
a
wall
and
some
bones
were
preserved
there
in
royal
purple
and
gold
fabric
wrappings.
They
remained
inside
the
niche
until
the
excavations
in
1941
when
they
were
taken to a nearby location up to 1953.
•
This
wall
was
covered
in
heavy
graffiti,
with
inscriptions
and
monograms
representing
the
names
of
God,
Christ,
Mary,
and
Peter,
intertwined
with
the
messages and prayer petitions of pilgrims.
•
Then
Professor
Margherita
Guarducci
had
the
bones
examined.
The
studies
revealed
that
they
belonged
to
a
robust
man,
approximately
60
to
70
years
of
age.
These
facts
and
the
expensive
wrappings
are
another
indication
that
these
are
likely
to
be
the
bones
of
Saint
Peter.
In
1968
Pope
Paul
VI
announced that the bones of Saint Peter had been discovered.
•
Another
indication
that
archaeologists
believe
points
to
this
being
the
real
tomb
of
the
Apostle
Peter
is
an
inscription
in
a
tiny
piece
of
stone
that
fell
from
the
Red
Wall,
that
is
believed
to
have
said
“Petros
eni”
which
means
“Peter is here”.
St Peter’s Tomb
“Petros eni” which means “Peter is here”.
St Peter’s Tomb
In
pictures
and
statutes,
St.
Peter
is
usually
portrayed
as
holding
keys
or
sometimes a book.
Other symbols for St. Peter include an inverted cross or a boat.
The barque of Peter
Symbol of the Church
Sea of Galilee
by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn
Jesus
sleeps
in
the
stern
of
the
boat
depicted in Matthew's Gospel (8:23-26)
The barque of Peter
Symbol of the Church
•
The
boat
itself
is
a
symbol
for
the
Church,
the
Barque
of
Peter.
The
boat
holds
the
apostles,
and
symbolically
all
of
Christ’s
disciples.
•
The
world
is
a
sea
in
which
the
Church,
like
a
ship,
is
beaten
by
the
waves,
but
not
submerged.
We
are
doing
God’s
work,
fishing for people, in Peter’s boat, the Church.
•
However,
we
are
strangers
in
a
foreign
land,
the
boat
is
on
the
sea,
symbolizing
the
chaos
that
is
not
God.
It
is
a
dangerous
and storm-swept place, where even seasoned fishermen fear.
•
Yet
the
place
that
is
not-of-God
contains
the
people
who
need
God, the people who need salvation.
The barque of Peter
Symbol of the Church
•
Saint
Anselm
said
that
the
Barque
of
the
Church
may
be
swept
by the waves, but it can never sink, because Christ is there.
•
When
the
Church
is
in
greatest
need,
Christ
comes
to
its
help
by
miracles,
or
by
raising
up
saintly
men
to
strengthen
and
purify it.
•
It
is
the
Barque
of
Peter;
when
the
storm
threatens
to
sink
it,
the
Lord
awakens
from
His
sleep,
and
commands
the
winds
and waters into calm: “Peace; be still!”
The barque of Peter
Symbol of the Church
The barque of Peter
Symbol of the Church
St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is built over the tomb of St. Peter.
Because St. Peter was the Bishop of Rome, this city has enjoyed a
position of primacy within the entire Catholic Church.
St. Peter and
Apostolic Succession
•
Since
St.
Peter,
there
has
been
an
unbroken
line
of
successors
up
to
and including Pope Francis.
•
Pope
Francis
was
elected
on
March
13,
2013
after
the
abdication
of
Pope Benedict XVI. He is the 265th Successor of St. Peter
•
Pope
Francis
was
elected
in
a
conclave,
which
means
“with
a
key”,
since
the
voting
Cardinals
are
locked
in
the
Sistine
Chapel
for
the
process of electing a new pope.
•
The
Power
of
the
Keys
which
Jesus
Christ
gave
to
Peter,
indicates
that
Peter and his successors are the shepherds or leaders of the Church.
•
Jesus
also
gave
Peter
the
power
to
bind
and
loose,
a
power
which
was
shared
with
the
other
Apostles;
this
power
continues
in
the
Church
today in the persons of the Pope and bishops as their successors.
The Papacy
•
The
Pope
(“Papa”
from
the
Greek
papas,
a
variant
of
pappas, meaning “father.”)
•
The
title
Pope
is
employed
solely
to
denote
the
Bishop
of
Rome,
who,
in
virtue
of
his
position
as
successor
of
St.
Peter,
is
the
chief
pastor
of
the
whole
Church, the Vicar of Christ on earth.
Universality of the Papacy
through the ages
