Liturgical Guide: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Painting by José de Ribera - Courtesy of WikipediaThe hymns sung on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul speak to us of the fidelity of the Apostles to the teachings of Jesus Christ, and their unwavering dedication to "bring salvation to the ends of the earth" (Acts 13:47). As early as the 3rd century, there is evidence that a feast day honouring the martyrdom in Rome of both saints was already well established. The date is believed to be the anniversary of either their deaths or the translation of their relics. In his 2005 Homily on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Benedict XVI said: "The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is at the same time a grateful memorial of the great witnesses of Jesus Christ and a solemn confession for the Church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic. It is first and foremost a feast of catholicity. ...Catholicity does not only express a horizontal dimension, the gathering of many people in unity, but also a vertical dimension: it is only by raising our eyes to God, by opening ourselves to him, that we can truly become one." Reflection by the Apostleship of PrayerLITURGY OF THE HOURS (1975)106. This I Ask (John 15)147. What Fairer Light168. The Eternal Gifts of Christ the KingDIVINE OFFICE (1974)What Fairer Light