“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69)
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
(1 Cor 15, 9-10)
Meditation
That is why the Lord told Peter, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matt. 16:18), whereas He said to Ananias of Paul, “He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings” (Acts 9:15). Which name? Clearly the name we have been given, the name of Christ’s Church, which rests on the foundation stone of Peter. Notice that Peter and Paul are equal in prominence and glory, and both hold up the Church. Consequently the Church now bestows one and the same honour on both, and celebrates them together with equal esteem. (Gregory Palamas, Homily 28. PG 151, 355-362).
St Peter's Basilica: Funerary monument to Pope Pius VIII
Invocations
Lord, you prayed for Peter, that his faith might not fail, confirm the faith of your Church.
St. Peter and St. Paul, united in the glory of Heaven, pray for us
After the Resurrection you appeared to Simon Peter and manifested yourself to Paul on the road to Damascus. Enlighten our minds, so that we can recognize in you the Son of the living God.
St. Peter and St. Paul, united in the glory of Heaven, pray for us
You elected Paul an apostle, to proclaim your name to the Gentiles. Make us witnesses and proclaimers of the Gospel.
St. Peter and St. Paul, united in the glory of Heaven, pray for us
You have forgiven the Apostle Peter who had denied you three times; forgive us all our trespasses.
St. Peter and St. Paul, united in the glory of Heaven, pray for us.
Our Father,
Hail Mary,
Glory be
PRAYER
O God, who gladdens us with the solemn celebration of St. Peter and St. Paul, let your Church always follow the teaching of the apostles from whom she received the first proclamation of the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who is God, and who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.