29 Jun
Sun
FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL
Acts 12:1-11
Ps. 34:1-8
2 Tim. 4:6-8, 17-18
Mt. 16:13-19
(Psalter proper)
How To Pray With Shalom
Home Page of Shalom
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Normally a feast of a saint will not displace the celebration of Sunday, the weekly feast of the Resurrection, the weekly feast of Christ. The fact that the feast of Saints Peter and Paul replaces the usual Sunday celebration is a revelation to us of the importance of the human side of this mysterious love affair between God and humanity which we call the Church. The early hymns about Christ which we find in the New Testament consistently affirm that Christ is above all. He is the head of the Church. But Christ's supremacy does not imply a rejection of our humanity or of our human efforts. Indeed, out of His prayer Jesus chose twelve men to be His special followers, the Apostles. At their head he chose Simon son of John. No matter how weak they would turn out to be at any point, Jesus still accepted and cared for them. If He gave the name "Peter" ["Rock"] to Simon, this was both an insight into Peter's character and a promise. After suffering from his own weakness and timidity, Peter would prove himself to be a rock and would die a martyr's death. His new name "Peter" was also a promise of God's abiding grace.



Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to repeat fervently with Peter: "Lord, you know that I love you".

DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That the faithful who hold positions of responsibility in public life, may defend and promote the respect of human values in every situation.
Elaboration

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