Introduction
The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, twin pillars of the Holy Catholic Church, is among the most ancient solemnities of the Roman liturgical calendar. This day commemorates not merely the martyrdom of two great saints, but the foundation stones of the visible Church built upon the confession of Peter and the zeal of Paul.
Saint Peter – The Rock
Simon, son of Jonah, was a fisherman of Galilee when he was called by Our Lord Jesus Christ to become a “fisher of men.” Christ gave him the name Cephas, which is translated Peter — the Rock — saying: “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18)
Saint Peter was the first to confess Christ’s divinity, the first of the Apostles to whom the Risen Lord appeared, and the first to exercise supreme authority in the infant Church. As the Prince of the Apostles, he presided over the early Christian community in Jerusalem, preached boldly at Pentecost, and eventually traveled to Rome, where he established the Apostolic See. There, during Nero’s persecution around the year A.D. 64, Peter was crucified upside down at his own request, deeming himself unworthy to die as his Lord did. His relics rest beneath the great basilica that bears his name in the Vatican.
Saint Paul – The Apostle of the Gentiles
Born in Tarsus, a Roman citizen by birth and a zealous Pharisee by training, Saul of Tarsus was a fierce persecutor of the followers of Christ until he was struck down by divine light on the road to Damascus. There, the Lord said to him: “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” (Acts 9:4). Converted in soul and set ablaze with love for the Redeemer, Saul became Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Saint Paul undertook numerous missionary journeys, suffered beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonments, and constant dangers for the sake of the Gospel. He authored a great portion of the New Testament epistles, filled with deep theological insight and ardent exhortations to holiness. Like Peter, he came to Rome, where he was imprisoned and ultimately beheaded, likely in the same persecution under Nero, around A.D. 67. His relics lie beneath the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
Unity in Martyrdom
Though of different temperaments and missions — Peter, the Apostle of the Jews, and Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles — the two are united in their love for Christ, their tireless labors, and their martyrdom in the Eternal City. The Roman Church, proud to have received both Apostles, celebrates their joint feast with solemnity and gratitude.
As Saint Augustine wrote:
“One day is consecrated to the triumph of both Apostles. But these two were one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, Paul followed.”
Liturgical Significance
In the Traditional Latin Mass, this feast is a Double of the First Class, with its own octave. The proper texts for the Mass and Divine Office highlight their respective missions, sufferings, and glory. The antiphons and readings reflect the unity of their witness and the foundation they laid for the Church, as seen in the Collect:
O God, Who hast made this day honorable unto us by the martyrdom of Thine Apostles Peter and Paul: grant unto Thy Church, that as from them she first received the faith, so in all things she may follow their precepts.
— Collect of the Feast
Legacy and Devotion
The feast is a call to all Catholics to renew their fidelity to the Apostolic Faith. Saint Peter reminds us of the importance of unity with the true visible Church, grounded in the See of Rome; Saint Paul challenges us to be fearless in preaching the Gospel to all nations. Their relics, prayers, and heavenly intercession remain a living testimony of the Church’s unbroken tradition and missionary zeal.