Fifth Day Within the Octave of the Holy Apostles Peter & Paul

From Dom Prosper Guéranger's The Liturgical Year.

Although amongst the saints there is none who is undeserving of earth’s humble homage, or whose intercession is powerless in our behalf, yet the cultus rendered to each one, and the confidence evinced, necessarily vary in proportion to what we know of his or her glory. It is therefore only just, as Saint Leo remarks in today’s Office, that we should honor in a most special manner those whom divine grace has exalted so far above all others, that they are considered, as it were, the two brilliant eyes of Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, giving light to all of us, who are the members thereof. (Sermon I in Nat. Apost. Lect. II Nocturn.)

For this reason, the festival of these two Princes of the Apostles is held superior to that of any other servant of God occurring in the entire cycle.

When the Church’s own practice gave tone to the particular customs of the various countries, national confidence and even private devotion knew no other preference than those of the holy Liturgy; and long were it to tell of all that can be produced by history, public charts, simple contracts, and monuments of every sort, in endless proof of our forefathers’ love for the glorious Door-keeper of heaven and his illustrious companion armed with the sword. Faith was lively in those days. It was then well understood that of all God’s boons to earth, none are comparable to the graces of sanctification, doctrine, and unity, of which Peter and Paul are the predestined instruments in our regard. The heart became dilated as the mind expanded. Men were eager, therefore, to know as much as they could touching the lives of these Fathers of the Christian people; and they made great account of the devotedness wherewith the two Apostles had so unsparingly poured out their sweat and blood for them.

Alas! can it be said that such is the case nowadays? How many baptized persons are there, Catholics not merely in name, but even considered practical Catholics, who scarcely possess such elementary notions of true Christianity as to appreciate the importance of the role performed amongst men by these Founders of the Church, nay, nor even to give it a passing thought! Yet some there are, and thanks be to God their number is now on the increase, who glory in studying the principles on which rests the divine constitution of society purchased by the Blood of our Lord. Such men as these understand and revere the august position which has been and always must be held by Peter and Paul in the economy of Christian dogma. But, nevertheless, do even these persons honor really as they ought these two Princes of the Apostles? What they know on this subject shows them plainly enough that it cannot be the case with these two apostles, as it is with many other saints, whose cultus increases or diminishes according to circumstances of time, place, and such like: the cultus of Saints Peter and Paul has its roots in the very fundamentals of Catholicism; whether in nations or in individual souls, it cannot wane, save to the great detriment of Catholicity itself. But then, no cultus is real, save that which implies devotion and love; now, can it be really said of the class of persons to whom we refer, that their knowledge of the holy Apostles has penetrated deeply enough from their mind into their heart?

The fact is, in the case of too many people, this knowledge being confined to the region of theory, is not sufficiently personal with regard to the two Apostles themselves; and, therefore, principles the most nicely drawn to by no means impart the spirit of faith, the seat of which is in the heart, and which animates the life. Let them but put the finishing stroke to their science. Without losing sight of dogmatic heights, let them seek in prayer and in humble study of the Gospel, of the Acts of the Apostles, of the Epistles, and of ecclesiastical tradition, that intimate revelation of the very soul of Peter and of Paul which cannot fail to make them admire, and, above all, love them personally as much as and even more than their sublime prerogatives. Then perhaps will they be astonished to have come so late to a knowledge of many precious details and thousands of instructive features about them, which little children in by-gone ages (now reputed barbarous) would have blushed not to know. As a necessary consequence, they will thus begin to feel more Catholic in soul; they will consider themselves happy to have learned, at last, how to share the devotion of the humble peasant woman and her ingenuous confidence (not unmixed with fear) in the “Door-keeper” of Paradise.

The following beautiful Preface is taken from the Mozarabic Missal. Its theme is that assemblage of divine contrasts, amidst which Eternal Wisdom loves, as it were, to sport, and which are found wonderfully multiplied in the lives of these two Apostles.

ILLATIO

It is truly meet and just, O Almighty Father, that we render our deepest thanks unto Thee, for the multiplied glory of thine Apostles Peter and Paul, which Thou hast by divers distribution of gifts largely bestowed upon them, of Thine immense goodness. Thou hast made them to be disciples of Thine Only-Begotten Son and Teachers of the Gentiles. On account of their preaching of the Gospel, though they are first in the heavenly Kingdom, yet are they shut up in strait prisons. They receive power to absolve sins; yet are they enthralled in chains of iron. They give health; and they endure bitter anguish. They command demons; and they are scourged by men. They drive away death; and they themselves flee from the face of persecutors. They walk upon the waters; and sweat with toil. By their word are mountains removed; and by the labor of their own hands they earn their bread. They are appointed judges of Angels; and they are put to the torture. With God they live; in the world they are in peril. Finally, Christ ministering unto them washes their feet; and by the hands of blasphemers are their faces buffeted with blows. Scarce anything was wanting of sufferings unto their endurance; nor is anything now wanting to the crown of victory, in their triumph. If we go over all that they suffered in their torments, they outstrip the Martyrs. If we look into their miracles, we see that they did the same by Christ, as Christ Himself did: if we consider their passion, we behold that they endured by mortal necessity, that which He did by voluntary death; but they by His strength,—He by His own. To distinguish by authority of correct doctrine,—there was resemblance between Him and them, not equality in the teachers.

Peter accomplished in due time that which he promised before his time. He laid down his life for Him whom he believed that he would never deny. Since in the burning impetuosity of his great love, he had not understood that the servant cannot give to his Lord that which his Lord hath not as yet given for his servant; so in like manner, he refused not, when the time came, to be crucified; but he presumed not to hang in the same position as his Lord. The One died upraised, the other placed downwards: the One thus declared His majesty ascending on high; the other thus showed his fragility that tends unto earth.

Nor in affection less, doth Paul remember what he had to say for himself: Christ is my life, and to die is my gain. Glad is he, beneath the stroke of the raging murderer, to offer unto Christ a neck tamed down to the yoke: and for the True Head of the Body, to give the mortal head of his own body. Lo! these two Soldiers of God, how they divide betwixt them the garment of the Lord’s Passion; the one on the gibbet, the other beneath the sword; Peter in transfixion, Paul in blood-shedding.

These two, therefore, differ in the manner of their death, but not in the love shown forth in dying: the Catholic Church exults in their teaching: all religion, in the celebration of their death; the Roman City, in their memory; each Christian soul, in their patronage. Now, all these things Thou, O Lord, hast operated, Thou who wast pointed out by the Prophets, art adored by the Angels, art manifested throughout the world, by the light of the Apostles. To whom, meetly, all Angels and Archangels unceasingly cry out daily, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy.

The same Mozarabic Liturgy makes use of the following Hymn on this Festival. It is attributed, not without some foundation, to Saint Ambrose, and seems to have preceded the Hymn of Elpis in Liturgical use.

HYMN

The Apostles’ Passion hath consecrated this immortal day, presenting Peter’s noble triumph and Paul’s crown.

The gore of their victorious death hath conjoined these men, peers in fame; the Faith of Christ hath crowned these jubilant followers of God.

The first, Peter the Apostle; Next, Paul his peer in grace. The Vessel of sacred Election hath equaled the Faith of Peter.

Not unmindful of the oracle, Simon, suspended, ascends along the heaven-turned footprints of the Cross, giving glory to God.

Evan as was foretold, the old man, girded by another’s hand, is upraised. Whither he would not, he has had to go; but willing now, dire death hath he subdued.

Hence Rome hath become the exalted head of religious worship, founded, as she is, in such blood as this, and by so illustrious a Prophet.

Through all the vast extend of so great a City, close packed, crowds are pressing along, by three ways, for the celebration of the holy Martyrs’ Festival.

It might be supposed that the whole world had come forth, that the people of all nations had assembled here; Lo! verily, the chosen head of the Gentiles, the seat of the Teacher of the Gentiles!

Glory be to God the Father, and to his Only Son, together with the Paraclete Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.