On this day, the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church looks back to her origin, history and celebrates solemnly the memory of the two most important men: Saint / Apostle Peter and Apostle / Saint Paul were referred to as "the two pillars of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church", burning for Christ Jesus, illuminating the way to Heaven. That is, determined and embossed in her life who molded her in the early stages, leaving an indelible mark on her very foundation and character. 

Saint/Apostle Peter - "Simon, son of Jonah" - Peter's profession of faith; his pre-eminence - When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi Jesus put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets'. ( Jesus claimed the title 'prophet' for himself only indirectly and obscurely, Matthew 16:14p; 21:11, 46; Mark 6:15p; Luke 7:16, 39; 24:19; John 4:19; 9:17. The title had messianic significance because the Jews confidently expected a revival of the spirit of  prophecy (extinct since Malachi) as a sign of messianic era. It was to revive either in person of Elijah. Matthew 17:10-11p, or in the form of a general outpouring of the Spirit, Acts 2:17-18, 33. ) 

Many (false) prophets did actually arise in Christ's time, ( Matthew 24:11, 24p. etc. John the Baptist was himself a prophet, Matthew 11:9p; 14:5; 21:26p; Luke 1:76, precisely because he was the Precursor who had come 'in the spirit of Elijah', Matthew 11:10p, 14; 17:12p. Nevertheless he denied (John 1:21+) that he was 'the prophet' foretold by Moses, Deuteronomy 18:15. This prophet, the early Christians believed, was Jesus and no other, Acts 3:22-26; John 6:4; 7:40. From Pentecost onwards, however, prophecy became a familiar charismatic phenomenon in the early Church, Acts 11:27+; for this reason the title prophet as applied to Christ soon dropped out and was replaced by others more suited to his unique function and person. ) 'But you,' Jesus said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' Peter said 'the Son of the living God'. ( In the Gospel of Matthew, Peter acknowledges not only that Jesus is the Messiah but also that Jesus is Son of God; this second title is not found in the Gospel of Mark and Luke. Cf. also 14:33 with Mark 6:51f. Cf. Matthew 4:3+ ) 

Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood ( The expression indicates man, emphasising his material, limited nature as opposed to that of the spirit world. Sirach 14:18; Romans 7:5+; 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 1:16; Ephesians 6:12; Hebrews 2:14; cf. John 1:13 ) that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter ( Neither the Greek word petros nor even, as it seems, its Aramaic equivalent kepha ('rock') was used as a person's name before Jesus conferred it on the apostles' leader to symbolise the part he was to play in the foundation of the Church. This change of name had possibly been made earlier, cf. John 1:42; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14 ) and on this rock I will build my Church. ( The Hebr. qahal which the Greek renders ekklesia means 'an assembly called together'; it is used frequently in the O.T. to indicate the community of the desert period, cf. Acts 7:38. Certain Jewish groups (among themselves as the chosen remnant of Israel (Isaiah 4:3+) which was to survive in 'the latter days'. These had also used the term that Jesus now adopts to indicate the messianic community, the community of the 'new alliance' sealed with his blood, Matthew 26:28+; Ephesians 5:25. By using the term 'assembly' side by side with that of 'kingdom of heaven', Matthew 4:17+, Jesus shows that this eschatological community (community of the 'end times') is to have its beginnings here on earth in the form of an organised society whose leader he now appoints. Cf. Acts 5:11+; 1 Corinthians 1:2+ ) And the gates of the underworld ( Greek: Hades; Hebrews: Sheol, the dwelling place of the dead, (cf. Numbers 16:33+). Here, its personified 'gates' suggest the powers of evil which first lead man into that dead which is sin and then imprison him once for all in eternal death. The Church's task will be to rescue the elect from death's dominion, from the death of the body and above all from eternal death, so that it may lead them into the kingdom of heaven, cf. Colossians 1:13; 1 Corinthians 15:26; Revelation 6:8; 20:13. In this the Church follows its Master who died, descended into the underworld, cf. 1 Peter 3:19+, and rose again, Acts 2:27, 31. ) can never hold out against it. 

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.' ( The City of God, like the City of Death, has its gates too; they grant entrance only to those who are worthy of it. Peter has the keys. It is his function, therefore, to open or close to all who would come to the kingdom of heaven through the Church. 'Bind' and 'Loose' are technical rabbinic terms; primarily they have a disciplinary reference; one is 'bound' (condemned to) or 'loosed' (absolved from) excommunication. Their secondary usage is connected with doctrinal or juridical decisions: an opinion is 'bound' (forbidden) or 'loosed' (allowed). Of the household of God Peter is controller (the keys symbolise this, cf. Isaiah 22:22). In that capacity he is to exercise the disciplinary power of admitting or excluding those he thinks fit; he will also, in his administration of the community, make necessary decisions in questions of doctrinal belief and of moral conduct. The verdicts he delivers and the pronouncements he make will be ratified by God in heaven. Catholic exegetes maintain that these enduring promises hold good not only for Peter himself but also for Peter's successors. This inference, not explicitly drawn in the text, is considered legitimate because Jesus plainly intends to provide for his Church's future by establishing a regime that will not collapse with Peter's death. Two other texts, Luke 22:31f and John 21:15f, on Peter's primacy emphasise that its operation is to be in the domain of faith; they also indicate that this makes him head not only of the Church after the death of Christ but of the apostolic group then and there. )  Then Jesus gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that (Jesus) he was the Christ. ( Vulg. 'Jesus Christ'. ) - Matthew 16:13-20 - 

Saint/Apostle Paul - Both Saint Peter and Saint Paul were men of action, the work, the teaching and the proclamation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as well as complementing that of the other, together with all the martyrs and genuine ardent lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Before God and before Christ Jesus who is to be judge of the living and the dead, I put this duty to you, in the name of his Appearing and of his kingdom: proclaim the message and welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience - but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching. The time is sure to come when, far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their own tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. Be careful always to choose the right course; be brave under trails; make the preaching of the Good News your life's work, in thoroughgoing service." - 2 Timothy 4:1-5 - 

"As for me, my life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; and I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day: and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing." - 2 Timothy 4:6-8 -

Saint/Apostle Peter and Saint/Apostle Paul - They both earned that "crown of righteousness" around the same time (c.67) during the reign of Emperor Nero who was all out to decimate the Christian community. 

Saint/Apostle Peter was crucified, as foretold by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, on Vatican Hill (where today stands Saint Peter's Basilica), but upside down in deference to his feelings of unworthiness at dying in the position in which the Lord Jesus Christ had been crucified. 

Saint/Apostle Paul, a Roman citizen, was beheaded on the Ostian way at Tre Fontane, where now stands the magnificent Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls.

On 29 June (c.268). The bodies of the two martyrs were brought together at Saint Sebastian's catacomb and henceforth their feast day, ranked among the 12 most important liturgical celebrations of the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church. Hence, Saint/Apostle Peter and Saint/Apostle Paul 'feast day' has been jointly celebrated on 29th June. 'A day dedicated to a particular 'Saint.' 

Prayer and farewell wishes

May the Lord of peace himself give you peace all the time and in every way. The Lord be with you all. From me, PAUL, these greetings in my own handwriting. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18 -

Personal news and final salutation -

May God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ grant peace, love and faith to all the brothers and sisters. May grace and eternal life be with you all who love our Lord Jesus Christ. - Ephesians 6:22-24 -

Final warning and conclusion - My dear Timothy, take care of all that has been entrusted to you. Have nothing to do with the pointless philosophical discussions and antagonistic beliefs of the 'knowledge' which is not knowledge at all; by adopting this, some have gone right away from the faith. Grace be with you. - 1 Timothy 6:20-21 -

-     WELCOME TO SACRED SCRIPTURE / WORD OF GOD / HOLY BIBLE READER'S COMMUNITY     - 

Wishing you, 'Happy Reading', and may God, the Father, the Son of the living God, Jesus Christ, fills your heart, mind, thoughts, and grants you: The Holy Spirit, that is, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude, Fear of the Lord, and also His fruits of the Holy Spirit, that is, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Trustfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control. Amen! God blessing be upon you!

Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord" and not do what I say?' "Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and acts on them - I will show you what he/she is like. He/She is like a man/woman who when he/she built his/her house dug, deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man/woman who built his/her house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!" - Luke 6:46-49 - 

If we live by the truth and in love, we shall grow in all ways into Christ Jesus, who is the head by whom the whole body is fitted and joined together, every joint adding its own strength, for each separate part to work according to it function. So the body grows until it has built itself up, in love." - Ephesians 4:15-16 - 

I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the spirit of truth comes, he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself, but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He/She will glorify me, since all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he/she tells you will be taken from what is mine." - John 16:12-15 -