THE MEDITATION June 29 th, A.D THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL The Second After Trinity Sunday

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2014 THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL The Second After Trinity Sunday Saints Peter and Paul by el Greco (1605-1608) The

saints, takes precedence over the normally-appointed Second Sunday After Trinity Sunday.

1 THE MEDITATION June 29 th, A.D THE FEAST OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL The Second After Trinity Sunday Saints Peter and Paul by el Greco ( ) The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul falls this year on Sunday, June 29 t This feast of these two great, first century Christian saints, takes precedence over the normally-appointed Second Sunday After Trinity Sunday. Our Meditation will be in two parts this week. One for St. Peter, and the other for St. Paul. You may want to read one meditation today, and the second later in the week. This feast should not be confused with the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul which is on January 25 th. The feast we honor in this Meditation commemorates the heroic martyrdom of these two saints. - Fr. k.l.l. +

St. PETER: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew; Chapter 16, Verses 13-19 2. The Crucifixion of St.

2 St. PETER: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew; Chapter 16, Verses The Crucifixion of St. Peter by Michelangelo Caravaggio Cherasi Chapel, Rome, Italy 1601 Gospel Summary : Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We may wonder sometimes, if our Blessed Lord doesn't get rather tired of the way that we sophisticated, modern Christians smile at the naivete and the human-ness of His first successor, Peter. We may be certain that Jesus could see that Peter was rather impulsive; often braver in word than in action, and overly aware of those qualities he thinks should go with a leader but Peter is solid. He comes through in the end ( with Christ's help of course!). Peter justifies the faith which Jesus had in him and that is all that matters. Jesus, indeed, loved Peter and knew Peter through and through. The thing that we may want to admire is the way in which Jesus handles Peter, and brings him along. He never gives up on Peter. There's something of what we call the man to man approach in Jesus' attitude toward Peter. Jesus respects him as a man. To be a man is also to be capable of mistakes. Jesus did not take that capacity away from Peter, for He sees that it isn't the freedom from errors that makes a good superior, but rather good judgment, love, and humility. Jesus trains Peter, and his companions, in these qualities ( especially in love and humility) Himself. Peter learns by observing our Lord. He learns very much from his mistakes and falls. What man doesn't? Peter is the kind of man Jesus wants for his first pope and as the Son of God, Jesus gets what He wants.

3 3. We can especially like Peter's way of looking at and talking to Jesus. Peter is to the point. He doesn't mess around and in St. John's Gospel; ( Chap. 21, verses ) Jesus asks Peter three times: Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Jesus is not trying to rub it in or be condescending, He still respects Peter. He asks Peter three times because He knows he wants it that way, so that he can put his heart into his final statement: Lord, thou knowest all things, Thou knowest that I love thee. UPON THIS ROCK Let's get to the appointed Gospel. Jesus asks; Whom do men say that I, the Son of Man am? This is a rather impersonal question, and Jesus receives an impersonal answer: Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, and others Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets - ( Matt. Ch. 16, Vs ). This isn't the answer Jesus wants. Then Jesus says: But who do you say that I am? Peter, true to his style, answers immediately and for all of them: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Peter has made Jesus happy with this response which amounts to a profession of faith, and Jesus admits it: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar- Jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee : Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Peter's faith and love win that promise and tribute from Jesus. Peter is the only one ever to be so addressed by Christ. Who do men say that I am... Who do you say that I am? Jesus continues to ask us those same questions today. There are a variety of answers that we as humans can give... but there is only one answer that Christ wants to hear from us; and we wouldn't have it were it not for blessed, good, and honest Peter: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God! Wonderful! Peter's statement justifies Christ's choice of him to continue Jesus' work of Love in the world. Blessed Lord Jesus, if we make Peter's tributes to You our own, will You also support us in all our efforts to continue Your and his work of the Church in the world today? PRAYER OF THE DAY: Thou knowest that I love thee... Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God! Thou art Peter

St. PAUL: The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew; Chapter 10, verses 16 22. 4. The Martyrdom of St.

4 St. PAUL: The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew; Chapter 10, verses The Martyrdom of St. Paul from a Medieval Church window GOSPEL SUMMARY: Jesus prepares His disciples for the apostolate by promising that they will be persecuted, delivered up and killed for His name's sake. PAUL, THE GENTILE'S APOSTLE It should come as no surprise to us, that St. Paul could be considered one of the most excellent creations from God's divine grace. Few humans have ever cooperated with the Grace of God as St. Paul did, and few have ever allowed themselves to be so dominated by Christ and still remained themselves. St. Paul states it so well: He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship, the same was also mighty in me toward the Gentiles ; and they perceived the grace that is given unto me. The grace of God which was bestowed upon me was not in vain ; but His grace ever abideth in me. - ( I Cor. Ch. 15 Gradual Prayer for the day.). Paul is not there the day Jesus tells His other Apostles that He will send them forth like sheep in the midst of wolves, that they will be scourged, persecuted, and delivered up to death for His Name's sake. Paul is not there, because he is still the enemy of Christ... he still has to be knocked off his horse by Christ's strong grace and experience the conversion of his life. Jesus will take care of Paul's formation later on, after his conversion, when for three years in the Arabian Desert Christ teaches him even as He instructed the other Apostles. Paul then can truthfully say: I certify to you that the Gospel which was preached of me is not after man; for I neither received

5 it after man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ ( Gal. Ch..I, vs 11 & 12.). 5. St. Paul doesn't hear Jesus' prediction about the perils of being an apostle. He finds out with firsthand knowledge about those perils: persecution, disillusionment and betrayal from his own converts, shipwreck, scourging, imprisonment, and finally death. Never once does he weaken or waver in his vocation of bringing Christ to the Gentiles: I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day, a just Judge. ( Introit Prayer; 2 Timothy, Ch. 1). FRUITFUL GRACE I know whom I have believed... St. Paul is speaking about Jesus Christ. He knew Christ became personal and real to Paul at all times. There was an interchange of friendship and love between Christ and Paul an interchange that was maintained by Paul's thinking about Jesus and speaking to Jesus and that is manifested by his writing about Jesus and his self-immersion fully for Jesus. St. Paul can't keep Jesus Christ to himself! Jesus is too good, true, beautiful, wonderful, and glorious and that is why Paul is the apostle that he is. For us to live is Christ... to die in Him is gain says St. Paul. Love compels him to want to share Christ with others so that Christ will be loved more and more! What a conversion Paul must have experienced, for he is not content to share Jesus with just his own people, the Jews, but he gives his whole being in offering Christ to the whole Roman Empire! It is a good bet he may have succeeded, had martyrdom not gotten in the way. That's love on the grandest of scales! Blessed Lord Jesus, You did it for St. Paul. We are almost afraid to ask You to do it for us. Mostly, because we aren't sure that we could take it as St. Paul did. However, what would St. Paul say to that? Wait! We can hear him now: By God's grace, I am what I am. We close with a final word to St. Paul and to You, Lord; Holy Apostle Paul, preacher of truth, and Doctor of the Gentiles, intercede for us! Lord Jesus, whatever You want... well, that's all right with us. How beautiful a thing it is to accept and live in Christ! Yet, how dangerous a thing it is to share Christ to the world. The early Apostles lived and died for Christ. Christians still die for the faith in many places today. Western society views Christianity in a completely different light than it did 50 or 70 years ago. Christians today are mocked and ridiculed for their beliefs, even in lands of so-called religious freedom and tolerance The question begs: How far are we willing to live for Christ? Are we willing to give all... as did Peter and Paul? PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Christ's Whole life was a Cross and a Martyrdom : and doest thou seek rest and joy for thyself? - Thomas A Kempis

6 6. Saints Peter and Paul Two giants of the Holy Catholic Church FEASTS, FASTS, and OTHER THINGS Br. Chip gets this week off! - Fr. Kevin +

7 7. The Meditation is produced by the Benedictine Community of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Priory 4 Shaw Road Raymond, Maine This is a free on-line ministry of our community to anyone who wishes to receive it. Please feel free to copy and pass on this meditation to anyone you feel might benefit from it. To be placed on our weekly mailing list, please contact Father Prior Kevin at : klamarre@ourladyofsevensorrows.org Visit our Website for previous editions of The Meditation at: SUNDAY Public MASS with the Office of TERCE: 9:00 a.m. (The Chapel is located on the second floor of the garage building. Please enter by left side door and go up the stairs. Please keep silence upon entering the building. ) Also, Please Note: There are no Public Rest Room facilities at the Priory, please plan accordingly. PRIORY KALENDAR A.D Week of June 29 th to July 6 th Sunday, June 29 th.. Sts. Peter & Paul, Apostles & Myr. -( 1 st cent.) -Comm. Second Sunday After Trinity Monday, June 30 th...comm. Bl. Arnulph: laybrother, O.C.O. ( 13 th cent. France) - lived in penance for others. Tuesday, July 1 st..the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wednesday July 2 nd... The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thursday, July 3 rd.. comm. St. Odo the Good, O.S.B. - Abp. Canterbury, England d Friday, July INDEPENDENCE DAY safe traveling & be careful out there! Saturday, July 5 th... St. Vladimir of Russia, K. & C. - ( 10 th cent.) Sunday, July 6 th... The Third Sunday After Trinity Oct. Day of Sts. Peter & Paul KALENDAR KEY: Ab. = Abbot, Abs. = Abbess, Ap = Apostle, Bp. = Bishop, C. or Conf. = Confessor, Comm. = Commemorate. Dcn. = Deacon, Doct. = Doctor of the Church, Ev. = Evangelist, K = King, M. = Monk, Myr. = Martyr, N. = Nun, P= Priest Po. = Pope, Q. = Queen, Vir. = Virgin, O.S.B. = Order of St. Benedict. O.C.O. = Order of the Cistercian Observance (Trappists), A = Abstinence, F = Fast, F & A = Fast and Abstinence NOTES

If you or someone that you know would like to help, simply mark your check for the animals.

8 8. JULY 2 nd The VISITATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Blessed art thou, among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. We are always looking for benefactors to help financially with the animals. If you or someone that you know would like to help, simply mark your check for the animals. It will be gratefully received and deeply appreciated. Oliver and Sage out on a romp Please consider including our Animal Outreach and Rescue in your Estate Planning. Contact Sr. Mary Francis, O.S.B. For details. Thank you

9 9. Miss Kitty R.I.P. - June 23 rd, 2014 Miss Kitty came to us 9 years ago through the public works director of our town. She had been a stray around his house for quite some time and appeared to be an old cat then. She was a petite Maine Coon Cat which automatically screamed PERSONALITY!!!!! and like her namesake from the old Westerns ( T.V.'s GUNSMOKE ), she was beautiful and tough and held her own in a house full of dogs. She was loyal to a fault, always under foot or in your lap and loved to be rocked, purring and patting your face with her paw. She was loved in life and lovingly buried in our animal cemetery, wrapped in her favorite blanket and resting on a bed of palms. We thank those of you who, through your kind donations, helped make Miss Kitty's life long and meaningful. All things come of Thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given Thee. Due to the very long Maine winter, our funds are very low, your help, in any amount, is greatly appreciated Give us the tools, and we'll do the job! - Winston Churchill P A X

THE MEDITATION December 7 th, A.D The Second Sunday In Advent

THE MEDITATION December 7 th, A.D The Second Sunday In Advent Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is: and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. - Jeremiah; Chap. 6, Vs. 16 THE MEDITATION December