The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God. Let us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics, and just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith, charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death so that we may also share their crowns of glory.
St. John Damascus
17 January. | Saint Anthony |
2 February | Presentation of the Lord |
9 February | Saint Maroun |
2 March | Saint John Maroun |
19 March. | Saint Joseph |
23 March | Saint Rafka |
23 April | Saint George |
25 April | Saint Mark The Evangelist |
29 June. | Saint Peter and Paul |
10 July. | Three Massabki Brothers |
3rd Sunday of July | Saint Charbel |
6 August. | Transfiguration |
15 August. | Assumption |
14 September | Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
24 September | Saint Thekla |
26 September | Saint John the Evangelist |
1 October. | Saint Therese of The Child Jesus |
4 October. | Saint Francis of Assisi |
1 November | All Saints |
2 November | All Souls |
21 November | Presentation of Mary |
30 November | |
4 December. | Saint Barbara |
14 December | Saint Nemetalla El Hardini |
Peter:
Simon is more often called Peter, or Simon Peter. That is because
Jesus, when He first met Simon, gave him a new name. He told him: “you shall be
called Peter.”
Jesus
used the word “Cephas,” which meant “rock” in the language spoken in the Holy
Land in those time…
One day Jesus asked His disciples who people thought He was. They
said Elijah, Jeremiah or some other Prophet.
Jesus then asked them who they thought He was. Peter spoke up:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”
Jesus said to Peter: “You are Peter (which means Rock), and upon
this rock I will build My Church…
Peter, James and John went up a mountain with Jesus and saw Him
transfigured…
In Peter’s absence, Jesus was crucified, died, and was placed in a
tomb. On the third day, Mary Magdalene told Peter and John that the tomb was
empty.
The two apostles ran to the tomb. Peter went in first and looked
at the linen cloths and then at the folded scarf which had been wrapped about
Jesus’ head. Then they left for home wondering what it all meant…
Jesus appeared to Peter and the Apostles by the seashore. After
they shared a meal, He asked Peter tree times whether he loved Him.
Peter answered that he did, and each time Jesus told him to feed
His lambs and sheep. He also told him to bear his suffering with patience.
In this way Jesus made Peter the first Pope, His Vicar, and the
head of His Church…
Peter speaks about Jesus to the people… in one day about 3000
people joined the Church...
Peter Cures a man with the palsy…
Peter raises a woman called Dorcas from the dead…
The ruler put Peter and the Apostles in prison. The next morning
they sent for them but the officer could not find them.
While the apostles were in prison an angel had opened the doors by
night and brought them out. He told them to continue to teach the people…
Peter was Bishop of Antioch two years before the council of
Jerusalem which took place in the year 49. He was the Head of that first Council
of the Church… There is a story that Peter was leaving Rome when he met Jesus
coming in and he asked Him where He was going.
Jesus said: “I am going to be crucified again.”
Peter at once turned back, realizing that the cross was to be for
him too.
Peter was crucified in Rome in 66 or 67. By his own request he was
hung on the Cross with his head downward.
Paul of Tarsus became the
most bitter enemy that Christians had. He obtained letters from the high
As Saul and his group drew near to Damascus, a great light shone
around them. Saul looked up but fell to the earth blinded. He then heard a voice
saying: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. The voice answered: “I am Jesus,
Whom you are persecuting.”
Those that were with Saul saw the light, but they did not hear the
voice. Saul then spoke: “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
The voice answered: “Arise and go into the city, and there you
will be told what to do.
When Saul got up, he could not see. They led him by the hand
into Damascus. A disciple named Ananias was sent by God to Saul. He took him by
the hand and said: “Brother Saul, receive your sight. God has chosen you to be
His witness to all men.”
Saul could now see again. He arose and was baptized in the faith
of Jesus. He took the Greek Christian name of Paul.
Paul and Ananias visited the Christians in Damascus. Paul preached
to everyone that Jesus was the promised Savior and he offered proof of this from
the Scriptures.
This angered the rulers of the people, who decided to attack Paul
when he left the city. But the Christians helped Paul escape. They put him in a
basket and lowered it by means of a rope from a window above the city. So after
three years Paul left Damascus.
Paul went to Jerusalem and sought out the disciples of Jesus…
Paul wrote many letters to the Churches he had founded, explaining
about Jesus. They became parts of the New Testament. The spirit of God helped
him what to write, so his letters are God’s word.
Paul was a great here. He suffered very much for his beloved
Master. Five times he was cruelly beaten. Once he was stoned and left for dead.
Three times he was shipwrecked, and once he was in the water a whole day and a
night, kept afloat only by some piece of a ship.
But many beautiful things happened to Paul, too, which
strengthened him for his work. Jesus spoke to him right out of heaven, as Paul
was going to Damascus. Many times God spoke to him, bringing comfort and
hope.
Once in a vision Paul say the glories of heaven and heard words so
wonderful that no man could ever speak them.
We should try to imitate St. Paul in his love for Jesus and His
Church. We should pray to him for all the missionaries who are continuing his
work throughout the world.
After thirty years of untiring labor, long travels and constant
persecution, Paul, the great Apostle of Jesus Christ, finally died the death of
a martyr. He was beheaded about the year 67 in Rome.
Lord you have made this day holy by the martyrdom of Your Apostles
Peter and Paul.
Grant that your Church may follow in all things the precepts of
those from whom she first received the Faith. Amen.
From Saint Paul, and Saint Peter by father Lovasik.