On June 29th the feast of the Saints Peter and Paul. One of the main Christian holidays which embraces not only the entire community of fervent believers but also the less practicing ones. But what happened on that fateful day? Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, he was crucified in 67 AD in honor of his creed. A violent end after a life spent in full devotion to God. In our hands we have the stories of those who have witnessed, before us, faces, characters and events that are part of our history. According to the stories reported by the evangelists, Peter appears as a man with a strong and controversial character.
Saints with human features
A personality that seems to describe the classic dichotomy of man between earthly and celestial aspirations. È described as full of weaknesses and perhaps because of this perceived so human and not far from us. It was to him that Jesus he gave the role of founder of the universal Church of which he is patron, converting the name from Simon to Peter. The phrase "You are Peter and on this rock you will build my church" is famous. Furthermore, Peter is often portrayed with a bunch of keys in hand. A symbolic bunch of keys that makes us think of the metaphorical value of a God who opens the doors of salvation. It is he, addressed by the Lord, who holds the keys of heaven in his hand and lets whoever he wants in.
His tomb is located in the Vatican Basilica. The images still tell us a lot about him. In the popular imagination he appears with a thick white beard. We also celebrate him as the patron saint of butchers, fishermen, woodcutters, blacksmiths, shoemakers and bridge builders.
Peter and Paul and the celebration
Among the various rites and events organized during the Feast of St. Peter and Paul, we remember some of them. First of all, when the Pope imposes the Pallium, Namely a kind of white wool scarf intended for some bishops of the city. This rite represents the union between the Universal Church and the local one.
The feast of the Saints even when the Pope bows to kiss the foot of the bronze statue of Saint Peter, adorned with the traditional red "cope". In addition, the procession with the chain takes place at sunset on 29 June St. Paul, formed by 14 iron rings.
Paul, on the other hand, the original name of Saul, died in the same way and is now buried on the Via Ostiense. After witnessing the stoning of Santo Stefano, he had an illumination. He never knew, unlike Peter, Jesus, but was stopped by his voice. «Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?». The trembling future apostle answers: «Who are you, oh Lord? ... what do you want me to do?». From that moment on, the anger will be appeased and his word will echo everywhere, bringing peace, light and salvation. Where he cannot go in person, he arrives with his letters. Even from the gloomy Mamertine prison he launches his word in writing. He, like Peter, was entrusted with the task of announcing and spreading the Gospel in Rome and bearing witness to the word of Jesus Christ.
