Newspaper Page Text
2
THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
CHRIST AND PETER
The chief object of the institution of the Laymen’s
Association was to remove the widespread prejudice
against the Catholic Church in this state, for we were
convinced that this was mainly, if not entirely, due
to ignorance of our doctrines and practices. I may
add that our convictions on this point have been
largely justified by the results obtained.
It has been thought well to publish in The Bulletin
from time to time for the benefit of Catholics a short
statement of the teaching of the Church on some
articles of the Faith, with the arguments from Scrip
ture, reason or tradition for them.
And as there seems to be a very serious misunder
standing among Protestants about our belief on the
subject of the Pope, it seems well to commence with
that article of our belief. In this article we will begin
with the statement which is the foundation of our
teaching in this matter: Christ our Lord and Re
deemer conferred certain privileges and honors on
Peter, which were not given to any of the rest of the
Apostles.
In this article we will use only the testimony of
the Bible. I will give the texts from the Holy Scrip
ture and afterwards direct attention to the plain and
obvious meaning which must be attached to them.
I. When Matthew, Mark and Luke name the Apos
tles of Christ, they invariably put the name of Peter
first. (Matt. X.; Mark III; Luke VI., Acts of the Apos
tles I.)
} II. In the calling of the Apostles we are told by
St. John that when Andrew brought his brother to
Christ, He looked on him and said: “Thou art Simon
the Son of Jona, thou shalt be called Cephas, which
is interpreted Peter.” St. Luke (Chapter V.) tells
that when on the lake shore the crowds pressed upon
Jesus He saw two boats on the lake from which
the fishermen had gone out, and He entered the boat
of Peter and from it taught the multitude; and when
He had finished He bade Peter go out further in the
lake and let down his net, which, when he had done
his net enclosed a great draught of fishes. When
Peter fell at the feet of Jesus professing his unworth
iness, Jesus said to Peter, “Fear not, for henceforth
thou shalt catch men.”
III. St. Matthew (Chapter XVI.), tells that when
Jesus asked the Apostles whom they thought Him
to be, Simon Peter answered, saying: “Thou art the
Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus an
swered him, saying: “Blessed art thou, Simon, Son
of Jona, because flesh and blood have not revealed
this to thee, but My Father, who is in Heaven; and
1 say to thee: “That thou art Peter and upon this rock
I will build my Church, and the Gates of hell shall
not prevail against it. And to thee I will give the
keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatsoever thou
shalt bind on earth it shall be bound in Heaven; and
whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth it shall also be
loosed in Heaven.”
IV. St. Mark tells us that Jesus admitted not any
man to follow Him (when going to the house of
Jairus to raise his daughter to life) but Peter, James
and John.
St. Matthew (Chapter XIV.) says that when the
disciples were in the boat on the lake and a great
storm arose Jesus came walking on the waters, and
they were afraid. Jesus bade Peter come to Him on
the waves.
St. John (Chapter VI.) says that when many of
the Jews were scandalized at the declarations of Jesus
and turned away from Him and walked no more with
Him, He said to His disciples: “Will you also go
away? ’ Peter answering, said: “Lord to whom shall
we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life.”
When Christ went up into the mountain to be
transfigured, He took with Him Peter and James and
John. (Matthew XVII.)
> The same evangelist says that when the collector
of the Temple tax wished to know if the Master paid
the tax, he went to Peter and asked him, and Peter
asked our Lord, Who bade him go to the sea and
cast in his hook and the first fish which he should
catch would have in its mouth the amount of the tax,
and Peter was told to go and pay for Jesus and him
self.
V. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus took with
Him Peter and James and John. It is true that that
same night Peter, who had followed Christ when the
others fled, was afraid and denied that he knew
Christ. But the Holy Spirit says that when Jesus
looked on him, Peter went out and wept bitterly. It
should not be forgotten that in the garden when Judas
and the soldiers came to seize our Lord, it was Peter
who went to His defense and struck with his sword
the servant of the High Priest.
4 VI. To Simon Peter first of the Apostles did Jesus
appear after He had risen from the dead. Peter and
John went to the tomb on Easter morn and John ar
rived there first, but he waited until Peter arrived and
suffered him to enter the sepulchre. When Christ
appeared to Mary Magdalen in the garden He told
her to go and “tell His disciples and Peter” that he
had risen from the dead. St. John says that when
after His resurrection while the disciples were on the
seashore with Him, He asked Simon Peter: “Simon
Son of John lovest thou Me more than these?” And
he saith to Him: “Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I
love Thee.” He saith to him: “Feed My lambs.”
He saith to him again: “Simon Son of John lovest
thou Me? He saith to Him: “Yea, Lord, Thou
knowest that I love Thee.” He saith to him: “Feed
My lambs.” He saith to him the third time: “Simon
Son of John lovest thou Me?” Peter was grieved, be
cause He said to him the third time, “lovest thou Me?”
And he said to Him: “Lord, Thou knowest all things,
Thou knowest that I love Thee.” He said to him:
“Feed My sheep.” (John XXI.)
VII. After the Ascension when they returned
from Olivet and went up to the Upper Chamber, the
Holy Spirit as usual mentions the name of Peter first.