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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.