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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
Lord’s words very hard, and turned their backs upon
Him and walked no more with Him, He turned to
the disciples and asked them if they would go away,
and as usual Peter responded for the rest: “Lord, to
whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life.”
Why did Christ pay the tribute money for Peter
and Himself? If He desired to identify Peter with
Himself and show him signal mark of favor then I
can understand this action. Does it mean nothing?
V. The three, Peter and James and John, were
taken by Jesus into the garden, and Peter alone drew
his sword and defended his Master. I know that Peter
on that same night was afraid to recognize that He
knew his Master; and I know also that at the look of
Christ the ashamed and repentant Apostle went out
and wept bitterly. Jesus told Peter that Satan had
desired to have the twelve, but that He, Jesus, had
prayed for Peter that his faith should not fail, and
that he being converted should confirm his brethren.
Is there no mark of honor, no privilege of special na
ture given when he was told to confirm the rest of
the Apostles in faith? Was there no special honor
in being prayed for by Christ that his faith should
not fail? (Luke XXII-32.)
VI. Peter was the first of the Apostles to see the
risen Lord. Peter, first of the Apostles on Easter
morn, entered the sepulchre. To Mary Magdalen our
Lord said: “Go tell My disciples and Peter.” What
was the reason for mentioning Peter? Was he not
one of the disciples? Was there no honor given him
here? If he was the Chief among them I can un
derstand why Christ should make special mention of
his name.
Thrice on the seashore did Christ demand of Peter
a profession of his love for Him. And thrice did
Christ give him the command as well as the power of
feeding the whole flock of Christ in the world. What
does this mean? It means just what it says. Christ
gave to Peter the commission of teaching, leading,
governing and ruling all Christians. As the shepherd
feeds and has entire charge of his flock, so Peter is
told by Christ that it is his duty to teach and govern
the flock of Christ. Was that no special honor?
VII. After the Ascension of Christ the Apostles
came back to the city and went to the Upper Room.
When they came out after the descent of the Holy
Spirit, it was Peter who first publicly proclaimed the
Christian doctrine and told that Christ was the Prom
ised One; and three thousand persons were converted
to the faith. Why did Peter speak? If he was the
head of the Apostles then I understand it. Why this
constant mention and prominence of Peter? Com
mon sense and reason answer that it was because of
the position given him by Christ our Redeemer.
It was Peter who told the rest of the disciples that
it was necessary to select a successor to Judas, the
traitor. Why was it necessary? Could not the
eleven do the work? Evidently God enlightened
Peter, for he gave a prophecy from David. At any
rate the Apostles did what Peter told them to do, and
they elected the successor, Matthias. Why did Peter
interfere unless because it was his duty as Head of
the Apostles.
Peter and John went up to the Temple to pray and
both saw the lame beggar and saw his piteous face,
but it was not John, the Beloved, but Peter, the Great
Shepherd of all Christ’s flock, who healed the man.
Is there no honor here?
Of course there was nothing out of the ordinary
in this Apostle, Peter, and he had no privileges over
the rest. Then why did God strike Ananias and
Saphira dead for lying to Him? If he was the Rep
resentative of Christ, the Guide, Ruler and Teacher
of all who would follow Christ, I can understand it.
St. Paul, who was so miraculously converted to the
Church, tells us he went up to see Peter and spent
a fortnight with him. Considering the mission of
Paul, who labored in season and out of season for
Christ and never spared himself, it could hardly have
been a visit paid for recreation or purely a friendly
call. But if Paul knew that Peter was the Universal
Shepherd of the Flock of Christ, I can see why he
deemed it necessary to “see Peter.” I might add here
that his illustrious example has been followed down
to this day; for at regular and stated times every
Bishop in the world goes to Rome to “see Peter.” I
set out to show that on the authority of the inspired
Word of God Peter, the Apostle, received from Christ
certain definite honors and privileges not given to the
others. I really think that 1 have brought super
abundant evidence of my statement.
+ B. J. K.
POPE BENEDICT DECORATES ADMIRAL
BENSON.
Pope Benedict has conferred upon Admiral William
S. Benson, chief of naval operations of the United
States, the grand cross of St. Gregory The Great, mili
tary class. The decoration of the order will be sent
to Admiral Benson through Cardinal Gibbons, arch
bishop of Baltimore.
BISHOP KEILEY INDORSES JEWISH WAR
RELIEF CAMPAIGN.
(From Savannah Morning News, February 23, 1920.)
The joint pastoral letter from the American arch
bishops and bishops, read in the Roman Catholic
Churches of the United States yesterday was presented
at all the Catholic Churches of Savannah.
The letter carried the signature of Cardinal Gib
bons, who is the only one of the seventy-six bishops
signing the pastoral letter in 1885 who is living. Car
dinal Gibbons signed the letter in his home in Balti
more. In addition to reading the pastoral letter, a
letter was read by Rt. Rev. Benjamin J. Keiley, bishop
of the Diocese of Savannah, indorsing the Jewish war
relief campaign and urging liberal subscriptions to
the fund.