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THE BULLETIN OF THE CATHOLIC LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF GEORGIA
3
THE PRIMACY OF PETER.
(The Second Article on the
One may speak of a Primacy of position or
Primacy of jurisdiction. In speaking of the Primacy
of Peter I intend the latter. We believe that Christ
our Lord gave to Peter a Primacy of jurisdiction
in His Church, so that this one of His Apostles, Peter,
had full and complete jurisdiction over the whole
Church of Christ.
Reading the Gospel of St. John (Chapter 1st) we
find that when Andrew brought his brother Simon to
Christ, our Lord said to him: “Thou art Simon, the
son of Jona, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is
interpreted Peter.’’ St. Mark says (Chapter III-16):
“He gave to Simon the name of Peter.’’ And St.
Matthew (Chapter XVI-16) tells: Christ says to
him: “Thou art Peter.’’ The name given by Christ
signifies a Rock, and this title was one applied by
the Holy Spirit to Christ Himself. Does not this
show a peculiar identification of Peter with Christ?
We read in the Book of Isaiah (XXVIII-16): “Thus
saith the Lord God, behold I will lay a stone in the
foundation of Sion, a tried stone, a cornerstone, a
precious stone, a precious stone founded in the
foundation. In the Psalms (CXVII-22) we read:
“The stone which the builders rejected the same has
become the head of the corner.’’
In St. Matthew (XVI-42) we find: “Jesus saith
to them: “Have you not read in the Scriptures, the
stone which the builders rejected the same has be
come the head of the corner; by the Lord hath this
been done and it is wonderful in our eyes.’’ In the
Acts (IV-11) St. Luke writes that when Peter was
brought before the priests and ancients and scribes
accused of preaching Christ, being filled with the
Holy Spirit he said: “This is the stone rejected by
the builders which has become the head of the cor
ner.” And St. Peter (I-II-6) writes: “Wherefore,
it is said in the Scriptures: Behold I lay in Sion a
chief cornerstone, elect and precious; and he that
believeth in Him shall not be confounded.”
These references to the cornerstone are manifestly
applied to Christ, and hence in giving to Simon the
name, Peter, a Rock, there is clear evidence of the
intent of Christ to show the close relation of Peter
to Himself as well as the position of Peter in the
Church.
The Holy Scriptures afford us other instances
where God was pleased to change the name of His
servants. In Genesis (XVII-5) we read that God
said to His servant: “Neither shalt thy name be
called any more Abram, but Abraham, because I
have made thee a father of many nations.” And in
Genesis (V-15) God spake to Abraham: “Sarai, thy
wife, thou shalt not call Sarai, but Sara; for I will
bless her and I will give thee of her a son whom I
will bless and he shall become a nation.” In Genesis
(XXLL-28) we find these words: “Thy name shall
not be Jacob, but Israel, for if thou hast been strong
against God how much more wilt thou prevail against
Papacy, by Rt. Rev. B. J. Keiley, D.D.)
men.” And in I Paral. (XXII-9) we find God say
ing: “The son that shall be born to thee shall be
called Peaceful (Solomon) ; and I will give peace to
Israel and quiet all his days.
In each of these instances God gave a change of
name and the new name given signified the special
task assigned. God changed the name of Simon
Peter, which signified a Rock, because He wished
Peter to be the firm foundation on which His Church
was to be built.
To Save All.
This Primacy or headship was for the universal
Church. Christ came into the world to save all; and
for this purpose He instituted the Church which was
to last until the end of the world, for the teachers
in the Church received a commission from Him and
a promise of His abiding presence to the end of the
world; the foundation of this Church was Peter:
“Upon this Rock I will build My Church, against
which the gates of hell shall not prevail. Hence by
these words of Christ Peter was made the founda
tion stone of Christ’s Church on earth. This Pri
macy of honor and jurisdiction was to Peter singly.
To all the Disciples Christ spoke: “Whom do you
say that I am?” One answered and said: “Thou
art Christ, the Son of the living God;” to that one
Christ said: “Thou art Peter and upon this Rock,”
etc. Recall the example already quoted from Gene
sis: “Thou shalt no longer be called Abram, but
Abraham.” And He gives the reason: “Because
thou shalt be the father of many nations.” And to
Peter on seeing Him first, Christ said: “Thou shalt
be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.” Why
the change? Because thou art the Rock on which I
will build My Church. Peter signifying a Rock. As
the Eternal Father has revealed to thee My Divinity,
so now I reveal to thee thy Primacy in My Chufch.
And Gregory the Great, who died in 604, says:
“Who does not know that the Church is established
on the firm foundation of the Prince of the Apos
tles.” The words of Christ to Peter: “To thee I
will give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven” add
confirmation to Peter’s supremacy. It is well known
that the phrase “giving the keys” means the transfer
of authority; in the olden times the surrender of a
city to a conqueror was done by giving to him the
keys. In Isaiah (XXII) we read these words: “I
will lay the key of the house of David upon his
shoulders, and he shall open and none shall shut,
and shall shut and none shall open.” Giving the
keys then means the giving of supreme jurisdiction
and power. The keys spoken of here are the “keys
of the Kingdom of Heaven,” and in this Kingdom
are embraced all the flock of Christ all over the
world. The keys were given by Christ to the same
person to whom He had said: “Upon this Rock I will
build My Church.” Mark the circumstances sur
rounding; Christ publicly declared that His Eternal