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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