Perhaps it is the long-lasting effects of spending my early years in a parish whose feast of title on this day was St Peter, and St Peter alone, that I’ve always believed that St Paul should be content with his own day on 25 January (The Conversion) - and not try turning up to someone else’s party. Of course, as Fr James mentioned this morning, there is something glorious - and of the gospel - in the bringing together of these twin princes and, as Pope Benedict reminds us:

 

The Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is ... first and foremost a feast of catholicity. Catholicity does not only express a horizontal dimension, the gathering of many people in unity, but also a vertical dimension: it is only by raising our eyes to God, by opening ourselves to him, that we can truly become one.

 

So there is no better way of celebrating this horizontal and vertical unity (at least in a musical sense) than by listening to the beautiful Office Hymn for today, Aurea Luce, Click here to listen. 
 

As old habits die hard, I still think foremost on this great day of the story of Blessed Peter fleeing the terrifying persecution meted out by Nero and, on the Via Appia (just outside Rome), coming face-to-face with the resurrected Jesus heading in the opposite direction. From this encounter come those words of the astonished apostle ‘Domine quo vadis?’ (Lord, where are you going?), to which the reply comes ‘I go to Rome to be crucified anew’. Of course, as we know, Peter turns around, returns to to city of persecution, and is crucified in near-like manner to his blessed Lord and Saviour. As Catholic Christians, there is much to be reminded of in this beautiful feast. First, that our whole life should be a sum of these turnings-around - back to the places where our witness and discipleship is needed and necessary. Second, that Christ meets us often (paradoxically) at the very point where, though the blindness of sin, we have turned away from him. Third, that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church and that, through their witness, Christ’s words continue to reverberate throughout time and space. Here are those very words, in Palestrina’s glorious setting, Click here to listen.

 

Tu es petrus, et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam; et portae inferi non prevalebunt adversus eam; et tibi dabo claves regni coelorum.

 

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven

 

Last, a glorious hymn: The Church’s one foundation, Click here to listen.