SOLEMNITY STS. PETER AND PAUL, APOSTLES - 2025

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.

And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. MT 16:18

ACTS 12:1-11

My Soul's Beloved,

When we seek to please people rather than You because of hidden wounds in us that we desire to heal without You, our feet are on a slippery slope that leads only to the darkest pit of hell. King Herod's evil action brought him the praise of the enemies of Truth, certain members of the Jewish community who successfully committed Deicide. Now, having discovered that the beheading of James, the brother of John and the first of the apostles to be martyred, pleased them, he decided to continue to seek out and do the same with Peter, the Head of the Apostles as well. He, as well as those he sought to please, soon discovered that You alone decide whether or not we will be given into the hands of the Enemy and to draw a greater victory and a greater good from any evil the Enemy has planned to do.  

In a spectacular miracle of deliverance from prison, Peter, who was arrested, was fastened with double chains between two guards, had four squads of four soldiers each to keep guard in turns, and even more were stationed at the main entrance to the prison, God with His mighty hand and holy arm sent an angel to unloose his chains, open the prison doors and gate, and accompany him out of the prison without a hair of his head being harmed. Such is our God in whom we can place all our faith, hope, and trust, in perfect confidence that He can and will deliver us from every situation we deem hopeless and impossible.

The angel instructed Peter to put on his belt (the belt of truth) and his sandals (fitted with readiness which comes from the gospel of peace) and to wrap his cloak (which is the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one ) around him. Nothing was done in haste but calmly, for when God commands His angels to watch over and protect us, we need never be afraid. 

We thank You for the Church whose prayers rise up from all over the world in hymns of praise, thanksgiving and prayers of deliverance as we offer the one, holy, and perfect praise in the Sacrifice of the Holy Mass from the rising of the sun to its setting which guarantees the world the peace which You came into the world to give. The prayers of the Church saved Peter, and the prayers of the Church continue to protect and keep safe his successor and every member of Your Body.

Grant us the grace, O Lord, to be unafraid in carrying out the mission entrusted us, which is to make You known and loved by the witness of our daily lives.

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’

PSALM 33(34):2-9

The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.

The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.
I will bless the Lord at all times,
his praise always on my lips;
in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.
The humble shall hear and be glad.

Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.

Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This poor man called, the Lord heard him
and rescued him from all his distress.

The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who revere him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

The angel of the Lord rescues those who revere him.

2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8,17-18

My Soul's Beloved,

Some souls are created and empowered for a divine purpose, to carry out a great mission, to reflect You in Your humanity, as closely and as nearly as is possible for a mortal. It is not given to all to be an Apostle like Peter and Paul, not all are given the grace to be a martyr, and to shed our blood in martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel; it is not given to all to be a martyr, or a Doctor of the Church, or a great theologian, or like the great Saints who embellish the great Hall of Saints in the Catholic Church. But this does not excuse us from fulfilling our mission, for we are all called to be saints. We become saints by cooperating with the graces given to us in abundance each day and striving heroically, moment by moment, to conquer our weaknesses. 

To seek Your will in all things, live out our vocation faithfully, and live in Your Presence. Aware of Your Holy Presence, we must seek to do all things, accept all things, and suffer all things for love of You. We are called to be saints, every one of us, but we do not wish to be one. We prefer to be slaves of the world and the flesh, and become easy prey for the Enemy. If only we understood our great calling and the ultimate destiny of our lives, we would strive relentlessly to please You in all things and be prepared to endure all for love of You, just as the great St. Paul did.

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.
The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

MATTHEW 16:13-19

My Soul's Beloved,

We all agree that the Gospels are the inspired word of God, whose divine Author is the Holy Spirit. Millions of Christians have decided to interpret God's Word apart from the inspiration and understanding of divine and eternal truths that the Divine Author has entrusted to the Church, You instituted and whose keys You have entrusted for safekeeping to Peter alone. He and his successors alone are given the power to bind and to lose - this power is given to no other. Men and women who broke away from Holy Mother Church to found their own little churches based on false interpretations of Truth, going so far as to deny certain doctrines, and doing so with hubris, pride, and a desire to cling to their personal sins and hide their spiritual wounds by claiming a power they do not possess. They are false teachers and blind guides who lead millions to perdition.

Through no merit of our own, Beloved, You chose us to be members of the Catholic Church. Grace alone has given us this wondrous gift. So many Catholics have apostacized, there are millions of fallen away Catholics, lukewarm Catholics, indifferent Catholics, Catholics who hate the Church with a vicious and vitriolic hatred because they were wounded grievously by members of the hierarchy. The Church prays for their return. In Holy Mother Church alone can all souls find their home, healing, peace, food and drink, succor, and rest, and ultimately eternal life in the Kingdom of God. 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’