Vicar of Christ

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016 : Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we celebrate the great feast day of our Church, the commemoration and celebration of the Solemnity of the two main patron saints of the Church, that is St. Peter the Apostle and St. Paul the Apostle. Both of them had their respective contributions to the Church and to God’s people, especially to the people and the faithful in the Church in the great city of Rome.

Both of them once led very different lifestyles, and they had their own works and careers before them. St. Peter, originally known as Simon, son of John, was a humble and simple fisherman hailing from the region of the Lake of Galilee. He went out to catch fishes everyday from his boat and did so for a living. But Jesus called him and gave him a new charge, to be the steward of His Church and as His representative on earth.

Meanwhile, St. Paul was once also known Saul, the great enemy of the Church and the faithful people of God as he went around many places to persecute and to bring harm to the faithful. He caused great harm, suffering and sorrow for the people of God, and by his hands, he brought harm and persecution to many, even including the women and children, with the aim to destroy the Church of God. But Jesus our Lord also called him and gave him a new command, that is to bring forth His words and His truth to the pagan nations.

In this manner, we see how God called and made worthy those who were seemingly unlikely to become His champions and servants. He called a simple fisherman and one who wanted to destroy His Church and destroy the memory of His Name to be those to whom He entrusted His care of the people whom He loved. He transformed them to be His greatest servants through whom many people were brought to the salvation in Him.

If we think that God chose the great and the mighty to be His servants, then we should go no further than looking at what God had done in calling those people whom He chose to be His disciples, to be the Apostles, the foundations of the Church which He Himself had established in this world. And He built this Church upon the foundation of the rock of faith, that is upon St. Peter, to whom He had said that he is Peter, and upon that rock, as Peter in Aramaic is Cephas or Rock, God would build and establish His Church.

And through the Gospels, we could see that Peter was not a perfect person. He was doubtful and although he showed bravery and courage in faith, but no sooner that trouble came, that he trembled and fell. When the Lord Jesus came walking on the water amidst the great storm in the lake, St. Peter was the first one to dare to step on the water towards the Lord, but in his fear, he almost sank into the water.

And in another occasion, St. Peter professed that he would even lay down his life for the Lord, only for the Lord to say to him that before the cock crowed the next morning, he would have betrayed and abandoned the Lord not just once but three times, a story which all of us must be very familiar with. St. Peter in his moment of fear, anguish and uncertainty, chose to abandon the Lord and denied that he ever knew Him when the enemies of the Lord closed in on Him and His disciples.

This has certainly had happened to us and many others as well. How many of us in our moments of fear and uncertainty ended up turning our backs to the Lord and turned away from His ways? How many of us compromised with our faith and the ways of the Lord for the sake of saving our own selves? This is what happened to St. Peter, who in fear abandoned Jesus his Lord and Master to save himself.

However, what differentiated him from someone like Judas Iscariot the betrayer was that, while Judas did not truly repent for his sins, and chose the easy way out by committing suicide, St. Peter chose the hard path of repentance and suffering, choosing to seek His forgiveness and love, and to commit himself anew to the works and the commands which He had entrusted to him.

It is this quality that our Lord saw in Peter, and that was why He chose to honour him with such a great position and with such a responsibility. He chose those whose faith were trembling and were tested, so that when they emerged triumphant and stronger from the trials they faced, they might become examples for all others to follow. After all, brethren, none of us are perfect, as we always have imperfections in us. It is by striving together with God that we are made stronger.

And it is the same with St. Paul, who was once a great enemy of the Church and the faithful. Once his name was uttered with great fear by the faithful and they all were terrified of the day when he would ransack and destroy their communities and handing them over to the Jewish authorities to be punished. But the same person became the source of much goodness and the source of salvation as he made a turnaround in his life and embraced God as his Lord and Saviour with all of his heart.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, St. Peter and St. Paul showed all of us that God chose sinners and sinful men to be His servants, to follow Him and to do His will, that through His hands and His guidance, they may be transformed to be great servants and great tools through which God made evident His will in this world. By the works of the two holy Apostles, the Church has become what we know it today, and countless, billions and more souls have been saved.

St. Peter and St. Paul were known for their great devotion and work for the sake of the whole Church. St. Peter was the foundation upon which the whole Church had been built. He was the rock upon which God Himself had built the Church upon. He was the centre of the Church, and to him, as God Himself mentioned, the authority over all things on earth has been given to him, as the Vicar of the Lord, the Head of the Church.

Meanwhile, St. Paul was crucial in his evangelising and missionary works, through which he established numerous communities of the faithful, the seeds of the Church in many cities through the Roman world at the time, courageously going forth to the pagans and the Gentiles or the non-Jews, while others were reluctant or even refused directly to go to them to preach the Good News of God.

Both of them encountered many difficulties during their missions, and they were persecuted, imprisoned, had to endure torture and rejection, just as the evidences in the Acts of the Apostles and the other sources told us. They were the shepherds of God’s people, and the wolves of this world who were looking for the prey among God’s flock were striking at them, and they suffered, but God was with them.

Both of them went to Rome, where they ended their works of evangelisation. And both St. Peter and St. Paul built the strong foundation of the Church there, and as the first Bishop of Rome, St. Peter also institutionalised the hierarchy and structure of the Church, through his successors, the Popes, who led the Universal Church through the authority which has been passed down to them through St. Peter from God Himself.

And they shed their blood in martyrdom at that city, the heart of the Roman Empire, the centre of the world at that time. They died in suffering, standing up firmly for their faith. And through their great courage and commitment, they showed to the whole world and to all the faithful, that in God there is hope for eternal life and salvation.

These brave and courageous servants of God has become the strong pillars of the Church and the Faith. They helped the whole Universal Church to grow strong despite of persecutions, and their examples inspired their successors to be strong and to devote themselves all the more to the Lord and to the evangelisation of the peoples. And today, all of us are called to reflect upon their examples and follow in their footsteps.

The works of the Apostles are not done. They are still ongoing, and the command which God had given His Apostles to go forth to the nations and to preach to them the Good News, and to baptise them in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is still true to this day. There are still many people who have yet to hear of the word of God, and they are still waiting for those who will bring them the word of God’s salvation. And it is truly up to us to do so.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, shall we then devote ourselves to the Lord, and follow in the footsteps of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul? Let us ask them to intercede for us and for the whole Universal Church, that the works of the Lord done through His Church will continue unabated, and through these works, may more people come closer to the salvation of God and receive eternal life.

May God bless us all, and may He strengthen our faith as He has strengthen the faith of St. Peter and St. Paul, the pillars of our Church and our Faith. May His Church remains strong amidst the challenges and the persecutions of the world, just as God Himself had said that not even the gates of hell would be able to stand against the Church. May God remain with us always and bless us now and forevermore. Amen.

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016 : Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Matthew 16 : 13-19

At that time, after Jesus spoke to His disciples about the Pharisees and the Sadducees, He came to Caesarea Philippi. He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They said, “For some of them You are John the Baptist, for others Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

Jesus asked them, “But you, who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “It is well for you, Simon Bar-Jona, for it is not flesh or blood that has revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven.”

“And now I say to you : You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church; and never will the powers of death overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven : whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you unbind on earth shall be unbound in heaven.”

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016 : Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

2 Timothy 4 : 6-8, 17-18

As for me, I am already poured out as a libation, and the moment of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness with which the Lord, the Just Judge, will reward me on that day; and not only me, but all those who have longed for His glorious coming.

But the Lord was at my side, giving me strength to proclaim the Word fully, and let all the pagans hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will save me from all evil, bringing me to His heavenly kingdom. Glory to Him forever and ever. Amen!

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016 : Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 33 : 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

I will bless the Lord all my days; His praise will be ever on my lips. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice.

Oh, let us magnify the Lord, together let us glorify His Name! I sought the Lord, and He answered me; from all my fears He delivered me.

They who look to Him are radiant with joy, their faces never clouded with shame. When the poor cry out, the Lord hears and saves them from distress.

The Lord’s Angel encamps and patrols to keep safe those who fear Him. Oh, see and taste the goodness of the Lord! Blessed is the one who finds shelter in Him!

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Wednesday, 29 June 2016 : Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Acts 12 : 1-11

About that time king Herod decided to persecute some members of the Church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword, and when he saw how it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

This happened during the festival of the Unleavened Bread. Herod had him seized and thrown into prison with four squads, each of four soldiers, to guard him. He wanted to bring him to trial before the people after the Passover feast, but while Peter was kept in prison, the whole Church prayed earnestly for him.

On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound by a double chain, while guards keep watch at the gate of the prison. Suddenly an Angel of the Lord stood there and a light shone in the prison cell. The Angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him saying, “Get up quickly!”

At once the chains fell from Peter’s wrists. The Angel said, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” Peter did so, and the Angel added, “Now, put on your cloak and follow me.” Peter followed him out; yet he did not realise that what was happening with the Angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision.

They passed the first guard and then the second and they came to the iron door leading out to the city, which opened of itself for them. They went out and made their way down a narrow alley, where suddenly the Angel left him. Then Peter recovered his senses and said, “Now I know that the Lord has sent His Angel and has rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from all that the Jews had in store for me.”

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Tuesday, 28 June 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

John 21 : 15-19

At that time, after Jesus and His disciples had finished breakfast, He said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” And Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.”

A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” And Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Look after My sheep.” And a third time He said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter was saddened because Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus then said, “Feed My sheep! Truly, I say to you, when you were young, you put on your belt and walked where you liked. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will put a belt around you, and lead you where you do not wish to go.”

Jesus said this to make known the kind of death by which Peter was to glorify God. And He added, “Follow Me.”

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Tuesday, 28 June 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Second Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Galatians 1 : 11-20

Let me remind you, brothers and sisters, that the Gospel we preached to you is not a human message, nor did I receive it from anyone, I was not taught of it but it came to me as a revelation from Christ Jesus. You have heard of my previous activity in the Jewish community; I furiously persecuted the Church of God and tried to destroy it. For I was more devoted to the Jewish religion than many fellow Jews of my age, and I defended the traditions of my ancestors more fanatically.

But one day God called me out of His great love, He Who had chosen me from my mother’s womb; and He was pleased to reveal in me His Son, that I might make Him known among the pagan nations. Then I did not seek human advice nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were Apostles before me. I immediately went to Arabia, and from there I returned again to Damascus.

Later, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to meet Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I did not see any other Apostle except James, the Lord’s brother. On writing this to you, I affirm before God that I am not lying.

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Tuesday, 28 June 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Psalm 18 : 2-3, 4-5

The heavens declare the glory of God; the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day talks it over with day; night hands on the knowledge to night.

No speech, no words, no voice is heard – but the call goes on throughout the universe, the message is felt to the ends of the earth.

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Tuesday, 28 June 2016 : Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles, Great Feast of the Church of Rome and the Universal Church (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Red

Acts 3 : 1-10

Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the Temple gate called “Beautiful”; there he begged from those who entered the Temple.

When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you : In the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!”

Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognised him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.

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Schedule of World Youth Day 2016 (27-31 July 2016) – Krakow, Poland

Wednesday, 27 July

4:00pm Arrival at John Paul II International Airport Krakow–Balice WELCOMING CEREMONY
5:00pm Arrival at Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow MEETING WITH AUTHORITIES AND DIPLOMATIC CORPS
5:40pm COURTESY VISIT WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
6:30pm WAWEL CATHEDRAL – MEETING WITH POLISH BISHOPS Silent prayer at the Tomb of St. Stanislaus, where the relics of Pope St. John Paul II are also displayed, veneration of the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel behind the altar.
Address by the Holy Father
IN THE EVENING: BISHOP’S RESIDENCE IN KRAKOW After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window to greet the faithful gathered in the square in front of the Bishop’s Residence in Krakow.

Thursday, 28 July

7:40am Transfer to Balice, along with a stop at the CONVENT OF THE SISTERS OF THE PRESENTATION Sisters from this community, along with some students from the schools they run, will be gathered at the entrance to the Chapel of Saints John the Baptist and John the Apostle. Silent common prayer.
9:45am Arrival at JASNA GÓRA MONASTERY in Częstochowa Prayer in the Chapel of the Miraculous Image
10:30am MASS on the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland This Mass is an event of national importance, in the framework of the Jubilee Year of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland.
The Sanctuary area can accommodate about 300,000 faithful. Bishops and many Polish priests will concelebrate, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Poland and the highest authorities of the country.
5:00pm Consignment of the keys to Krakow and tram ride to Błonia Park
On the square in front of the Bishop’s Residence, the President of Krakow will consign the keys to the city to the Holy Father. Disabled youth will accompany Pope Francis in the tram to Błonia Park.
5:15pm Arrival at Błonia Park. Popemobile ride among the faithful. Approx. 600,000 young people are expected.
5:30pm WELCOMING CEREMONY (approx. 1.5 hrs.) After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window, greeting the faithful gathered in the square.

Friday, 29 July

7:00am PRIVATE MASS in the chapel of the Bishop’s Residence in Krakow
9:30am VISIT TO AUSCHWITZ This year marks the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.
The Holy Father will walk into the concentration camp, passing through the entrance gate on his own. At the entrance to the courtyard of Block 11, the Holy Father will meet individually with 15 camp survivors. Private prayer in the cell of the martyrdom of Father Kolbe.
10:30am VISIT TO BIRKENAU CAMP The Holy Father will travel by car from the main gate of the camp, along the railway line, up to the square in front of the International Monument to the Victims of the Camp, where about 1,000 visitors will be gathered. He will stop for a silent prayer in front of the monument. Individual meeting with 25 “Righteous Among the Nations.”
Address by the Holy Father.
4:30pm Transfer to Kraków-Prokocim.
VISIT TO UNIVERSITY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL This hospital, one of the most important in Poland, treats approximately 30,000 hospitalized and 200,000 outpatient children each year.
About 50 sick children will be gathered in the lobby with their parents.
Address by the Holy Father.
Private visit to some areas of the hospital’s emergency ward on the ground floor, accompanied by the Director and parents. Prayer in the hospital chapel.
6:00pm WAY OF THE CROSS with youth in Krakow’s Błonia Park At the end of the Way of the Cross, the Holy Father will deliver a short address.
After dinner, the Holy Father will appear in the Papal Window, greeting the faithful gathered in the square.

Saturday, 30 July

8:30am VISIT TO DIVINE MERCY SANCTUARY IN ŁAGIEWNIKI
Chapel of St. Faustina Kowalska. Sisters of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy will be present, along with the girls in their care. Prayer in the chapel before the tomb of St. Faustina.
8:45am Transfer by Popemobile to the DIVINE MERCY SANCTUARY.
9:00am Passage through the Holy Door of Mercy The Holy Father will enter the Sanctuary through the Holy Door of Mercy.
9:15am Liturgy of RECONCILIATION with the participation of youth The Holy Father will confess five young people in the following languages: Italian, Spanish, and French. Pope Francis is the third pope – after St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI – to visit the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, but the first to confess.
10:30am HOLY MASS in the JOHN PAULL II SANCTUARY with priests, consecrated persons, and seminarians from Poland.
Around 2 thousand people will be in the Sanctuary: priests, religious, consecrated persons, and seminarians from Poland. 5 thousand will be able to participate in the Mass on the vast square in front of the shrine.
1:00pm LUNCH WITH YOUTH The Holy Father will eat lunch with the Archbishop of Krakow, a translator, and 12 youth representatives from different countries: one boy and one girl from each continent, as well as a boy and a girl from Poland.
7:00pm Arrival at CAMPUS MISERICORDIAE Passing through the Door of Mercy with five youth representatives
7:30pm PRAYER VIGIL WITH YOUTH

Sunday, 31 July

8:45am Arrival at CAMPUS MISERICORDIAE Blessing of two Caritas buildings: House of Mercy for the poor and elderly, and Bread House – a food pantry for the needy
Passage among the faithful
10:00am FINAL MASS to mark the end of World Youth Day The sending out of youth as witnesses of Divine Mercy. Announcement of the location and year of the next World Youth Day.
5:00pm Arrival at Tauron Arena for a MEETING WITH WYD VOLUNTEERS and the Local Organizing Committee and benefactors
6:15pm Arrival in Airport Krakow–Balice (military part).
FAREWELL CEREMONY OF THE HOLY FATHER
(Information and schedule courtesy of World Youth Day 2016)