St. Peter SCC

Feast day:June 29
Patron: of fishermen, net makers, and ship builders
Birth: 1 BC
Death: 64AD at age 68
Burial: Vatican

The life and death of St. Peter

• Saint Peter’s birthdate is actually unknown but it is estimated to be around 1 B.C.
• Peter came from humble origins and worked as a Galilean fisherman.
• He was the brother of Andrew and a follower of John the Baptist.
• According to the Gospel of Mark, St Peter was married however the name of his wife is unknown.
• He is said to have died in 64 AD at age 68.
• He died by crucifixion in Rome, Italy.
• Saint Peter asked to be crucified upside down as he believed he was unworthy to die as Jesus had.

Peter, who was also known as Simon Peter of Cephas, is considered to be the first Pope. Despite his papacy, Peter had humble beginnings and became one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was ordained by Jesus as the “Rock of My Church” written in Matthew 16:17-18, which says, “Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency 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 community. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.'”

Peter was a native of Bethsaida and was the son of Jonah. He and his brother Andrew were fishermen on Lake Genesareth. The Bible chronicles when the brothers met Jesus in Luke chapter 5. Peter was born at Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. Peter, whose name was originally Simon, was a fisherman along with his brother Andrew.

During Jesus’ ministry, the Gospels show Peter as the foremost apostle in declaring faith in him as the Christ. The name Peter, meaning ‘rock’, was selected by Jesus to indicate that he would be the rock-like anchor for the unity of the Church. Jesus also promised to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven, which is why depictions of Peter generally show him holding a pair of keys. At the time of the arrest of Jesus, Peter cut off the ear of a servant of the high priest with a sword but then, as had been predicted by Jesus, he denied three times that he had ever known him. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter re-affirmed his love for Jesus and was commanded to “feed (his) lambs”, to take care of the Church.

The Acts of the Apostles show Peter taking the lead in addressing the crowds gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost. As the leader of the Christians in Jerusalem, he was targeted by Herod for execution but miraculously freed from prison on the night before he was to stand trial.

Peter then left Jerusalem and travelled to spread the Gospel. According to tradition, he was in Rome in 63/64AD during the rule of the Roman emperor Nero. In 64 AD Nero blamed the Christians for a disastrous fire in the city. Peter was one of the Christians who was taken prisoner and was sentenced to death by crucifixion. At his own request, he was crucified with his head downwards because he did not consider himself worthy to die in the same posture as his Divine Master, Jesus.

St Peter was the first Pope and kept the Catholic Church united and enabling rapid growth of the church.