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faith:the_faith_of_our_fathers:the_primacy_of_peter [2025/07/10 09:22] – created Sandeep Kuriakosefaith:the_faith_of_our_fathers:the_primacy_of_peter [2025/07/10 09:23] (current) – Sandeep Kuriakose
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-======   The Primacy of Peter   ======+====== The Primacy of Peter ======
  
 The **Catholic Church teaches** that our Lord conferred upon **St Peter** the **first place of honour and jurisdiction** in the governance of His entire Church, and that the same **spiritual supremacy** has always resided in the **Popes**, or **Bishops of Rome**, as the **successors of St Peter**. Consequently, to be **true followers of Christ**, all Christians—both among the clergy and the laity—must be in **communion with the See of Rome**, where **Peter governs in the person of his successor**. The **Catholic Church teaches** that our Lord conferred upon **St Peter** the **first place of honour and jurisdiction** in the governance of His entire Church, and that the same **spiritual supremacy** has always resided in the **Popes**, or **Bishops of Rome**, as the **successors of St Peter**. Consequently, to be **true followers of Christ**, all Christians—both among the clergy and the laity—must be in **communion with the See of Rome**, where **Peter governs in the person of his successor**.
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 All matters of religious controversy were referred to this tribunal, and ultimately to the **High Priest**, whose decision was enforced **under penalty of death**: All matters of religious controversy were referred to this tribunal, and ultimately to the **High Priest**, whose decision was enforced **under penalty of death**:
  
- <blockquote>+<blockquote>
  
 “If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make between one kind of bloodshed and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another—any such matters of dispute in your towns—then you shall immediately go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose, where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge who is in office in those days. They shall announce to you the decision in the case. Carry out exactly the decision that they announce to you from the place that the Lord will choose, diligently observing everything they instruct you. You must carry out fully the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left. The person who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.” “If a judicial decision is too difficult for you to make between one kind of bloodshed and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another—any such matters of dispute in your towns—then you shall immediately go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose, where you shall consult with the levitical priests and the judge who is in office in those days. They shall announce to you the decision in the case. Carry out exactly the decision that they announce to you from the place that the Lord will choose, diligently observing everything they instruct you. You must carry out fully the law that they interpret for you or the ruling that they announce to you; do not turn aside from the decision that they announce to you, either to the right or to the left. The person who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the Lord your God or the judge, that person shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.”
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 In like manner, the Church—though she has an **invisible Head in heaven**—must have a **visible head on earth**. The body and members of the Church are visible; **why, then, should the Head be invisible**? A Church without a supreme earthly ruler would be like: In like manner, the Church—though she has an **invisible Head in heaven**—must have a **visible head on earth**. The body and members of the Church are visible; **why, then, should the Head be invisible**? A Church without a supreme earthly ruler would be like:
  
-   * +   * An army without a general, 
- +  * A navy without an admiral, 
-An army without a general, +  * A sheepfold without a shepherd, 
- +  * A human body without a head.
-  * +
- +
-A navy without an admiral, +
- +
-  * +
- +
-A sheepfold without a shepherd, +
- +
-  * +
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-A human body without a head.+
  
 The **Christian communities**  separated from the Catholic Church **deny**  that **Peter**  received any **authority over the other Apostles**, and thus they **reject the supremacy of the Pope**. The **Christian communities**  separated from the Catholic Church **deny**  that **Peter**  received any **authority over the other Apostles**, and thus they **reject the supremacy of the Pope**.
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 In this chapter, I shall speak of the **Promise**, the **Institution**, and the **Exercise**  of **Peter’s Primacy**, as recorded in the New Testament. The next chapter shall treat of its **perpetuity**  in the **Popes**. In this chapter, I shall speak of the **Promise**, the **Institution**, and the **Exercise**  of **Peter’s Primacy**, as recorded in the New Testament. The next chapter shall treat of its **perpetuity**  in the **Popes**.
  
-=====   Promise of the Primacy   =====+===== Promise of the Primacy =====
  
 Our Saviour, on a certain occasion, asked His disciples, saying: \\ **“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”** \\ And they said: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” \\ Jesus said to them: **“But who do you say that I am?”** Our Saviour, on a certain occasion, asked His disciples, saying: \\ **“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”** \\ And they said: “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” \\ Jesus said to them: **“But who do you say that I am?”**
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 Jesus, our Lord, **founded but one Church**, and it was His will to build it **on Peter**. Therefore, any church that **does not recognise Peter as its foundation stone**  is **not the Church of Christ**, and **cannot stand**, for it is **not the work of God**. This is a simple and solemn truth. Would to God that all would behold it clearly, and with eyes unclouded by prejudice. Jesus, our Lord, **founded but one Church**, and it was His will to build it **on Peter**. Therefore, any church that **does not recognise Peter as its foundation stone**  is **not the Church of Christ**, and **cannot stand**, for it is **not the work of God**. This is a simple and solemn truth. Would to God that all would behold it clearly, and with eyes unclouded by prejudice.
  
-He continues: **“And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven...”**  In ancient times, and especially among the Hebrew people, **keys were a symbol of authority and jurisdiction**. To say that a man had received the keys of a city was to say that **he had been appointed its governor**. In the Book of Revelation, our Saviour declares that He has **“the keys of Death and of Hades”**,¹⁵⁷ meaning that He possesses **sovereign power over death and the grave**.+He continues: **“And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…”**  In ancient times, and especially among the Hebrew people, **keys were a symbol of authority and jurisdiction**. To say that a man had received the keys of a city was to say that **he had been appointed its governor**. In the Book of Revelation, our Saviour declares that He has **“the keys of Death and of Hades”**,¹⁵⁷ meaning that He possesses **sovereign power over death and the grave**.
  
 Indeed, even to this day, does not the presentation of keys among ourselves still **signify the bestowal of authority**? Indeed, even to this day, does not the presentation of keys among ourselves still **signify the bestowal of authority**?
  
-=====   Fulfilment of the Promise   =====+===== Fulfilment of the Promise =====
  
 The promise which our Redeemer made—that **Peter would be constituted the supreme ruler of His Church**—is fulfilled in the following passage: The promise which our Redeemer made—that **Peter would be constituted the supreme ruler of His Church**—is fulfilled in the following passage:
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 **Candid reader**, do you not profess to be a **member of Christ’s flock**? You answer, yes. Then consider: **Do you receive your spiritual nourishment from Peter and his successor? Do you hear the voice of Peter? Or have you strayed into a fold of strangers who reject the voice of Peter?**  Ponder this question deeply, for it is no trivial matter. If Peter has been divinely authorised to feed the lambs of Christ's flock, then **the lambs must listen to Peter’s voice**. **Candid reader**, do you not profess to be a **member of Christ’s flock**? You answer, yes. Then consider: **Do you receive your spiritual nourishment from Peter and his successor? Do you hear the voice of Peter? Or have you strayed into a fold of strangers who reject the voice of Peter?**  Ponder this question deeply, for it is no trivial matter. If Peter has been divinely authorised to feed the lambs of Christ's flock, then **the lambs must listen to Peter’s voice**.
  
-=====   Exercise of the Primacy   =====+===== Exercise of the Primacy =====
  
 In the //Acts of the Apostles//—which provides us with nearly the only sustained Scriptural account of the Apostles following our Lord’s Ascension—**St Peter stands forth like Saul among the tribes**, towering **head and shoulders above his brethren**  by the **prominence**  he assumes in every ministerial duty. In the //Acts of the Apostles//—which provides us with nearly the only sustained Scriptural account of the Apostles following our Lord’s Ascension—**St Peter stands forth like Saul among the tribes**, towering **head and shoulders above his brethren**  by the **prominence**  he assumes in every ministerial duty.
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 But by that same reasoning, we might also deny that: But by that same reasoning, we might also deny that:
  
-  * +  * **St Paul**  was beheaded in Rome, 
- +  * **St John**  died in Ephesus, 
-**St Paul**  was beheaded in Rome, +  * **St Andrew**  was crucified.
-  * +
- +
-**St John**  died in Ephesus, +
-  * +
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-**St Andrew**  was crucified.+
 These events are also not recorded in Scripture, yet **no one disputes their historicity**. These events are also not recorded in Scripture, yet **no one disputes their historicity**.
  
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 Among the early witnesses who testify to Peter’s residence in Rome are: Among the early witnesses who testify to Peter’s residence in Rome are:
  
-  * +  * **Clement**, the fourth Bishop of Rome, praised by St Paul; 
- +  * **St Ignatius**, Bishop of Antioch, who died in 105 A.D.; 
-**Clement**, the fourth Bishop of Rome, praised by St Paul; +  * **St Irenæus**, **Origen**, **St Jerome**, and **Eusebius**, the Church’s first great historian;
-  * +
- +
-**St Ignatius**, Bishop of Antioch, who died in 105 A.D.; +
-  * +
- +
-**St Irenæus**, **Origen**, **St Jerome**, and **Eusebius**, the Church’s first great historian;+
 These, along with **other eminent writers**, consistently uphold the tradition of Peter’s Roman ministry. And **no ancient ecclesiastical writer**  has ever contradicted this claim. These, along with **other eminent writers**, consistently uphold the tradition of Peter’s Roman ministry. And **no ancient ecclesiastical writer**  has ever contradicted this claim.
  
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  • Last modified: 12 months ago
  • by Sandeep Kuriakose