Saint Peters

Saint Peters Quick Facts - CA

AKA NameSolemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
HashtagsCompiled on#StPeters, #SaintPetersBasilica
2023 DateJune 29, 2023
2024 DateJune 29, 2024

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Saint Peters

St Peters History

Saint Peter is a religious figure who is commonly associated with Christianity and is revered as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Though Saint Peter's life and teachings have significant religious significance and impact worldwide, his influence within Canada is mainly linked to the Roman Catholic Church's history.

The Roman Catholic Church considers Saint Peter as the patron saint of Canada, recognizing his importance in spreading the Gospel in the region. Many Catholic Churches and devout Canadians have named their religious institutions, schools, and cities after Saint Peter. The Vatican maintains an embassy in Ottawa called the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See, whose primary function is to facilitate communication between Canada and the Catholic Church regarding a variety of issues, including social justice, peace, and human rights. The celebration of Saint Peter is observed annually on June 29th.

Saint Peters facts & quotes

  • Peter's original name was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter, which means 'the rock'. Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:17b-19).
  • Peter and Paul disagreed frequently over whether non-Jews converting to Christianity needed to follow Jewish customs. Peter believed that these Gentile converts should become Jewish first, while Paul's belief was that they could skip that step.
  • Saint Peter is the patron saint of fishermen, and Canada has a long history of fishing, particularly in the Atlantic provinces, such as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
  • Saint Peter is a central figure in Catholicism, as he is considered to be the first pope and the rock upon which the Church was built.

Top things to do in Canada for Saint Peter's Day

  • Go fishing in honor of St. Peter. He was a fisherman before he became Jesus' disciple, and is the patron saint of fisherman and net makers.
  • Go camping in honor of St. Paul. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul was a tent maker. He is the patron saint of tent makers as well as writers. In addition to being an accomplished preacher, Paul wrote epistles that are included in the Bible's New Testament.
  • Watch Apostle Peter and the Last Supper (2012). This American film tells the story of the early years of Christianity, focusing on Peter's imprisonment and his recollections of Jesus' life.
  • Plan a trip to the St. Peter's Cathedral Basilica in London, Ontario. A beautiful and historic Roman Catholic church dedicated to Saint Peter, it is a place of worship and spiritual enrichment, featuring stunning architecture and artwork.

Saint Peter's Day references and related sites

Martin Hengel: Saint Peter: The Underestimated Apostle (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing: 2010)

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