Peter's Prominence

Simon Peter. JJ Tissot

We continue the series posts on St Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, in the fervent hope that he may intercede on behalf of those who, in their own lives, have betrayed those whom they should have loved and cherished the most.

Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt.

Tecum tutus semper sum.

Ad Jesum per Mariam

Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis.

[  ] References in the text to numbered footnotes are not hyperlinked but may be found at the end of the relevant text.






In the list of the Twelve men solemnly called by Christ to the Apostolate, Peter is always at the head and  the surname Petrus, the 'rock', given him by Christ is emphasized:

[2] And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother,
Duodecim autem Apostolorum nomina sunt haec. Primus, Simon, qui dicitur Petrus : et Andreas frater ejus, [Matt 10]

[14] And he made that twelve should be with him, and that he might send them to preach.
Et fecit ut essent duodecim cum illo : et ut mitteret eos praedicare.
[15] And he gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.
Et dedit illis potestatem curandi infirmitates et ejiciendi daemonia.
[16] And to Simon he gave the name Peter:
Et imposuit Simoni nomen Petrus : [Mark 3]

[13] And when day was come, he called unto him his disciples; and he chose twelve of them (whom also he named apostles).
Et cum dies factus esset, vocavit discipulos suos : et elegit duodecim ex ipsis ( quos et apostolos nominavit) :
[14] Simon, whom he surnamed Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Simonem, quem cognominavit Petrum, et Andream fratrem ejus, Jacobum, et Joannem, Philippum, et Bartholomaeum, [Luke 6]

Peter speaks in the name of the other Apostles:

[11] Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man: but what cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Non quod intrat in os, coinquinat hominem : sed quod procedit ex ore, hoc coinquinat hominem.....
[15] And Peter answering, said to him: Expound to us this parable.
Respondens autem Petrus dixit ei : Edissere nobis parabolam istam. [Matt 15]

[25] And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered very much, saying: Who then can be saved?
Auditis autem his, discipuli mirabantur valde, dicentes : Quis ergo poterit salvus esse?
[26] And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.
Aspiciens autem Jesus, dixit illis : Apud homines hoc impossibile est : apud Deum autem omnia possibilia sunt.
[27] Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?
Tunc respondens Petrus, dixit ei : Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te : quid ergo erit nobis? [Matt 19]

[40] Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.
Et vos estote parati : quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet.
[41] And Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou speak this parable to us, or likewise to all?
Ait autem et Petrus : Domine, ad nos dicis hanc parabolam, an et ad omnes?

[15] Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?
Dicit illis Jesus : Vos autem, quem me esse dicitis?
[16] Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
Respondens Simon Petrus dixit : Tu es Christus, Filius Dei vivi. [Matt 16]

Peter's special precedence

Transfiguration. Peter, James & John. JJ Tissot.

Peter was one of the three Apostles (with James and John) who were with Christ on certain special occasions

• the raising of the daughter of Jairus from the dead (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51);

• the Transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:28),

• the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).

Peter is favoured above the others:

• Christ enters Peter's boat on Lake Genesareth to preach to the multitude on the shore [1];
• When He was miraculously walking upon the waters, He called Peter to come to Him across the lake[2];
• He sent him to the lake to catch the fish in whose mouth Peter found the stater to pay as tribute[3]

[1] [1] And it came to pass, that when the multitudes pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Genesareth,
Factum est autem, cum turbae irruerunt in eum ut audirent verbum Dei, et ipse stabat secus stagnum Genesareth.
[2] And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Et vidit duas naves stantes secus stagnum : piscatores autem descenderant, et lavabant retia.
[3] And going into one of the ships that was Simon's, he desired him to draw back a little from the land. And sitting he taught the multitudes out of the ship.
Ascendens autem in unam navim, quae erat Simonis, rogavit eum a terra reducere pusillum. Et sedens docebat de navicula turbas. [Luke 5]
[2] [26] And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear.
Et videntes eum super mare ambulantem, turbati sunt, dicentes : Quia phantasma est. Et prae timore clamaverunt.
[27] And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not.
Statimque Jesus locutus est eis, dicens : Habete fiduciam : ego sum, nolite timere.
[28] And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters.
Respondens autem Petrus, dixit : Domine, si tu es, jube me ad te venire super aquas.
[29] And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus.
At ipse ait : Veni. Et descendens Petrus de navicula, ambulabat super aquam ut veniret ad Jesum. 
[3] [24] He said: Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying: What is thy opinion, Simon? The kings of the earth, of whom do they receive tribute or custom? of their own children, or of strangers?
Ait : Etiam. Et cum intrasset in domum, praevenit eum Jesus, dicens : Quid tibi videtur Simon? reges terrae a quibus accipiunt tributum vel censum? a filiis suis, an ab alienis?
[25] And he said: Of strangers. Jesus said to him: Then the children are free.
Et ille dixit : Ab alienis. Dixit illi Jesus : Ergo liberi sunt filii.
[26] But that we may not scandalize them, go to the sea, and cast in a hook: and that fish which shall first come up, take: and when thou hast opened its mouth, thou shalt find a stater: take that, and give it to them for me and thee.
Ut autem non scandalizemus eos, vade ad mare, et mitte hamum : et eum piscem, qui primus ascenderit, tolle : et aperto ore ejus, invenies staterem : illum sumens, da eis pro me et te.  [Matt 17]