Our Saints

Our two patron saints are central pillars in the support and beliefs of the Catholic church. St. Peter became the first pope and was Jesus closest companion during his public ministry. St. Michael is the guardian of the church and the leader of the army of God.

 

They are both depicted in the embroidered panel which is central to the sanctuary in the church, some sections of which are used below in their biographies.

Saint Peter

A fisherman called by Christ to leave his nets and become a "fisher of men", St. Peter was at Jesus' side throughout much of his public ministry. After the crucifixion, when St. Peter was asked if he was a disciple of Christ, he denied the association three times. Upon hearing about the resurrection of Christ, St. Peter went to the empty tomb. After asking St. Peter three times if he loved him, Christ invited him to "feed His sheep". It was this that led to St. Peter leading the early church through expansion and persecution.

 

After St. Peter professed that Jesus was "The Christ, the son of the living God", Jesus said 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." In these two proclamations, St. Peter was established as the first Pope of His church on earth.

As you can see from the picture above and the picture alongside, the embroidered panel provides a beautiful reminder of those two occasions where St. Peter was invited to "Feed My sheep" and when he became the first Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

 

Feast Day:      June 29th

Birthplace:    Bethsaida, Syria

Born:             1 AD

Died:             66 AD

 

St. Peter is the patron saint of Rome, the papacy and the universal church, fishermen, locksmiths, and builders. He was called to be the first pope.

"You are Peter and upon this rock I will build My church"


Saint Michael

Saint Michael the Archangel isn't really a saint, but rather he is an angel, and the leader of all angels and of the Army of God. The title "Archangel" means, that he is above all others in rank.

 

St. Michael has four main responsibilities as we know from scripture and christian tradition. These are:

 

  • To combat Satan
  • To escort the faithful to Heaven the hour of their death
  • To be a champion of all Christians, and the Church itself
  • To call men from life on earth to their Heavenly judgement

 

Very little is actually known about St. Michael other than what we know from scriptures, which themselves are sparse. In Daniel, St. Michael is mentioned twice. The first time as the one who helped Daniel, and the second time is mentioned with regard to the end times of the world when he will "stand for the children of Thy People". His next mention comes in the episode of St. Jude, where St. Michael is said to guard the tombs of Moses and Eve and has contended with Satan over the body of Moses. The final mention is in Revelations, where St. Michael and his angels do battle with the dragon.

 

Today, St Michael is invoked for protection, an example of which can be seen in the picture alongside from the embroidered panel as he protects our Church, the outline from the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome,   from evil.

 

Feast Day:          September 29th (Originally, St. Michael had two feast days, September 29th and May 8th. This was changed in 1960 by Pope John XXIII.

 

Patron Saint:  Grocers, Mariners, Paratroopers, Police Officers and Military personnel, Doctors and                 Sickness.

 

Symbolism:     St. Michael symbolises the victory of good over evil, and is widely depicted this way throughout the world in art.

" At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise."