Only Sometimes Peter (Bede)

Homily - Only Sometimes Peter (Bede)

Dear friends:

It is a sad testimony to our poor formation as Catholics that we treat every Petrine word — every utterance of our Holy Father — as if it were infallible...

• EVEN THOUGH Jesus Christ taught ...

• DURING his earthly ministry ...

• THEN LATER through the successors of Peter clearly that THIS IS NOT THE CASE!

And Jesus answered him, 

“Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.."

BUT [JESUS] turned and said to Peter,

"Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

THEN, IN THE DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION on the Church of Christ, Pastor aeternus, the First Vatican Council declared:

"For the Holy Spirit was not promised to the successors of Peter that by His revelation they might make known NEW DOCTRINE, but that by His assistance they might inviolably keep and faithfully expound the Revelation, the Deposit of Faith, delivered through the Apostles.”

Dearest Brethren in Christ:

Let not your hearts be troubled!

Not every word spoken by Peter and his successors enjoys the charism of infallibility!

• This is our Faith.
• This is the Catholic Faith.

Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr: Pray for us.

Saint Peter, Apostle and Martyr: Pray for us!

Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church: Have mercy on us!

Have mercy on us!