The Bishop's Weekly Column from the Parish Bulletin

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

St Thomas of Canterbury
on the Faith of Peter

December 29, 2006

The feast of St. Thomas Becket and words on the role of Peter in the Church:

A letter of St Thomas Becket

Does anyone doubt that the Roman Church is head of all the Churches and the orthodox source of Catholic doctrine ? That the keys of the kingdom were given to Peter ? That the whole Church is built on Peter's faith and teaching, and grows until we all become a perfect man in Christ, amid unity of faith and acknowledgment of the Son of God ? (...)

But whoever plants or waters, God gives no increase unless what he plants is the faith of Peter, and he assents to his teaching.

All important questions that arise among God’s people are referred to the judgment of Peter in the person of the Roman Pontiff. Under him the ministers of Mother Church exercise the powers committed to them, each in his own sphere of responsibility.

Remember then how our fathers worked out their salvation; remember the sufferings through which the Church has grown, and the storms the ship of Peter has weathered because it has Christ at its helm. Remember how the crown was attained by those whose sufferings gave new radiance to their faith. The whole company of saints bears witness to the unfailing truth that without real effort no one wins the crown.

Letter 74

The Gospel text for the Mass of the feast:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep: And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

Jn. 10:11-16

+TF