(Liturgical Year A - 21st Sunday)

Today, we Hear Christ Who, having chosen and begun to form His 12 Disciples to be His Apostles (those who are sent), living, teaching and working miracles among the Chosen People for some time, asks these men closest to Him who He is thought to be by those they have encountered on their mission. They tell him that some wonder if He is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or another Prophet, come back to life!
 
Jesus then challenges them: “But you….who do you say that I am?” Simon has no hesitation in declaring his belief that Our Lord is, indeed, the Christ (Anointed One), the Redeemer, promised since Adam and Eve’s fall. Jesus, acknowledging this Act of Faith, a Gift of His Father, renames Simon, ‘Peter’ (the Rock), charging him with leading the Apostles who will, from Pentecost, begin to carry out in earnest the Mission to ‘teach all Nations…’ restoring our fallen Race to its true purpose, that of journeying to eternal Life in Heaven. He promises that, as His visible representatives to Mankind, they will teach only Truth, and formulate rules of life with his Authority.

The statue of Saint Peter in St. Peter’s Square beside the steps up to St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Pope Pius IX (1846-78) decided to replace older statues of Ss. Peter and Paul with the current larger ones at Easter in 1847. The previous pope, Gregory XVI (1831-46), had commissioned Giuseppe De Fabris (1790-1860) to sculpt this statue for St. Paul Outside-the-Walls from 1838-40.
By Lure - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

Infallibility, per se, covers the formal definition of a Doctrine, which we must believe, by the Pope, in his Office of Supreme Pastor and Teacher of all the Faithful. This gift is extended to the College (or Body) of Bishops who, perhaps in an Ecumenical Council, in union with the Pope, propose, as coming from God, a Doctrine for our belief. For a more detailed explanation of Infallibility, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 890-892. See also the Vatican Council document, Lumen Gentium, 25.

How does this freedom from error in the Teaching of Catholic Dogma work? We know, for example, how certain changes have been made to the outward way (i.e. the language and actions) that Mass has been offered. The essence of the Mass, however, is unchanged. Acting in the person of Our Lord, who commanded, “Do this in memory of Me”, Father, our priest, still re-enacts the once-and-for-all Saving Sacrifice of Calvary for our participation; he changes bread and Wine into Jesus Himself, offers Him for us all to the Heavenly Father, Who Himself offers Jesus to us in Holy Communion.

Oil on wood painting of St. Augustine by Joos van Wassenhove (1410-80) dating from c.1474. The picture currently hangs in the Musée du Louvre, Paris

We must never forget, however, that Our Lord guaranteed, not that our Shepherds would lead saintly lives (they, as do we, have a fallen Nature and Free Will) but that Catholic Doctrine will always be clearly taught, leaving no room for doubt. He stated that, “Whoever hears you (the Pope, Bishops and Priests) hears Me!” Pope Francis (who is the 266th Successor of Saint Peter) may well be mistaken if, for example, he tells us that ‘it will rain tomorrow’ but he will not err in matters determining our Eternity! We too have a certain responsibility. Love of Neighbour demands of us that, should Teachings concerning Faith and Morals be challenged or disregarded, we are bound to counter, as best we can, such errors.
 
The Holy Father (as do our Bishops and Priests) needs our Prayers daily as he strives to be the Rock. On the right hand of the main porch, facing the Sanctuary, you will find a monthly list of clergy to pray for, each with a special day allocated to them. Why not take a look at that list and undertake to pray for all clergy?

During the coming week we will recall two other great defenders of the Truth: Monday, Convert and Theologian, Saint Augustine of Hippo; Tuesday, Saint John the Baptist, beheaded for publicly defending God’s Laws regarding Marriage. Then, on Wednesday, comes the memorial of Saints Margaret Mary Clitherow, Anne Line and Margaret Ward, three of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, all of whom were put to death for hiding, sheltering and protecting Catholic Priests. May their Prayers strengthen all who are called to be our Shepherds!