St. Theresa LIFE TEEN - St. Peter Receives the Keys Window

St. Peter Receives The Keys Window

Whenever people join together to accomplish anything, there is usually one person in charge. A nation has a president; a city, a mayor; in a family there is a parent with authority. In the Old Testament God was represented among His people by a leader such as a patriarch or a king. So also Christ chose one man as the leader of His followers. This would assure unity. Christ chose Peter as leader of the Twelve.

The Gospels show that Peter was the leader; he is mentioned six times as often as any of the other Apostles. He is listed first and is the one who speaks for the others. At Christ's first meeting with him, Our Lord changed his name from Simon to Peter, which means "Rock" in the language spoken by Christ. "Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church… and I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven… what you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." (Mt 16:17-19)

Christ often referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd and commissioned Peter to be the Shepherd. (Jn 21:15-17) Peter went to Rome eventually where his position as leader of the early Christian Church was passed on to his successors who became known as popes. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ on earth. Christ gave a very special power to Peter and to his successors whereby they are preserved from error in teaching doctrines of faith and morals. This is the Gift of Infallibility. The giving of the keys was, in fact, conferring the supreme mission of gathering God's people into a community through which they could attain a blessed and eternal life.

Pope John Paul II is the 263rd successor of Peter.

The next window.

Last updated on Saturday, May 14, 2005

The Vatican

Diocese of Phoenix

College LIFE

ALIVE!

LifeTeen.org