A is for Apostle
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,516
    Apostolorum passio

    Blest day by suff’ring sanctified:
    Christ’s chosen high apostles died.
    Today St. Peter wins renown.
    Today St. Paul accepts the crown.

    Together, equally, they bled:
    Together: the victorious dead.
    They followed God and sacrificed
    And now their faith is crowned by Christ.

    St. Peter holds the highest place,
    Yet Paul is not the less by grace.
    An equal faith was giv’n to Paul:
    The chosen vessel of God’s call.

    St. Peter, downward crucified—
    To honor God in how he died—
    Securely tied, he sees unfold
    The death his Shepherd once foretold.

    On such foundations Rome may claim
    The highest service of God’s name:
    His noble blood has dignified
    The city where the prophet died.

    Let all the world, then, run to Rome.
    Let families of nations come!
    The head of nations teaches where
    The nations’ teacher set his chair.

    O Lord, we ask that we may be
    In their exalted company,
    And with our princes sing Your praise
    Forever, to undending days.

    Translation c. 2010 Kathleen Pluth. May be used only with permission.
  • MaryAnn Carr WilsonMaryAnn Carr Wilson
    Posts: 1,738
    Dating myself here, but this is truly rad!

    Because I work for the FSSP, we have a Solemn Mass for this feast. It also happens to be the Ordination anniversary of my pastor.
    You can bet this would be used, Kathy!! May I ask your permission now?

    Is it too greedy to ask about a verse on the beheading of St. Paul? St. Peters martyrdom is treated in detail, but not Paul. Is that because this is a separate feast?
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,516
    Rad! Totally!

    We Cali girls understand each other.

    Yes you have permission to use this in your parish. (Consider the tune Deo Gratias, but many PD LM iambic meters will do.)

    The original Latin is ancient and authoritative and I would hesitate to develop any theme beyond it. I've change a word in verse 5 and now it should make a distinction between the one who died in line 3 (Peter) and the one who dies in line 4 (Paul). But you're right, St. Peter's martyrdom is much more clearly represented than St. Paul's.
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