MARY, OUR MOTHER

The Giving of the Keys to Saint Peter by Pietro Perugino (1492 A.D.) Image via Wikipedia

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #496

Simon Peter saith to him: "Lord, whither goest thou?" Jesus answered: "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now: but thou shalt follow hereafter." Peter saith to him: "Why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee." Jesus answered him: "Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Amen, amen, I say to thee, the cock shall not crow, till thou deny me thrice." (John 13:36-38)

THE POPE IS THE SUPREME AND INFALLIBLE TEACHER OF FAITH: Our Lord foretold to St. Peter that he would deny Him, but at the same time He gave him assurance that his faith would not fail, and entrused him with the office of confirming his brethren in faith. As a matter of fact Peter's faith never did waver, for he did not cease to believe even when he lacked the courage to confess his faith. Our Blessed Lord destined him to be the foundation of His Church, and on that account prayed that his faith might ever be firm and untarnished, so that he might act as a prop to the faith of his brethren. By so doing our Lord Jesus Christ appointed St. Peter to be the supreme teacher of His Church in the true faith; and He gave to him moreover the special grace that his faith should never fail; in other words, that he should be infallible in the exercise of this office. How could Peter confirm his brethren in the true faith, unless he himself were preserved from error in matters of faith? His infallibility in the exercise of his office has, together with the office itself, descended from Peter to his successors, the Supreme Pontiffs of the Catholic Church. An infallible teacher who can maintain his brethren, his fellow-Christians, in the true faith, is as necessary to the Church now as it was in the days of St. Peter. The Roman See has always proved itself to be the guardian and protector of the true faith, by giving, in virtue of the divine office committed to it, unerring decisions in matters of dispute, and rejecting all false doctrines.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)