Peter's Faith:
Question.-- In the Gospel of St. Matthew it is said: "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church." What is the meaning of this verse? (135:1)

Answer.-- This utterance of Christ is a confirmation of the statement of Peter, when Christ asked: Whom do you believe Me to be? and Peter answered: I believe that "Thou art the Son of the living God." Then Christ said to him: "Thou art Peter"-- for Cephas in Aramaic means rock-- "and upon this rock I will build My church." For the others in answer to Christ said that He was Elias, and some said John the Baptist, and some others Jeremias or one of the Prophets (135:2)

Christ wished by suggestion, or an allusion, to confirm the words of Peter; so on account of the suitability of his name, Peter, He said: "and upon this rock I will build My church," meaning, thy belief that Christ is the Son of the living God will be the foundation of the Religion of God, and upon this belief the foundation of the church of God-- which is the Law of God-- shall be established (135:3)

The existence of the tomb of Peter in Rome is doubtful; it is not authenticated. Some say it is in Antioch (135:4)

Moreover, let us compare the lives of some of the Popes with the religion of Christ. Christ, hungry and without shelter, ate herbs in the wilderness, and was unwilling to hurt the feelings of anyone. The Pope sits in a carriage covered with gold and passes his time in the utmost splendor, amidst such pleasures and luxuries, such riches and adoration, as kings have never had (135:5)

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