Tu Es Petrus

Today all of you were remembered at the Mass at the Tomb of the Apostle Peter.  We had Mass at the Confessio on a beautiful new altar that had an image of the Crucifixion of Peter, the scene was the taking down from the Cross.  In the foreground is the image of Pope John Paul II vested as for Mass kissing the face of Peter.  Peter (as the Popes are called) kissing Peter.  You will recall St. Peter was crucified upside down, so the Pope is depicted kneeling down kissing Peter's face. The tomb has upside down crosses in the walls.

We faced an ancient Byzantine Mosaic of Christ, directly behind the image are the bones of Peter.  I was moved to tears during the recitation of the Creed as we said, "I believe...in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting, Amen".  It struck me at that moment that I had now completed a circle as a priest having said Mass at the Tomb of the Resurrected Lord in Jerusalem and now in Rome at the Tomb of the Vicar of Christ.  There at Peter's tomb are the long dead; pagans and Christians, the Apostle surrounded by his successors, the Popes who were called in the ancient Church "the Vicars of Peter".  There also are the dead of the early Church of Rome, the flock of the Lord whom Peter tended to as Bishop of Rome.  As Mass was being prayed you could also hear the living voices, a great multitude from all lands and nations praying in the Holy Mass in their native voice.  Truly at the that moment was the Church Universal, the living and the dead joined as one in the banquet feast of heaven itself and at the center was Christ the Lord in the image of the mosaic and the real presence of in the effects of bread and wine!  We were there, we are there every Mass looking forward with blessed hope to the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting!

The Confessio

  
I was moved to tears again as we sang "For all the Saints"

For all the Saints who from their labors rest
Who thee by faith before the world confessed
Thy name O'Jesus be forever blest!
Alleluia, Alleluia

We feebly struggle, they in glory shine
Yet all are one for all are thine.