They could not have been more different. Peter — a fisherman, impulsive, who denied Christ three times and wept bitterly. Paul — a persecutor of Christians, struck blind on the road to Damascus, who became the greatest missionary the Church has ever known. Two men, two stories, one faith. The Church celebrates them together on June 29 not because they were alike, but because they show us that God calls the unlikely, the broken, and the converted — and builds His Church on them.
Their lives remind us that no past failure, weakness, or sin is beyond the reach of God’s mercy.
Who Are Saints Peter and Paul?
Saint Peter was Simon, a fisherman from Galilee, chosen by Jesus as the first of the Apostles. Jesus gave him the name Peter — meaning rock — and said: “Upon this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18). He was the first Pope, the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem and Rome, and was martyred by crucifixion — upside down, at his own request, feeling unworthy to die as his Lord had died. His feast is June 29.
Saint Paul was Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee who persecuted Christians until the risen Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Blinded, converted, and transformed, he became the Apostle to the Gentiles — traveling across the Mediterranean world, founding churches, writing letters that became a significant part of the New Testament. He was beheaded in Rome under Emperor Nero. His feast is also June 29.
Why the Church Celebrates Them Together
Together they are the twin pillars of the Church in Rome — the one who knew Jesus in the flesh and the one who met Him in a blinding light. Both gave their lives for the same Lord.
When Should You Pray to Saints Peter and Paul?
- For the unity and strength of the Catholic Church
- For the Pope and Church leadership
- For missionaries and those who preach the Gospel
- When you feel unworthy of God’s call — as Peter did
- When you need a radical conversion — as Paul did
- For courage to speak about your faith
- On their feast day, June 29
- For anyone who has denied or abandoned the faith and wants to return
- For those returning to the sacraments after many years away
Prayer to Saints Peter and Paul
Saints Peter and Paul,
you who were so different from each other,
yet gave your lives for the same Lord,
intercede for us today.
Saint Peter,
you who denied Christ and were restored by His mercy,
pray for those of us who have failed
and fear that our failures define us.
Saint Paul,
you who persecuted the Church and became one of its greatest servants,
pray for those who have wandered far from God
and long to find their way home.
Together, ask the Lord
to strengthen His Church,
to protect the Holy Father,
and to give us the courage
to live and proclaim our faith
with trust and perseverance.
I bring before you this intention:
Mention your intention here
Saints Peter and Paul,
pray for us.
Amen.
How to Use This Prayer
Pray it on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul — a holy day of obligation in many countries. You can also pray it for the Pope, for Church unity, or whenever you need the intercession of the two great pillars of the Church.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is celebrated on June 29 every year. It is a solemnity in the Catholic liturgical calendar and a holy day of obligation in many countries.
Yes. Saint Peter is buried beneath the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City, where his tomb has been venerated since the early Church. Saint Paul is buried beneath the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Both basilicas are among the four major basilicas of Rome.
Saint Peter is the patron of popes, fishermen, and the universal Church. Saint Paul is the patron of missionaries, writers, and those who spread the Gospel. Together they are the patron saints of Rome and of the Catholic Church’s mission to the world.
The Church celebrates them together because both were martyred in Rome under Emperor Nero, around the same time in the 60s AD. Their joint feast has been celebrated since at least the 4th century. They represent the two pillars of the early Church — Peter, the leader of the Apostles, and Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Related Prayers
- Prayer to Saint John the Baptist — Another great figure who prepared the way for Christ
- Catholic Prayer for Impossible Situations — When you need God to intervene
- Prayer for Courage to Begin Again — For new beginnings in faith
- Prayer to Saint Paul for Conversion — For those far from faith
