From: norris@athena.mit.edu (Richard A Chonak)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Re: Papacy
Date: 31 Aug 92 07:42:26 GMT
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Fr. Roch Kereszty of the University of Dallas published an insightful
article on this subject in the Summer 1988 "Communio": "Peter and Paul and
the founding of the Church of Rome: Forgotten perspectives".

In the piece, he tries to show the integration of the Primacy of Peter with 
other basic Christian teachings, so that "it begins to be seen as a special
articulation of those basic mysteries which are firmly held by all Christians."

Here are a few of his theses (edited for brevity):

(quote)
According to the earliest available evidence of the late first and second
century, the Church of Rome was founded by both Peter and Paul.  According to 
the same evidence, her prominence and leadership role in the universal Church 
derives from the fact of having been jointly founded by these two martyr
apostles. ... The Synod of Arles (314) attributes the prominence of Rome to 
the fact that there "the apostles sit in judgment every day and their blood
bears witness unceasingly to the glory of God."

According to the early patristic view, the martyrdom of the two chief apostles 
is *constitutive* of their apostolic mission, and their martyrdom in Rome is 
constitutive of the leadership role of Rome.

Even though the final coming of the Kingdom is still awaited, all those who 
serve him faithfully, especially the martyrs, join Christ in his reign after 
their death.  In particular, the apostles begin to sit in judgment over the
Church from the time of their martyrdom to the end of the ages.  Thus the 
Kingdom is both a future and present reality... 

The shepherding of the apostles does not cease with their death....From the
viewpoint of the liturgy, their governing takes the form of intercessory prayer
with God.  As one ancient prayer puts it concisely: "the Church is governed by 
their prayers."... The apostles are not replaced: they remain present and
carry out their work *through the college of bishops* until the end of the
world....  What makes this unique "being in one another" possible is the
Holy Spirit.

What, then, is special about the relationship between Peter and Paul and the
Church of Rome? ...According to the testimony of the Church's liturgy, the
intercessory influence of the saints is attested especially in that place and
community in which their bodies were buried.  This applies in a special way to
the martyr apostles, Peter and Paul.  ...The veneration of Peter and Paul was
firmly established in Rome in the first half of the third century....At 
least from the fourth century onward, the presence of Peter is affirmed not
only in a general way, but it is connected especially with the person of the
bishop of Rome....For instance, thus write Pope Siricius:
  "We carry the burden of all who are burdened; in fact, the blessed apostle
   Peter carries these burdens in us..."
At the Council of Ephesus Peter was said to live and judge in his successors.
Yet at the same Council the pope is also hailed as a new Paul because of his
right judgment on the doctrine of Nestorius.

[To reduce five summary paragraphs to five sentences:]
1. The Kingdom consummated in Jesus and the saints penetrates the Church
and is active in the Church throughout her history.
2. When the bishops fulfill their ministry according to God's will, the
college of the apostles carries out their ministry through them.
3. The shepherding and teaching of the bishop of Rome must also be seen in 
this context: whatever good the pope's ministry accomplishes for the Church
of Rome and the universal Church, is causally linked to the concern, love and
prayer of both martyr apostles Peter and Paul who "live and preside in the
Church of Rome."
4. In this context, we perceive that the Church of today is not only in 
continuity with the Church of the Apostles, but it is, in some real sense, 
identical with it.
5. The Holy Spirit's transcendent activity  maintains the unity of the
Church throughout the ages so that it becomes more than just a succession from
one generation to another, accepting the same beliefs and rule of life.  

He assures the presence of the apostles in the Church on earth throughout the
ages.  This "active ministry" does not diminish the power of God's grace but
gives glory to God from whom all the glory and efficacy of his saints derive.
The Byzantine liturgy expresses admirably this theological and doxological
dimension:
  "Today Christ the rock glorifies with supreme honor the rock of faith and
   leader of the Apostles, together with Paul and the company of the Twelve,
   whose memory we celebrate with eagerness of faith, 
   giving glory to the One who gave glory to them."

(end of quote)
---
Richard Chonak                                      norris@athena.mit.edu