Sequence 54. St. Peter and St. Paul

June 29TH.
THIS triumphal day returning
Is a type of endless morning,
Counterpart of glor)- bright :
'Tis a happy, glad, day truly,
When for victory great and holy
Peter arms him for the fight I
Simple, poor, unknown, he seeketh,
From what he in fishing taketh,
His sole means of livelihood :
To him are the keys of heaven —
A poor man but faithful — given.

And to find Christ's flock their food.
Through the sea his nets he hauleth,
But, when from the sea Christ calleth.

Thence he at His call is led ; i;
Quits his oar, his draw-net spurning,
Leaves his vessel, Christ discerning,
By His word thenceforth is fed.

loo SS. PETRUS ET PAUL US.
Novae remus specie!

ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL. loi
He hath given to him another
Oar, a net unUke his other,
And a different vessel now :
For his oar the key of heaven,
For his net God's word, is given,
For his ship God's Church below.

'Gainst him, hke the waves of ocean,
This world's flood of deep emotion.

Fears and sorrows fiercely beat ;
Which gives wolves a lamb-like nature,
And, as offerings, every creature
Brings to God, both great and small.

Of God's flock is he the pastor,
Steward of an heavenly master.

And a fisherman of men :
Walking on the sea he goeth,
Sinking fast, when fear he showeth,
On the Lord he calleth then.

A new name he now possesseth,
Peter ! rock ! when he confesseth
Christ the Son of God to be.

Sound that faith is, true that teaching,
Not from flesh, — from heaven's self reaching ! —
Emanates this mystery.

Unto Peter are committed
Two keys ; one for scales is fitted,
Wherein merits' weight to weigh :
One the key of power is, binding
Freedom's fount, or paths ascending
Opening to the reahns of day.

Peter, having thrice denied Him
Whom he loved, wept, when beside Him
He looked round who healeth grief:
Cleansing is that balmy river
Of sad tears sore hearts deliver,
And that sigh, fond heart's reUef
Why, O man ! art thou so haughty?

Think'st to stand amidst this naughty
World's calamities and cares ?

Ne'er presume thou ; Peter sinneth :
Ne'er despair ; since Peter winneth
Pardon for his guilt by tears !

With his wretched wife the lying
Ananias is found dying,
A most righteous fate is such !

Life the word of Ufe, see ! giveth !
Tabitha at once reviveth,
When she feels St. Peter's touch.

Close confined by Herod's orders
In the prison's penal borders,
Fetters stiffening every limb ;
Soft the iron's hardness groweth,
Doors fly open, no man knoweth ;
'Tis an angel sent to him !

Rome, earth's head, sin's source, chief centre
Where the plague of crime dare venture,
Rome, that Rome, doth Peter enter,
By the Spirit's sword on borne ;
Since death's chieftain he o'erthroweth,
Life's light to the blind he showeth,
Treating, while Paul with him goeth,
Nero's dreadful cross with scorn.

Simon, mad, an height ascended
And fell headlong ; Paul's life ended
'Neath the sword ; and, limbs extended,
Nailed is Peter to the tree :
Thus both taught and teacher, whether
Lover or beloved either,
Saviour thus and saved together,
Share the cross's agony.

Peter ! from thy net selected,
Draw us where, with joy perfected,
Sion is on high erected.

And the true Lamb's feast is spread ;
io6 SS. PETRUS ET PAULUS.

Ubi salus, ubi quie.s,
Expers noctis ubi dies,
Ubi Deus homo fies,
Ubi semper vivitur ! Amen.

Where is rest from this Hfe's fever,
Where night follows daylight never,
Where in endless Hfe for ever
Man shall like to God be made ! Amen.

io8 COMMEMORATIO S. FAULT.