Friends of the Rosary,

Today, June 29, the faithful venerate the two Apostles Peter and Paul, Apostles (d. 64-67), on whom the Church was built.

Peter, the head of the apostles, and Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, have been remembered together on this date since ancient times.

Under God's guidance, they were led to make Rome, the capital of the Empire, sanctified by their martyrdom, the center of the Christian world, from where the preaching of the Gospel would radiate down the centuries.

St. Peter suffered martyrdom under Nero, in A.D. 66 or 67. He was buried on the hill of the Vatican; his tomb is on the very site of the Basilica of St. Peter's. St. Paul was beheaded in the Via Ostia on the spot where now stands the basilica bearing his name, today a pilgrimage place.

In today's main reading (Matthew 16:13-19), we see Christ changing the name of Peter to Cephas (Greek: Petros, meaning "rock"), and asking,
“Who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.

I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven.
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Ave Maria!
Jesus, I Trust In You!

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
To Jesus through Mary!

Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.
Please give us the grace to respond with joy!

+ Mikel Amigot w/ María Blanca | RosaryNetwork.com, New York

Enhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:
Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play

• June 29, 2025, Today’s Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET