Peter's Name; Or, a Divine Credential in a Name (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909. Excerpt: ... NOTE XVII (k) Peter's name means, scripturally, the Apostle more deeply beloved of the Lord than any other Apostle A very important distinction should be insisted upon here--a distinction overlooked by the moderns but sharply drawn by the Fathers--between the love of tenderness (as, for instance, that of a mother for her new-born babe) and the love called "of intensity or preference," as, for instance, the love of the same mother for her first-born and full-grown son. The first was vouchsafed by our Lord to St. John alone, and the second to Peter exclusively among the Apostles. The fact that Peter was the Apostle most deeply beloved of Jesus is clearly established not only by the testimony of the Fathers but by the clear witness of the Iord himself. Christ in person answers affirmatively the question to which Peter, in his profoundly touching humility, would not return an affirmative reply, viz., "Simon, son of John, dost thou love me more than these?" For, straightway after questioning Peter thrice, Jesus says, "Feed my sheep." As if to say: "Because I know that thou lovest me more than these other Apostles of mine, therefore do I in return love thee more than I do these; and I accordingly intrust thee, in preference to them, with my treasure, my Spouse, my Church." As noted by the Fathers, especially the deepest of them all, St. Augustin--St. John loved Jesus more tenderly, but Peter loved Him more intensely, more ardently. And, in return, Jesus loved John with a more tender, but Peter with a stronger and intenser love. "Thus parents love their little children with a tender love, but those who are youths or grown up with a stronger and more solid love: whence also they give greater gifts to them than to the little ones." (Cornelius a Lapide on John 2. 1...