E02589: Augustine of Hippo preaches in Latin a sermon on the feast of the Apostles *Peter (S00036) and *Paul (S00008). Sermon 295, delivered c. 405-410, possibly in Hippo Regius (North Africa).

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 295

[In natali apostolorum Petri et Pauli

'On the birthday (natalis) of the apostles Peter and Paul']


1. Istum diem beatissimum apostolorum Petri et Pauli passio consecrauit. Non de obscuris aliquibus martyribus loquimur.

'This day has been consecrated for us by the martyrdoms of the most blessed Apostles Peter and Paul. It's not some obscure martyrs we are talking about ...'


Augustine focuses on Peter being the rock upon which the Church is built, and Paul being the persecutor converted into an apostle.

7. Ipse illi procurauit passionem: ipse perduxit ad istum diem. Unus dies passionis duobus apostolis. Sed et illi duo unum erant: quanquam diuersis diebus paterentur, unum erant. Praecessit Petrus, secutus est Paulus. Primo Saulus, postea Paulus: quia primo superbus, postea humilis.

'He [the Lord] is he who procured them his passion, he that brought them finally to this day. One day for the passion of two apostles. But those two also were as one; although they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, Paul followed, who was first Saul, followed Peter; because first proud, later humble ...'

8. Celebramus diem festum, apostolorum nobis sanguine consecratum. Amemus fidem, uitam, labores, passiones, confessiones, praedicationes. Proficimus enim amando; non ista propter carnalem laetitiam celebrando. Martyres enim a nobis quid quaerunt? minus habent, si adhuc laudes hominum quaerunt. Si adhuc laudes hominum quaerunt, nondum uicerunt. Si autem uicerunt, a nobis propter se nihil quaerunt; sed propter nos ipsos quaerunt ...
 
'We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles. Let us love their faith, their lives, their labours, their sufferings, their confession of faith, their preaching. We make progress ourselves, you see, by loving them, not by celebrating these things just for worldly pleasure and enjoyment. After all, what are the martyrs looking for from us? They must have very little, if they are still looking for human praises. If they are still looking for human praises, they haven't yet overcome. But if they have overcome, they are not looking for anything from us for their own sakes; but they are looking for it for our sakes ...'

Text: Patrologia Latina 38, 1348 and 1352. Translation: Hill 1994, 197-201. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.