St. Peter, the fisherman whom Jesus made the rock of his Church, was the leader of the Apostles and the first Bishop of Rome. He loved Jesus passionately, denied him three times and was forgiven, and finally gave his life for him in Rome. Because of his weakness and his repentance, he is a friend to everyone who has failed and wants to begin again. Below are the traditional prayer to Sts. Peter and Paul from The Raccolta, prayers to St. Peter for the Pope and the Church, after failure and for fishermen, the Scripture of his calling and restoration, and his story.
The traditional prayer to Sts. Peter and Paul
The Church honors Peter and Paul together as the two pillars of the Church of Rome. From The Raccolta (English translation, 1878), where it was indulgenced by Pope Pius VI in 1778; it is followed by an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be:
O blessed apostles Peter and Paul! I take you this day for my special protectors and advocates with God. In all humility I rejoice with thee, blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, because thou art the rock whereon God hath built his Church; and I rejoice with thee, too, blessed Paul, because thou wast chosen of God for a vessel of election, and preacher of the truth throughout the world. Ask for me, I pray you both, lively faith, firm hope, and perfect charity; entire detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of heart, right intention in my works, diligence in the fulfilment of all the duties of my state of life, constancy in my good resolutions, resignation to the holy will of God, perseverance in his grace even unto death, — that, by your joint intercession and your glorious merits, I may overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and be made worthy to stand before the face of the chief and eternal pastor of souls, Jesus Christ, to enjoy him and to love him for all eternity, who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.
A prayer to St. Peter
Written for this page:
St. Peter, apostle and first Pope,
you left your nets to follow Jesus
and confessed him as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Pray for me, that my faith may be strong as rock
and that I may love Jesus as you loved him.
Obtain for me the grace I ask: (name your intention). Amen.
A prayer for the Pope and the Church
St. Peter, to you Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Pray for our Holy Father, Pope Leo, your successor,
that he may confirm his brothers and sisters in faith,
guide the Church in truth and love,
and be kept safe from every danger.
Keep all of us united around Christ. Amen.
This prayer was written for this page. See who is Pope Leo XIV and the prayer for priests.
A prayer after failure
St. Peter, you promised never to deny Jesus,
and then denied him three times before the cock crowed.
Yet you wept, returned, and heard him ask, “Lovest thou me?”
When I fail, help me not to despair but to come back to him,
to confess my sins and to begin again with greater humility. Amen.
This prayer was written for this page. See how to go to confession.
A prayer for fishermen and those at sea
St. Peter, fisherman of Galilee,
watch over all who fish and work on the water.
Keep them safe in storms, bless their work,
and bring them home to their families. Amen.
This prayer was written for this page.
Scripture: the rock and the shepherd
Peter’s confession of faith and Jesus’ promise:
Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
After the Resurrection, Jesus restored Peter by the Sea of Galilee, asking three times for his love:
When therefore they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: Feed my lambs.
He said to him the third time: Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved, because he had said to him the third time: Lovest thou me? And he said to him: Lord, thou knowest all things: thou knowest that I love thee. He said to him: Feed my sheep.
The life of St. Peter
Simon, son of John, was a fisherman from Bethsaida who lived in Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee with his wife’s family. His brother Andrew, a disciple of John the Baptist, brought him to Jesus, who gave him a new name, Cephas in Aramaic, Peter in Greek, meaning “rock.” With James and John he witnessed the raising of Jairus’s daughter, the Transfiguration and the agony in Gethsemane.
Peter was impulsive and generous. He walked on the water toward Jesus and began to sink; he confessed Jesus as the Christ and then tried to talk him out of the Cross; he swore he would die with him and then denied him three times. After the Resurrection the risen Lord appeared to him and entrusted him with feeding his sheep.
At Pentecost Peter preached the first sermon of the Church, and about three thousand were baptized. He led the community in Jerusalem, welcomed the first Gentile converts, and later went to Antioch and to Rome. There, according to ancient tradition, he was crucified during the persecution of the emperor Nero, around the year 64, asking to be crucified head downward because he was unworthy to die as his Lord had died. He was buried on the Vatican Hill, and the Basilica of St. Peter stands over his tomb.
Feast days and patronage
- Sts. Peter and Paul: June 29, a solemnity.
- The Chair of St. Peter: February 22, a feast honoring his teaching authority.
- Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul: November 18.
- Patron of: the Church and the popes, Rome, fishermen and net makers, and those who seek forgiveness.
- Symbols: the keys of the kingdom, an upside-down cross, a rooster, and a boat or fish.
Frequently asked questions
When is St. Peter’s feast day?
June 29, together with St. Paul. The Chair of St. Peter is celebrated on February 22.
Why is St. Peter shown with keys?
Because Jesus said to him: “I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:19), a sign of the authority he gave Peter in the Church.
How did St. Peter die?
According to tradition, he was crucified in Rome under Nero, upside down at his own request.
What is St. Peter the patron saint of?
The Church and the popes, fishermen, and all who repent after failing.
More prayers
- St. Andrew, his brother
- Prayer for the Pope
- St. Mark prayer
- St. James prayer, patron of pilgrims
- St. Paul prayer
- St. John the Baptist prayer
- St. Andrew Christmas novena
- Prayers of the faithful for the Church
- Act of contrition
- Prayers to popular saints
- Saint feast days
Texts and sources
- Prayer to Sts. Peter and Paul: The Raccolta, or Collection of Indulgenced Prayers, translated by Ambrose St. John (1878), no. 147, public domain (archive.org).
- Scripture: Matthew 16:16–19; John 21:15–17, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- The other prayers were written for this page.