The Diocese of Buffalo celebrated the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul, calling the two apostles examples of the boldest preachers.

“Let us pray on this last day of #ReligiousFreedomWeek that Christians will have the courage to proclaim the gospel of life and dignity for all with kindness and clarity, even in the face of adversity,” the diocese posted on Facebook Wednesday. “On the feast day of two of our boldest preachers of the gospel, Sts. Peter and Paul, who faced intense hostility, let us resolve to have the courage to speak the truth with grace, asking that the Lord will give us the prudence to be creative and compassionate in our witness.”

Catholics celebrate the feast day of Peter and Paul together on June 29, a report from Catholic News Agency said. It refers to a quote by St. Augustine of Hippo in explaining the joint celebration. 

“Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one,” the quote from St. Augustine said. “Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.” 

St. Peter was a fisherman when Jesus called him to be his disciple, Britannica said. He went on to be recognized as the leader of the 12 disciples and later became the first Catholic pope.

The Gospel of Matthew recalls Jesus, as was laying the groundwork for the papacy, say to Peter: ”And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Early in his life, Paul went by the name of Saul; the Rochester Bible Institute said. He was a Jew who persecuted Christians in those days. On one occasion, as he was going to Damascus, he was blinded by a bright light. He then heard a voice asking him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" The voice was said to belong to Jesus. 

Saul was taken to Damascus where, still blind, he did not eat or drink for three days; the Scripture said. Jesus then appeared in a vision before a disciple named Ananias. He told Ananias to go to Saul and perform a task that would save him. Ananias was tentative to carry out the task because of Saul's reputation as a persecutor, but he followed Jesus’ request. 

When Ananias visited Saul, he told Saul he had been sent by Jesus to restore his vision so that Saul could be filled with the Holy Spirit; the Scripture said. Ananias laid his hands on Saul, and scales fell from Saul's eyes, restoring his vision. That was enough to convince Saul that Jesus was real, so he converted. When Saul was baptized, he changed his name to Paul.