Old Testement

St. Peter – First Pope

This Catholic fine art print is centered on St. Peter as the first Pope. He holds the keys of the Kingdom (the church) that Jesus gave him as a symbol of his authority as Vicar of Christ on earth. He looks humbly upward to heaven in prayer for the guidance and strength that Christ promised him. The name "Peter" (¶€ÙÚÔ˜ in Greek) in Matthew 16:18 translates as rock. Some Jewish commentators of the Old Testament understood Numbers 23:9 in a manner similar to Peter with this commentary from Jewish Encyclopedia on Peter regarding Abraham:” Upon Abraham as top of the rocks God said I should build my kingdom” The dogmas and traditions of the Catholic Church teach that the institution of the papacy was first mandated by Biblical passages:

“Matt.16: 18-19: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Isaiah 22:20-22: "On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open." (Shows a parallel to Matthew 16:18-20)

In John 21:15-17: ". Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep."

Luke 12:41: "Then Peter said, "Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?" And the Lord replied, "Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute (the) food allowance at the proper time?" (Feeding theme appears again here) Luke 22:31-32: "Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers."

Above the image of St. Peter is a dove, which represents God the Holy Spirit that Christ promised to send Peter and the Apostles to guide them unto all truth. The fire-like ribbon that falls from the dove represents the grace that Holy Spirit pours out on Peter for him to tend (guard) and feed Christ’s sheep. The seven stars on the outer edge of the window represents the seven spirits that surround the throne of God in the book of Revelations. The twenty light blue beads (circles) represent the twenty mysteries of the rosary. Which is a contemplative prayer on the life of Jesus on earth and of His glory in heaven. In the lower right of the window is an oval that contains the shield of the late pope John Paul II. In the lower left of the window is a circle that contains the coat of arms of our current pope Benedict the XIV. In the center of these two images is the cross on which is superimposed the Eucharist that Peter fed Christ’s people everyday.This is recorded in the book of Acts (breaking of the bread).

Catholic fine art and prints - innerwindows.net