England's 'Primary' Patton Saint

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 178, 29 July 1893, Page 3 (Supplement)

England's 'Primary' Patton Saint

St. Peter so 'Created.'

Our cables a week or two ago reported the ceremonies associated with tha formal recognition of St. Peter as patron sainb of England. Says a London paper :—

A pastoral letter, dated ' Westminster! 20th May,' and signed by Cardinal "Vaughan and 14 bishops of the Roman Church in England and Wales, indicates that the idea of creating St. Poter patron saint of England emanated from tho Pope. It seems thab in his reply to the pilgrims from England His Holiness spoke of the second important religious lessons to bo drawn from tho annals of English history as relating to the ' special worship always paid by the English to the Prince of the Apostles as Primary Patron of their Kingdom. ■'To this worship numerous ami stately collegiate foundations, monasteries and churches, as also many documents written by our predecessor?, His Holiness pointed oiit, bear ample testimony ; and notably that charter of your sainted King Edward, wherein ho records and confirms tho "extraordinary riovotion which the English pecjplo have ever borne towards Blessed Peter nnd bis successors." " Therefore," he said, " it is our most earnest desire thab faithful England should once more, with the greatest fervour, rovive her devooion to these two patrons of tho faith, to these two powerful guardians of all virtue, nnd, God prom'ptin" us, we most earnestly exhort the faithful of England to follow the example of their forefathers, and by a solemn religious rite to derlicato and consecrate the whole country to the Most Holy Mother of God and to the blessed Princo of the Apostles^"'