Peter the Apostle

Drawing of Peter by Lorenzo Ferri Salton according to the indications of Maria Valtorta. Source: documentary collection of the Maria Valtorta Heritage Foundation.

He is a Galilean from Bethsaida. His name is Simon, but Jesus nicknames him "Peter" (Képhas in Aramaic). He is son of Jonas, who died at the time of Jesus' Public Life. His mother remains anonymous. Only one brother is known: Andrew the Apostle. They both own a house by the Sea of Galilee, neighboring each other. Peter is married to Porphirea and has no child.

Character and appearance

He is short and stocky, with a slightly hoarse voice. He appears to be about forty-five years old: his graying hair bristles more than it curls. His eyes are expressive, his hands, large and short, have prominent veins. He is "a big old baby" as affectionately said by Jesus.

Peter is talkative and quite easily impulsive: he controls himself only with great effort. This is particularly true towards Judas, who has a talent for irritating him.          

He is frank: "what I have on my Heart, I have on my lips" is one of his maxims. His quick wit sometimes borders on impertinence. He does not hide his mistakes:

"Ah! No! No secrets for the Master. I was wrong, I deserve the reproach immediately."        

He is curious and cunning: this sometimes amuses Jesus.
Peter is practical and shrewd, but he is also a man with a generous Heart.

He is authoritarian and sometimes domineering. His brother Andrew the Apostle has indeed taken the habit of yielding to him. Peter is easily intransigent.

The Virgin Mary, to whom Jesus asks for her impressions of the Apostles, defines him thus:

"Peter is also good. Harder because older, but frank and convinced."

The apostle

He is the fourth apostle called by Jesus.

Peter asserts himself from the beginning and often intervenes. He comments on events, takes initiatives, assigns roles. His straightforward and uncompromising character clashes with Judas’ interventions as well as those of the more or less hostile notable figures: many quarrels occur, but he progressively learns self-control under the recommendations of Jesus.    

Called to frequent travels, he moves from Bethsaida to Capernaum, city of birth of his wife Porphirea: this way she will be close to her Family. This move provides an opportunity for his mother-in-law to resume the litany of reproaches against her son-in-law, burdened with all the faults. The move to Capernaum also involves James and John, the sons of Zebedee, themselves Apostles. The move doesn't last: the cohabitation of son-in-law and mother-in-law is too difficult. The household returns to settle in Bethsaida.  

Peter’s paternal instinct suffers from having no child. He is therefore fulfilled when, thanks to the intercession of Mary, he becomes the adoptive father of Margziam, the future Saint Martial, a young orphan and prodigious disciple.

After the selection of the twelve Apostles, Jesus gradually places Peter in the position of leader of the Apostles. This role is spontaneously accepted by all the Apostles except Judas. But Peter does not feel confident in this function, although he excels in it.      

Jesus highlights his qualities: his profession as a fisherman has given him qualities that Jesus will use to make him a "fisher of men": steadfastness, courage, vigilance, strength.

"And does that seem little to you, Simon Peter? He said to comfort him. You have everything you need to be my "rock". There is nothing to add, nothing to remove. You will be the eternal pilot, Simon."        

Jesus also acknowledges his sacrifices:        

"- How many sacrifices, isn't it so, Simon? Jesus said to him.      

"- Sacrifices? Which ones? Peter asked in surprise.    

"- Sacrifices of not questioning, not speaking, enduring Judas… being far from your lake… But God will give you a compensation for all," Jesus explains.

That does not prevent Peter from feeling unworthy when Jesus entrusts him with the leadership of the nascent Church after Him. He is frightened. This distinction is followed by a humiliation: trying to dissuade Jesus from going up to Jerusalem to live His Passion, he is publicly accused of having the thoughts of Satan.-

Peter witnesses most of the major events: The Transfiguration of the Lord, the Last Supper, the Resurrection, the Ascension, Pentecost, but not the Crucifixion where he fled.        

His triple denial during the Passion is a real trial for him: it confirms his unworthiness in his eyes. This memory tortures him. The Risen Jesus forgives him during His first appearance to the Apostles in the Upper Room, leading him to be humble and charitable towards the future weaknesses of his "brothers in Christ" and future converts.

The coming of the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, completely transforms this fishing patron, with rough language and manners, into a confident leader of the nascent Church:

"Peter is full of majesty when he speaks. He no longer has the rustic fisherman look he had just some time ago. He climbed on a stool to speak and be better seen and heard, because, given his small stature, if he had remained standing on the floor of the room, he would not have been seen by those furthest away and he, on the contrary, wants to dominate the crowd.
He speaks measuredly, with an appropriate voice, and the gestures of a true orator. His eyes, always expressive, are now more eloquent than ever. Love, faith, authority, contrition, everything shines through this look, announces and reinforces his words."

Indeed, from the first days after Pentecost, Peter establishes Worship every Sunday in the Upper Room, the first Church of the Christian era, consecrated by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper. :

"Now that he knows what use Lazarus has made of the house of the Upper Room, he has decided to begin regular Agape meals and to celebrate the regular mysteries the day after each Sabbath" reports John to the Virgin Mary.

His death

Despite the conditions of his death, as reported by Tradition (being crucified upside down), Peter benefits from a happy death, predicted several times by Jesus to Peter in the work of Maria Valtorta:

"At the hour of your dawn, you will see your Jesus smiling at you on the vault of the sky to say: 'I love you, come,' and your entry into the dawn will be gentler than the entry into the bridal chamber...".

"The hour will come when you will want to accomplish only the last sacrifice. And then you will have all the strength coming from Heaven and yourself. I will be there full of admiration watching you."  

Later, Jesus predicts to him:

"You will die saying my Name."

His name

Simon, like Simeon (Chimon - Shim'ôn), means "he who hears". Historical reference: the second son of Jacob who was held hostage by his brother Joseph, who became the Pharaoh's steward.  

Peter (Cephas in Aramaic) is the nickname given by Jesus: "You are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church".

Where is he mentioned in the work?

Calling of the first Apostles: EMV 48 EMV 49 EMV 50 EMV 51 EMV 53 EMV 54 EMV 55 EMV 56
Beginning of the apostleship in Galilee: EMV 57 EMV 58 EMV 59 EMV 60 EMV 61 EMV 62 EMV 64 EMV 65
Apostolic journey in Judea: EMV 70 EMV 71
Choosing the last Apostles: EMV 90 EMV 91 EMV 92 EMV 93 EMV 94 EMV 95 EMV 96 EMV 97
The last shepherds: EMV 98 EMV 99 EMV 100 EMV 101 EMV 102 EMV 103 EMV 104 EMV 105 EMV 108 EMV 109
In Judea before communal life: EMV 110 EMV 111 EMV 112 EMV 115 EMV 116 EMV 117 EMV 118
Teachings on the Ten Commandments: EMV 119 EMV 120 EMV 121 EMV 122 EMV 123 EMV 124 EMV 125 EMV 126 EMV 127 EMV 128 EMV 129 EMV 130 EMV 131 EMV 132
End-of-year celebrations: EMV 133 EMV 134 EMV 135 EMV 136 EMV 137 EMV 138 EMV 139 EMV 140 EMV 141 EMV 142
The Samaritan woman: EMV 143 EMV 144 EMV 145 EMV 147 EMV 149
Female apostleship: EMV 152 EMV 153 EMV 154 EMV 155 EMV 156 EMV 157 EMV 158
In Galilee, the choice of Apostles: EMV 160 EMV 161 EMV 162 EMV 164 EMV 165 EMV 166
Sermon on the Mount: EMV 169 EMV 170 EMV 171 EMV 172 EMV 173 EMV 174 EMV 176
Apostleship in Galilee: EMV 177 EMV 178 EMV 179 EMV 180 EMV 181 EMV 182 EMV 183 EMV 184 EMV 185 EMV 186
The second Easter journey: EMV 187 EMV 188 EMV 189 EMV 190 EMV 191 EMV 192 EMV 193 EMV 194 EMV 195 EMV 196 EMV 197 EMV 198 EMV 199 EMV 200 EMV 201 EMV 202 EMV 203
Apostleship in Judea: EMV 205 EMV 206 EMV 207 EMV 208 EMV 209 EMV 210 EMV 211 EMV 212 EMV 213 EMV 214 EMV 215
Apostleship in Philistia: EMV 216 EMV 217 EMV 218 EMV 219 EMV 220 EMV 221 EMV 222 EMV 223 EMV 224 EMV 225
The conversion of Mary Magdalene: EMV 228 EMV 230 EMV 231 EMV 232 EMV 233 EMV 235 EMV 237 EMV 238 EMV 239 EMV 240 EMV 241 EMV 242 EMV 243 EMV 244 EMV 247 EMV 248 EMV 249 EMV 250 EMV 251 EMV 252 EMV 253 EMV 254 EMV 255
Sending of Apostles and Disciples on Mission: EMV 256 EMV 257 EMV 258 EMV 260 EMV 261 EMV 262 EMV 263 EMV 265 EMV 268 EMV 269 EMV 271 EMV 272 EMV 273 EMV 274 EMV 275 EMV 276 EMV 277 EMV 278 EMV 279 EMV 280
Perea, Gilead and Trachonitis: EMV 281 EMV 282 EMV 283 EMV 284 EMV 285 EMV 286 EMV 287 EMV 288 EMV 289 EMV 290 EMV 291 EMV 292 EMV 293 EMV 294
End-of-year celebrations in Nazareth: EMV 306 EMV 310 EMV 311 EMV 312
Disciples’ journey to Antioch: EMV 313 EMV 314 EMV 315 EMV 316 EMV 318 EMV 319 EMV 320 EMV 321 EMV 323 EMV 324 EMV 325 EMV 326
Phoenicia and Upper Galilee: EMV 332 EMV 333 EMV 334 EMV 335 EMV 336 EMV 338 EMV 340 EMV 341 EMV 342 EMV 343 EMV 344 EMV 345 EMV 346 EMV 347
The Transfiguration and the Bread of Heaven: EMV 348 EMV 349 EMV 350 EMV 351 EMV 352 EMV 353 EMV 354 EMV 355 EMV 356 EMV 357 EMV 358 EMV 359 EMV 360 EMV 361 EMV 362 EMV 363
The penultimate Passover: EMV 364 EMV 365 EMV 366 EMV 367 EMV 368 EMV 369 EMV 370 EMV 371 EMV 372 EMV 374 EMV 375 EMV 376 EMV 377 EMV 378
In Judea: EMV 379 EMV 380 EMV 381 EMV 382 EMV 383 EMV 384 EMV 385
AGodx in Judea: EMV 386 EMV 387 EMV 388 EMV 389 EMV 390 EMV 391 EMV 392 EMV 393 EMV 394 EMV 386 EMV 387 EMV 388 EMV 389 EMV 390 EMV 391 EMV 392 EMV 393 EMV 394 EMV 395 EMV 396 EMV 397 EMV 398 EMV 399 EMV 400 EMV 401 EMV 402 EMV 403 EMV 398 EMV 399 EMV 400 EMV 401 EMV 402 EMV 403
Plain of Sharon: EMV 404 EMV 405 EMV 406 EMV 407 EMV 408 EMV 410 EMV 411 EMV 412
Pentecost, Decapolis and Esdraelon Plain: EMV 413 EMV 414 EMV 415 EMV 416 EMV 417 EMV 418 EMV 419 EMV 420 EMV 421 EMV 422 EMV 423 EMV 424 EMV 425 EMV 426 EMV 427 EMV 428 EMV 429 EMV 430 EMV 431 EMV 432
Summer in Nazareth: EMV 435 EMV 436 EMV 440 EMV 441 EMV 443 EMV 444 EMV 445 EMV 446 EMV 447 EMV 448 EMV 449 EMV 450 EMV 451 EMV 452 EMV 453 EMV 454 EMV 455 EMV 456 EMV 457 EMV 458 EMV 459 EMV 460 EMV 461 EMV 462 EMV 463 EMV 464 EMV 465
In Syro-Phoenicia: EMV 466 EMV 467 EMV 469 EMV 470 EMV 471 EMV 472 EMV 473 EMV 474 EMV 475 EMV 477 EMV 481 EMV 483
Feast of Tabernacles: EMV 488 EMV 489 EMV 493 EMV 494 EMV 495
In Moab and Judea: EMV 496 EMV 497 EMV 498 EMV 499 EMV 500 EMV 502 EMV 503 EMV 504 EMV 505 EMV 509 EMV 510 EMV 511 EMV 514 EMV 515 EMV 519 EMV 520 EMV 521 EMV 523 EMV 524 EMV 525
Feast of Dedication: EMV 527 EMV 528 EMV 529 EMV 531 EMV 532 EMV 533 EMV 534 EMV 536 EMV 537 EMV 538
The resurrection of Lazarus: EMV 545 EMV 547
The exile in Samaria: EMV 551 EMV 552 EMV 553 EMV 554 EMV 555 EMV 556 EMV 561 EMV 566 EMV 567 EMV 568 EMV 571 EMV 573 EMV 574
The return to Jerusalem: EMV 577 EMV 578 EMV 580 EMV 582 EMV 584 EMV 586 EMV 587
Holy Week: EMV 589 EMV 590 EMV 592 EMV 594 EMV 595 EMV 596 EMV 597 EMV 598
The Passion: EMV 600 EMV 601 EMV 612 EMV 614 EMV 615
Resurrection Sunday: EMV 616 EMV 619 EMV 623 EMV 626
From Resurrection to Ascension: EMV 627 EMV 628 EMV 629 EMV 630 EMV 631 EMV 633 EMV 634 EMV 635 EMV 636 EMV 637 EMV 638
Apostolic times: EMV 639 EMV 640 EMV 641 EMV 642 EMV 643 EMV 644 EMV 646 EMV 647 EMV 648

Learn more about this character

Excerpts from the Dictionary of Gospel Characters, Salton Maria Valtorta (Mgr René Laurentin, François-Michel Debroise, Jean-François Lavère, Salvator Editions, 2012):

Saint Peter is celebrated on June 29 together with Saint Paul. His name is mentioned 150 times in the writings of the New Testament.          

Two epistles from him are preserved. The 2nd is sometimes disputed. The Gospel of Mark, his disciple, reflects his teaching. Two 2nd-century apocrypha bear his name: the Gospel of Peter and the Acts of Peter.  

According to the Acts of the Apostles, Peter presides over the assembly that elects the apostle Matthias to replace Judas. The baptisms he performs on the centurion Cornelius and his family open the Church to the Gentiles.

Around 42, imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa, he is miraculously freed by an angel. Peter then continues his activity in Judea and Samaria, later in Antioch of Syria, the third largest city of the empire, where he has a debate with Paul.        

In 48/49, he presides with James the Lesser the first council of Jerusalem.  

It is then believed that he stays for seven years in Antioch of Syria, becoming its first bishop, before going to Rome. He finally comes to Rome twice.      

Around 65/67, under Emperor Nero, he is arrested. He is crucified in the emperor’s gardens on Vatican Hill. At his request, the execution takes place upside down.  

Emperor Constantine (4th century) had a Basilica built on Vatican Hill at the presumed site of his tomb. It became St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.        

In 1939, at the initiative of Pius XII, excavations were undertaken under the Basilica to locate Peter’s tomb. In 1948, following an audience with Pius XII, a priest from the Secretariat of State asked Maria Valtorta if she had had a revelation about Peter’s burial place. She answered affirmatively, but the levity with which the Servites of Mary treated the work at that time interrupted the revelation. From the fragments of texts mentioned in The Notebooks, it is deduced, without certainty, that his tomb is located in the Ostrianum catacombs on the Via Nomentana northeast of Rome, where he taught.      

However, all searches conducted by the Holy See culminated on June 26, 1968, in the official recognition by Paul VI of the remains found in the Basilica. The skeleton there is headless since the head had been venerated since the 9th century at St. John Lateran.

Second part of the Bible, from the coming of Jesus Christ until the Apocalypse.

Extraordinary assembly of representatives of the Catholic Church, convened to discuss and collectively decide on important issues.