St. Peter, Prince of the Apostle

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is celebrated on February 22
Feast of St. Peter (and St. Paul) is on June 29

St. Peter was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the first leader of the early Christian church. According to the New Testament, he was a fisherman who left his nets to follow Jesus and became his closest disciple. He witnessed many of Jesus' miracles and teachings, such as walking on water, healing the sick, and feeding the multitudes. He also confessed that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God, and received the keys of the kingdom of heaven from him. After Jesus' death and resurrection, he received a special commission from him to feed his sheep and tend his lambs, meaning to care for and teach the believers. He preached the gospel in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and other regions, performing many signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. He also wrote two letters that are part of the New Testament, offering encouragement and instruction to the Christians. Eventually, he went to Rome, where he was martyred by crucifixion upside down, as he felt unworthy to die in the same way as his Lord.

St. Lambert of Maestricht

Feast Day: September 17

St. Lambert was a seventh-century bishop of Maastricht, who was martyred for his defense of the Church's independence from secular authorities. He was born around 636 in Maastricht, a city in the Frankish kingdom of Austrasia. He belonged to a noble family and was educated by his uncle, St. Theodard, who was the bishop of Maastricht. He succeeded his uncle as bishop in 669, after Theodard was assassinated by Ebroin, the mayor of the palace. Lambert was a loyal supporter of Childeric II, the king of Austrasia, and opposed the ambitions of Ebroin, who wanted to unite the Frankish kingdoms under his rule. When Childeric II was murdered in 675, Ebroin deposed Lambert and exiled him to the monastery of Stavelot. Lambert spent seven years in exile, during which he devoted himself to prayer and charity. He was restored to his see in 682, after Ebroin's death and the intervention of Pepin of Herstal, the new mayor of the palace. Lambert resumed his pastoral duties and continued to defend the Church's rights and freedoms from the interference of the secular power. He also supported the missionary work of St. Willibrord and St. Boniface in Frisia and Germany. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is also the patron saint of Liège, where his relics are kept in the Basilica of St. Lambert. His feast day is September 17.