This homily also the Ballerini adjudged to our St Maximus, having first weighed both the Vatican manuscript codices and those of the basilica of St Peter, some of which ascribe it to St Leo the Great. For much superior in number and excellence are the codices which favour the same bishop of Turin; for besides two Vatican ones, 1273 p. 56 and 1277 p. 56, and two Vallicellian ones, 15 p. 71 and A 7 p. 197, which in express words bring forth his name, there are codex 12 of Holy Cross in Jerusalem p. 77, another codex of Holy Cross of the Minorites in the Laurentian p. 128, the Farfa B, the Reichenau 15, the Martinensis, the Veronese 437, and finally two Ambrosian ones, namely C 98, most ancient, and H 146. To these manuscripts
books most illustrious in antiquity and in the esteem of all, is added the testimony of Alcuin, who in his Homiliary of the aforesaid edition, p. 71, attributes it to St Maximus. And that we may not again repeat the names of the editors which we have recounted above, it will be enough to have noted that no one is found in disagreement with Gymnicus p. 113, in whom it is the third homily on the festival of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. It is necessary, brethren, that we celebrate with all devotion the inseparable faith and the kindred passion of the most blessed apostles Peter and Paul, since both their praiseworthy life led them to a most glorious end, and their wondrous death transmitted them to perpetual life. And although in Peter faith is eminent, in Paul doctrine excels;
yet the mastery of Paul is the fullness of faith, and the belief of Peter is the foundation of doctrine; whom so great a dignity of heavenly election visited, that the one from a fisherman became a teacher, the other from a persecutor a defender. But in this the majesty of almighty God is to be extolled, who by a marvellous inspiration gave the grace of teaching to the unlearned, and made the enemy to love what he hated, and to assert the faith which he assailed. He did not take away the one's fishing, but changed it; he blinded the other's eyes, so that, having received a purer light, with the keen edge of a most clear mind he might see beyond human sight. How great, then, was Peter's merit before his God, that to him, after the rowing of a small boat, the helm of the whole Church should be handed over?
Or how greatly do we believe that Paul pleased Christ in the ministry of his apostolate, seeing that a persecutor could please him so much? For he pleased, because he was contending, not by the zeal of a wicked heart, but by the incautious devotion of a simple ignorance. In short, as soon as the Spirit of truth was poured into his senses, he showed at once that he had raged not with hatred of Christ, but had erred innocently through love of the ancestral law. What, then, shall I say especially concerning him, when he himself is his own most faithful witness? For, since he is unwilling to boast his own praises, and yet desires to announce the majesty of Christ, he more modestly confesses what was wrought in him. As though concerning another:
'I know a man,' he says, 'in Christ above fourteen years ago—whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth—such a one caught up. And I know such a man—whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not, God knoweth—that he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter' (2 Cor. 12). What is more magnificent than this Apostle, to whom, set in the midst of mortals, it was both given to go above the heavens, and granted to return to the earth? What is more blessed than this man, who, amid the secrets of paradise, deserved to learn thoroughly that which neither the tongue of man could utter, nor anyone deserve to hear? And since those things which he taught are of such sublimity that the human mind cannot comprehend them,
how great glory do we think that to be, which he declares it is not lawful for him to disclose? What also shall I relate of Peter, whose righteousness has been so approved by God, and to whom so great a power of judging has been attributed, that the heavenly judgment was placed in his discretion? Consider, therefore, and estimate with how great honour the apostle Peter is to be revered by us, whose sentence, pronounced on earth, the equity of the eternal Judge does not reject. And therefore attend diligently to what is the greatness of his glory, to whom, while the keys of the eternal kingdom are committed, it was permitted to shut and to open heaven. Of these, therefore, dearest brethren, the venerable passion is celebrated today throughout the whole world: today Rome honours their martyrdom with a most joyful concourse;