Item 0333 - Annus Sanctus MCMIL - MCML

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The four-page image shows Christ in full glory at the door of heaven, glowing in a golden colour, protecting and guarding the Basilica of St Peter's in Rome, where thousands of pilgrims can be seen in the Square in front. At the bottom, there is a portrait of Pope Pius XII, during whose reign the Jubilee Year was celebrated. On the right hand side, there is a picture of St Peter and St Paul together standing on a cloud covering St Peter's. Their feast day is celebrated on the same day - 29 June - because the two saints are the founders of the See of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there. St Peter is holding the keys of heaven, which today are an emblem of the Catholic Church and a symbol of papal authority. The keys represent the divine authority that was vested before the death of Jesus in the apostle Peter. St Paul is seen holding the sword and the Holy Bible. This is a reference to his Letter to the Ephesians 6: 17wherein he writes “And take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Besides this, the author of the letter to the Hebrews, who is traditionally believed to be St. Paul, uses a similar analogy and further explains why the Word of God is connected to a sword, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, ...” (Hebrews 4:12). In the middle pages, one finds a calendar of saints for the year 1950.

• Italian