St. Peter is buried beneath the high altar of St. Peter's Basilica on the Vatican Hill in Rome. Recent archaeological findings deep beneath the Basilica scientifically confirm the presence of the tomb there of the first pope A visitor to the Vatican Basilica can go into the crypt, which is the floor of the original church built by the Emperor Constantine. Sometimes visitors can also go deep into the excavations beneath the crypts to be nearer to the actual tomb of the Prince of the Apostles.
Reprinted from October 4, 1996
What are the "five
ways" of St. Thomas Aquinas?
These are the ways he set down to rationally prove the existence of God. We know that God exists because God Himself told us so. However, even apart from divine revelation, it is possible also for thinking human beings to know that God exists (Romans 1:18-22 and Wisdom 13:1-9). Other philosophers and thinkers have set forth other "ways," but those that St. Thomas lists are: to reason from motion to an unmoved Mover (he means more than physical movement); from efficient causes to an uncaused Cause; from contingent being to a necessary Being; from degrees of beings to a Supreme Being; and from the purpose and goals seen in all observed realities to a Final Cause or Goal of all creation. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 198-274. The book "The Christian Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas" by Etienne Gilson (Random House) has a fine, profound treatment of the "five ways" ("quinque viae") of St. Thomas.
Reprinted October 15, 1999
Is Hazel or Oswald
a saint's name?
The books I consulted do not list any saint with the name of Hazel. However, there is a canonized Saxon saint named Saint Oswald.
Reprinted from February 26, 1999
Who is the patron saint of soldiers?
The Church has declared several persons as the patron saint of soldiers: St. Hadrian, St. George, St. Sebastian, St. Joan of Arc, St. Martin of Tours and St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Reprinted from October
30, 1998
Did Saint John Bosco ever become a bishop?
No. He remained a priest until his death, although it is said he refused a bishopric in order to continue his work with the religious communities which he founded, and the pope honored his refusal.
Reprinted from February 27, 1998
Is there a patron saint for altar servers?
Yes. Saint John Berchmans has been declared the patron saint of altar servers.