Peter's Pence

Peter's Pence is the practice of lay members of the Roman Catholic Church providing material support to the clergy and other preachers of the Gospel. This allows the recipients to focus their time and energy on their ministry.

The practice originated at the eighth century C.E. when Anglo-Saxons decided to send a regular annual sum to the Pope in Rome. This custom of donation, called the Denarius Sancti Petri, or "Alms of Saint Peter," then spread throughout Europe.

At present this collection is taken each year on the Sunday closest to June 29, the Solemnity of both Saint Peter and Saint Paul.

References

• Peter's Pence on The Vatican City Homepage (September 12, 2003): http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/secretariat_state/obolo_spietro/documents/index_en.htm

External link

• Vatican City Homepage