The wonderful draught of fishes has a typical meaning. On the occasion when our Lord first called Peter to be an apostle, He worked a similar miracle (see chapter XIX). Now that He was about to confer on Peter the Chief Pastorship over His Church, He worked another miracle of the same kind, in order to bring home to him the work which he, as Chief Shepherd, would have to perform. The miracle worked before the Chief Pastorship was conferred on Peter is, therefore, full of typical and prophetical meaning. The lake signifies the world; the ship, the Church; the net, the doctrine of the Church. There was only one ship, even as there is only one Church of Christ. It was the ship of Peter; he governed it, and he drew the fish to land and brought them to our Lord. This signifies that Peter (with his successors, the Popes) is the visible head of the Church, and that, as such, he brings the faithful to our Lord in heaven (on the eternal shore). The number of the fishes caught shows that Peter (the Pope) and the apostles (the bishops and priests), working under his guidance, will gain many souls for Christ. The apostles had toiled the whole night and had caught nothing, till Jesus came and helped them in a wonderful way. This should serve as an indication to priests and teachers in the Church that none of their labours will produce any result, unless Jesus directs and blesses them. That the net, in spite of the number of fishes in it, was not broken, signifies that the Church of Peter will receive multitudes and nations into her fold and will be strong enough to contain and maintain them all in the unity of faith. The miraculous feast indicates that our Blessed Lord will comfort and strengthen His apostles in the midst of their labours, by His grace, and will some day refresh them at His heavenly banquet.
Peter's Pastoral Office. Gradually and slowly our Lord prepared St. Peter for his high office. When Jesus saw him first, He promised him a change of name. “And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon, the Son of Jona, thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter” (John i, 42). Then He placed him at the head of the twelve and preferred him on many occasions. And when Peter had made his solemn profession of faith in the Divinity of Christ, Jesus fulfilled His first promise, saying: “Thou art Peter”, and added a further promise: “And on this rock I will build My Church, and to thee will I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven” etc. Again, at the Last Supper Jesus told him that He had prayed for him especially that his faith might not fail, in order that he might confirm his brethren. And now we have reached the climax. Our Lord commits to Peter the full and final charge of His whole flock, which comprises sheep and lambs, i. e. pastors or bishops and the ordinary faithful. Thus Peter was made the Vicar of Christ upon earth and Head of the Church.
Jesus Christ is our Lord. Jesus, speaking of the faithful, calls them “ My lambs”. We are His people; we belong to Him, He is our Lord, because He has bought us with His Precious Blood. “You are not
