Peter's Shadow

Ut, veniente Petro, saltem umbra illius obumbraret quemquam illorum, et liberentur. Tunc Petrus umbra sui corporis visibiliter allevabat infirmos, qui etiam nunc invisibili suae intercessionis umbraculo fidelium infirma roborare non cessat. Et quia Petrus Ecclesiae typus est, pulchre ipse quidem rectus incedit, sed umbra comitante jacentes erigit, quia Ecclesia mente et amore coelestibus intendens, quasi umbractice transcurrit in terra, et hic sacramentis temporalibus figurisque coelestium renovat, quos illic perpetuis remunerat donis. Quidam huic loco nectunt hoc, quod Dominus in Evangelio ait: Qui credit in me, opera quae ego facio, et ipse faciet, et majora horum faciet. Sanctus Beda, Super acta Apostolorum Expositio, Caput V Souce: Migne PL 92.955

That, with Peter coming, at least his shadow fall upon some of them and they be healed. 1 So Peter with the shadow of his visible body alleviated the infirm, he who even now with the invisible shadow of his intercession does not cease to fortify the weak among the faithful. And because Peter is a type of the Church, it is certainly right that he walks upright, and it is the attendant shadow that lifts up those cast down, because the Church, with mind and love intent on heavenly things, as a shadow passes over the earth, and it renews with temporal sacraments and signs of heaven those there who are enriched by perpetual gifts. Certainly connected with this passage is what the Lord said in the Gospel: 'He who believes in me, the works which I do, even he shall do, and greater things than these.' 2 Saint Bede, Commentary on the Acts of The Apostles, Chap 5 1 Acts 5.15 2 Jn 14.12