Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Aurora/Illinois

1 day ago

Why the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle?

I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

The Church stands firm upon the rock of Peter. Peter’s faith stands firm upon the rock of God’s Word made flesh in Jesus Christ. Today’s feast commemorates the teaching authority of the Vicar of Christ and the Magisterium of the Church. In the Gospel, Christ asks Peter, “Who do you say that I am?” “It is a clear and direct question,” Pope Francis said, “in the face of which it is not possible to flee or remain neutral, or to send the answer or delegate it to someone else. However, there is nothing inquisitorial in it, rather, it is full of love!—love of our only Teacher, who calls us to renew our faith in him, recognizing him as Son of God and Lord of our life. And the first called to renew his profession of faith is the Successor of Peter, who bears in himself the responsibility to confirm his brothers.”

The use of the word “chair” in the title of today’s feast has a double meaning. It really does involve an actual piece of furniture. In the ancient Church, bishops had a special chair reserved for them when they preached to their people. The tradition stretches back to the time of ancient Israel. St. Peter actually had a chair, a relic of which is encased in a bronze sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
But “chair” also means an office of the Church. The feast is a celebration of Peter’s special role in teaching and leading the Church. It’s also a celebration of the role that his successor, the pope, plays in every generation. The feast highlights the fact that the gospel message proclaimed by the pope can be traced all the way back to St. Peter and the twelve apostles.

So let’s honor this feast day with gratitude and with a promise. Let’s first thank God for the role that the successor of Peter plays in every age as teacher and guardian of the gospel. Let’s pray for him. And let’s promise to support him in this task by living out that same gospel in our lives. ... See MoreSee Less