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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.
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Last Friday, our Manna for Marriage Ministry hosted "A Portrait of Love: Date Night on Valentine’s Day." Many couples shared an evening filled with creativity, laughter, and love. Whether they were seasoned artists or just here for the fun, they created masterpiece together while savoring delicious appetizers and beverages.
Looking ahead, save the date for the start of our 7 Great Dates Series beginning on May 2nd!
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Feed the Need Packing Event 3/8 & 3/9
Save the date as Feed My Starving Children partners with Benedictine University in Lisle for this incredible mobile-pack event! All of the meals packed will be shipped to FMSC partners around the world. More information can be found here: feedtheneedillinois.org/
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Who is Saint Peter Damian?
Peter Damian was very good to the poor. It was the ordinary thing for him to have a poor person or two with him at table and he liked to minister personally to their needs. After his parents died, his older brother sent him to good schools and Peter eventually became a professor.
Later, Peter decided to leave his teaching and give himself completely to prayer with the Benedictines of the reform of Saint Romuald at Fonte Avellana. He was so eager to pray, and slept so little that he soon suffered from severe insomnia. He found he had to use some prudence in taking care of himself. When he was not praying, he studied the Bible.
The abbot commanded that when he died Peter should succeed him. Abbot Peter founded five other hermitages. He encouraged his brothers in a life of prayer and solitude and wanted nothing more for himself. The Holy See periodically called on him, however, to be a peacemaker or troubleshooter, between two abbeys in dispute or a cleric or government official in some disagreement with Rome.
Finally, Pope Stephen IX made Peter the cardinal-bishop of Ostia. He worked hard to wipe out simony—the buying of church offices–and encouraged his priests to observe celibacy and urged even the diocesan clergy to live together and maintain scheduled prayer and religious observance. He wished to restore primitive discipline among religious and priests, warning against needless travel, violations of poverty, and too comfortable living.
He wrote many letters. Some 170 survived. We also have 53 of his sermons and seven lives, or biographies, that he wrote. He preferred examples and stories rather than theory in his writings. The liturgical offices he wrote are evidence of his talent as a stylist in Latin.
He asked often to be allowed to retire as cardinal-bishop of Ostia, and finally Pope Alexander II consented. Peter was happy to become once again just a monk, but he was still called to serve as a papal legate. When returning from such an assignment in Ravenna, he was overcome by a fever. With the monks gathered around him saying the Divine Office, he died on February 22, 1072. In 1828, he was declared a Doctor of the Church.
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Vine & Branches is a Grow Group at Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) that offers support and belonging to individuals of any age or faith who are divorced or separated on the way to divorce.
“𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘙𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦.” —𝘑𝘰𝘩𝘯 15:9
We gather regularly in community in a safe environment to provide mutual support to one another and grow in Christian virtue and friendship. Please join us for our upcoming meetings: 2/26, 3/12 & 3/19 in Room 211 of the Parish Center.
Questions? Please connect with Mary LoGalbo: logalbo.marycarol@gmail.com OR
Kim Harris: kimharris73@yahoo.com
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𝟰𝟬 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝟯/𝟱
Help save lives in Aurora, IL! 40 Days for Life takes place 3/5-4/13. You can protect mothers and children by joining this worldwide mobilization to pray and fast for an end to abortion.
Our community's 40 Days for Life campaign takes place at:
Waterleaf Women's Center 3055 E. New York Ave. (please park behind AutoZone)
The vigil hours are 8am to 4pm Monday through Saturday & our local contact is Pat Burke (630-470-1507 OR pburke14@live.com)
Click on the links below to learn more, get involved, and sign up for prayer times:
www.40daysforlife.com/en/Aurorail
www.40daysforlife.com/es/Aurorail
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Who are the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order?
Can you imagine seven prominent men of Boston or Denver banding together, leaving their homes and professions, and going into solitude for a life directly given to God? That is what happened in the prosperous city of Florence in the middle of the 13th century. The city was torn with political strife as well as the heresy of the Cathari, who believed that physical reality was inherently evil. Morals were low and religion seemed meaningless.
In 1240, seven noblemen of Florence mutually decided to withdraw from the city to a solitary place for prayer and direct service of God. Their aim was to lead a life of penance and prayer, but they soon found themselves disturbed by constant visitors from Florence. They next withdrew to the deserted slopes of Monte Senario.
In 1244, under the direction of Saint Peter of Verona, O.P., this small group adopted a religious habit similar to the Dominicans, choosing to live under the Rule of St. Augustine and adopting the name of the Servants of Mary. The new Order took a form more like that of the mendicant friars.
Members of the community came to the United States from Austria in 1852 and settled in New York and later Philadelphia. These two provinces developed from the foundation made by Father Austin Morini in 1870 in Wisconsin. Community members combined monastic life and active ministry. In the monastery, they led a life of prayer, work and silence while in the active apostolate they engaged in parochial work, teaching, preaching, and other ministerial activities.
Reflection
Impart to us, O Lord, in kindness the filial devotion with which the holy brothers venerated so devoutly the Mother of God and led your people to yourself. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲
From a stretch of level ground, Jesus reveals that sanctity is attainable by all. Rather than an esoteric doctrine for a spiritual elite, Jesus declares blessed the poor, the hungry, the weeping, the hated—all whose hearts cry out in longing and expectation for what can only be satisfied by God. Blessed are those who trust not in themselves but in the Lord, refusing to be discouraged by their own fragility, limitations, and needs. Because our hope rests on a fact—“Christ has been raised from the dead”—we need not fear the heat, distress, or droughts that afflict us. In Christ, we will bear unfading fruit and share in his Resurrection.
You can also view livestream by subscribing to our YouTube channel here www.youtube.com/ourladyofmercyaurora
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Thank you for supporting Our Lady of Mercy, your generosity continues to create more opportunities for OLM to keep our family connected and bring people to Jesus, form them as disciples and send them on mission.
\_For those at the livestream; make an act of Spiritual Communion Prayer bit.ly/SpiritualCommunionPrayer
\_Livestreaming from the following, please share; this is a wonderful opportunity to share our faith with one another and family and friends from afar. olmercy.com/ www.facebook.com/olmercy/ www.youtube.com/ourladyofmercyaurora
\_Find community in the following
Grow Groups
olmercy.com/consumingfire/
olmercy.com/mamasgrace/
olmercy.com/saltandlight/
olmercy.com/vineandbranches/
\_Spend your days at Our Lady of Mercy
bit.ly/HangingOutatOLM
\_Share your heart with Jesus at Eucharist Adoration
olmercy.com/eucharisticadoration/
\_How can we pray for you today?
olmercy.com/prayforme/
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𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯/𝟮
Training for new Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will take place in the Church on Sunday, March 2nd from 1:30-3pm. Registered, participating parishioners age 16 or older who have been confirmed and attend mass regularly are eligible to become an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘒𝘪𝘮 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘵 𝘬𝘪𝘮𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴73@𝘺𝘢𝘩𝘰𝘰.𝘤𝘰𝘮
𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯/𝟮
On Sunday, March 2nd from 3-4:30pm there will be new altar serving training. Students must be entering 5th grade or higher this school year & must be regularly attending Mass. Please meet in the Church.
𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟯/𝟮
Training for current Altar Servers who would like to become Senior Servers will be held in the Church on Sunday, March 2nd from 4:30-5PM. Servers must be entering 8th grade or higher this school year & must be regularly attending Mass. Please meet in the Church.
𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘵.𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘺@𝘰𝘱𝘤𝘱𝘰𝘭𝘺𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮
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𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 “𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻”
𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟴𝘁𝗵 @ 𝟲𝗽𝗺 & 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟵𝘁𝗵 @ 𝟮𝗽𝗺
A Catholic comedy for all ages!
Lighten up, folks, with “Mass Confusion,” an interactive fun, faith- and music-filled catechetical comedy, featuring the wit and wisdom of the “man of many faces,” Doug Brummel and his cast of characters, along with accomplished musician and songwriter Dave Wilson.
The two men share a passion for their faith, family, humor and music, as they spread the joy of the Gospel! “Mass Confusion” engages, entertains, evangelizes and catechizes all at the same time. It’s like a Catholic casserole with a perfect blend of inspiration, catechesis and joy!
Perfect for all ages and backgrounds. Invite your family and friends of all faiths! This is an exciting opportunity for our community!
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𝗠𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗔𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮/𝟮𝟲
Join us for MAGNIFY on Wednesday, 2/26th, from 7pm to 8:30pm, for an uplifting evening of adoration, praise, and worship. Along with praise and worship, there will be a scriptural reflection, an opportunity for confession, and prayer ministry.
Singing in praise of God not only connects us with Him but also brings joy, peace, and a sense of belonging. It’s a time to refresh your spirit and experience God’s presence in a powerful way. Don’t forget to bring your children, neighbors, and friends—we’d love to see you there!
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