Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, apostle

"You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.  And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven." ~Matthew 16:18

Ave Maria! Saint of the Day at American Catholic sums up the significance of today's feast simply but powerfully: "This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church."

Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself chose St. Peter as the first pope to shepherd His church "in His place." St. Peter didn't claim this position for himself nor did the first apostles or the early church assign it to him. This was all our Lord's doing, recounted in Matthew 16:13-20. And Christ, chief Shepherd and prince of pastors, selected Peter before He was crucified and died and rose from the dead -- that is, before Peter, who had boldly declared "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (John 16:16), gutlessly denied His Lord and Master three times. St. John the Evangelist tells us that Jesus "knew what was in man" (John 2:25), yet in spite of His knowledge of Peter's human frailty, He entrusted to him the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Christ continues to entrust these sacred keys to men of His own choosing until the end of time.

Our Lord also continues to pray for these men as He did for Peter: "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail" (Luke 22:32).

"O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God! How incomprehensible are his judgments, and how unsearchable his ways!" (Romans 11:33)

In light of the upcoming conclave to select Pope Benedict XVI's successor, today's feast renews our faith and hope in God alone. Today is an excellent day to thank and praise our Lord for His Church and for our Holy Father as well as to pray for our Holy Father and the cardinals who will select his successor. Jesus, we trust in You!

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

 

For you, eternal Shepherd,

do not desert your flock,

but through the blessed Apostles

watch over it and protect it always,

so that it may be governed

by those who have appointed shepherds

to lead it in the name of your Son.

 

And so, with Angels and Archangels,

with Thrones and Dominions,

and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,

we sing the hymn of your glory,

as without end we acclaim:

 

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts...

 

Preface I of Apostles, The Roman Missal