Our Lady of Guadalupe

Date: February, 22

• “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so 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. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17-19)

The “chair” to which this feast refers is the cathedra, or office, of the Apostle Peter. Given by Christ to St. Peter (see Matthew 16:13-18), Peter’s supreme pastoral office is passed to each of his successors as Bishop of Rome, that is, where Peter last served and where he died a martyr.

The seat of the pope is referred to as the Chair of St. Peter or in Latin, Cathedra Petri. Throughout the 2,000-year history of the Church, there have been 266 popes, beginning with Peter.

Among them are many saints and martyrs who have devoted themselves to the Gospel. The Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter each year on February 22.

PRAYER: 

Saint Peter, you were a weak and sinful man, but God entrusted you with great responsibility, despite your unworthiness. Please pray for me, that despite my unworthiness, I may be open to all that God entrusts to me and that I may use those gifts for His glory and the salvation of souls. Saint Peter and all your successors in Heaven, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.