The Chair of Saint Peter

This is a remarkable feast that we celebrate today in the Universal Church. The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter does not focus on a chair, but on what the chair stands for. The Magnificat commentary gives us some thoughts on this feast day. "The feast of the Chair of Saint Peter commemorates the teaching authority of the Vicar of Christ" (314). The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: "It is this Magisterium's task to preserve God's people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the true faith without error" so that "the People of God abides in the truth that liberates" (#890). Our current pope, Benedict XVI says, "The Chair represents (the pope's) mission as guide of the entire People of God. Celebrating the 'Chair' of Peter means attributing a strong spiritual significance to it and recognizing it as a privileged sign of the love of God" (314). Like Jesus said to the Peter in the gospel,
Matthew 16:13-19, "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." The Church is built upon the rock of Peter, his confession of faith, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Let this feast lead us to pray for our Holy Father, the Pope, the Vicar of Christ on earth. We thank God for the teaching of the church and for those who are called to shepherd and lead us. May this feast help to renew the faith that we live and profess each day. Saint Peter, pray for us!!!