February 22
The Chair of St Peter
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
The feast of The Chair of St Peter is a celebration rooted in the ancient Christian practice of honoring the role and authority given by Christ to St Peter the Apostle. Rather than commemorating a piece of furniture, this day acknowledges the spiritual and pastoral office entrusted to Peter as the 'rock' upon whom Jesus built His Church, as attested in the Gospels. The origins of this feast stretch back to at least the fourth century, emphasizing the unity and universality of the Church under the guidance of the Bishop of Rome, seen as Peter's successor. The actual 'chair' referenced symbolically expresses the teaching authority (magisterium) vested in the Apostolic office; in Rome, a physical relic historically connected to Peter is enshrined in St Peter’s Basilica.
Honoring The Chair of St Peter serves to remind the faithful of the importance of unity, fidelity to Christ’s teachings, and proper leadership within the Catholic Church. In recognizing this feast, the Church renews her commitment to maintaining communion in faith and charity under the shepherding role passed down through the ages from Peter to the present Pope. This celebration invites all Christians to pray for their leaders, recall the apostolic foundations of the Church, and embrace the spirit of service and fidelity exemplified by St Peter himself.
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Questions about The Chair of St Peter (Novus Ordo Missae)
Liturgical texts of February 22, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
Reading1 P 5, 1-4
Beloved,
the elders among you I exhort,
I who am a fellow elder like them
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
sharing in the glory that is to be revealed:
be shepherds of the flock of God that is among you;
watch over them, not under compulsion but willingly,
as God wills;
not out of greed but out of devotion;
not by lording it over those entrusted to you,
but by being examples to the flock.
And, when the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 22 (23), 1-2b, 2c-3, 4, 5, 6
The Lord is my shepherd:
I lack nothing.
In green pastures,
he gives me rest.
He leads me to tranquil waters
and revives my soul;
he guides me along the right path
for the honor of his name.
Even if I walk through the valley of death,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me:
your rod and your staff comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy follow me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for the length of my days.
GospelMt 16, 13-19
At that time,
Jesus, having come into the region of Caesarea Philippi,
asked his disciples:
“Who do people say
the Son of Man is?”
They replied:
“For some, John the Baptist;
for others, Elijah;
and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Jesus said to them:
“And you, who do you say that I am?”
Then Simon Peter spoke up and said:
“You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God!”
Jesus replied to him:
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah:
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my Father in heaven.
And I tell you:
You are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my Church;
and the power of Death will 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.”
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org