Feast of the Chair of Peter
The Chair of St. Peter is the symbol of the Papacy, the person of the Pope and of the Holy Catholic Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ
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Mass Readings
First Reading – 1 Pt 5:1-14
Beloved: I exhort the presbyters among you, as a fellow presbyter and witness to the sufferings of Christ and one who has a share in the glory to be revealed. Tend the flock of God in your midst, overseeing not by constraint but willingly, as God would have it, not for shameful profit but eagerly. Do not lord it over those assigned to you, but be examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6 (R.1)
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures He gives me repose;
Beside restful waters He leads me;
He refreshes my soul. R.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for You are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage. R.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. R.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come. R.
Gospel – Mt 16:13-19
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi He asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said to him in reply, “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.”
Featured Saints
St. Margaret of Cortona, penitent (†1297). Shocked by the tragic death of the nobleman with whom she was living unlawfully, she repented, and, after many trials, was admitted into the Franciscan Third Order, dedicating herself to penance.
St. Papias, bishop (†second century). Bishop of Hierapolis, Phrygia (present-day Turkey). He was a colleague of St. Polycarp, recorded episodes narrated by the witnesses of the Apostles and wrote several Gospel commentaries.
St. Maximianus of Ravenna, bishop (†556). He promoted development within the Diocese of Ravenna, Italy, and defended Church unity against the heretics.
Blessed Diego Carvalho, priest and martyr (†1624). Portuguese Jesuit missionary tortured together with several faithful in Sendai, Japan.
Blessed Isabelle of France, virgin (†1270). Sister of King St. Louis IX, she renounced marriage and founded the monastery of the Sisters Minor in Paris. There she served God in poverty and humility.
Blessed Mary of Jesus d’Oultremont, widow (†1879). A prominent member of Belgian society who, after the death of her husband and without neglecting the education of her four children, founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix in Paris.
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