upon this rock i will build my church
19 Feb
“That we may remain members of our apostolic head, the throne of the Roman Pontiffs, of whom it is our duty to seek what we are to believe and what we are to hold, venerating him, beseeching him above others; for his it is to reprove, to correct, to appoint, to loose, and to bind in place of Him Who set up that very throne, and Who gave the fullness of His own to no other, but to him alone, to whom by divine right all bow the head, and the primates of the world are obedient as to our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.” – Blessed Cyril, bishop of Alexandria
The chair, literally, is the fixed seat of the supreme pontiff and the bishops, permanently placed in the mother church of the diocese (hence its name of “cathedral” after “cathedra” the chair) and is the symbol of the bishop and his ordinary magisterium in the local church. The chair of St. Peter indicates his position in the apostolic college, established by the express will of Jesus, who assigned the task of “feeding” the flock, that is to lead the new People of God, the Church.
The investiture by Christ, reiterated after the resurrection, is observed. After the Ascension, Peter played the leading role. He presided over the election of Matthias and spoke to the crowd gathered to hear him in front of the upper room, on the day of Pentecost, the latest before the Sanhedrin. Herod Agrippa knew he inflicted a mortal blow to the Church with the removal of its leader, Saint Peter.
Two important stages of the mission performed by the Prince of the Apostles, Saint Peter, and the first established Christianity in Antioch, then to Rome; the Roman Martyrology, February 22 celebrated the feast of the Chair of St. Peter in Antioch, January 18 and that of his chair in Rome. The recent reform of the calendar has unified the two commemorations on February 22, in which is reflected an ancient tradition, reported by Depositio Mar rum. Indeed, on this day was celebrated the Roman chair, then early on January 18 to Gaul, to prevent the party from falling in the time of Lent.
February 19 the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, to whom the Lord said: “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church.” This feast commemorates Christ’s choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church.
Video from Apostleship of Prayers.
Source: theblackcordelias.wordpress.com, principiumunitatis.blogspot.com
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