Saints + Scripture: Lent —The Long Road Back, I of V

The Popish Plot
Theology Thursday: "The Chair of St. Peter"

Thursday, 22 February was the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle: Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, Apostle-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The feast of the Chair of Saint Peter at Rome has been celebrated from the early days of the Christian era on 18 January, in commemoration of the day when Saint Peter held his first service in Rome.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three(a); four; five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses thirteen thru nineteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel spells out the importance of Peter’s confession. For it is upon this inspired confession that the Church is built. Not, mind you, on popular opinion, which is shifting and indecisive, and not on personal holiness, which is all too rare. It is built upon the inspired authority of Peter—and I say, "thank God!"

We make this troubling and extraordinary claim that it is through a special charism of the Spirit that Peter and his successors govern the Church. Now, I realize that I have many Protestant readers and that this text has been, between Catholics and Protestants, a stumbling block. Let me clarify what is and is not at stake here.

What is the focus of Peter’s confession? It has to do with who Jesus is. This is the rock upon which the Church is built. We don’t say for a moment that all of Peter’s practical decisions are right, that everything he says is right. But we are saying that he is right about who Jesus is: a man who is also the Son of the living God. And this is the source and ground of the whole operation.

I will say, this is probably my least favorite of all of Bishop Barron's Gospel reflections I've read, for it strikes me as bending over backwards, far too far, to accommodate spurious Protestant objections to Petrine authority & papal apostolic succession.

Video reflection by Fr. Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (Franciscan Media): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Maximianus of Ravenna, Bishop (499-556), for whom was carved the magnificent Throne of Maximian: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Throne.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Margaret of Cortona, Religious, T.O.S.F. (1247-1297): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Marie of Jesus, Religious, S.M.R. (1818-1878, A.K.A. Émilie d'Oultremont), foundress of the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.M.R..

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Let us not waste this season of Lent, so favorable a time for conversion! We ask this through the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary, who, encountering the greatness of God's mercy freely bestowed upon her, was the first to acknowledge her lowliness & to call herself the Lord's humble servant."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"It is true I am not always faithful, but I never lose courage. I leave myself in the Arms of Our Lord."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"The virtue of patience is the one which most assures us of perfection."
—St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (1567-1622, feast day: 24 January)