Saints + Scripture: The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle

The Popish Plot
G. K. Chesterton's The Defendant: "Baby-Worship"

'Tis the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle: Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, Apostle-link trēs, Wikipedia-link Chair, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

This feast commemorates Christ's choosing Peter to sit in his place as the servant-authority of the whole Church. The gospel reading for the day is Matthew, 16:13-19, in which Jesus declares Peter the rock on which He will build His Church.

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

O Lord, protect & guide those who have been given authority in the Church, especially Pope Francis & our Bishop Earl. Make them generous & courageous in the exercise of their ministry.

Scripture of the 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.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 33
The Book of Exodus, chapter thirteen, verses one thru sixteen.

Commentary: The Ordinances of the Passover (cont'd; Exodus, 13:1-2), the Feast of Unleavened Bread (13:3-10), & the Consecration of the First-born Males (13:11-16).

The Imitation of Christ
Book II: Considerations for Leading an Interior Life
Chapter 11: "On the Small Number of the Lovers of the Cross"
Chapter 12: "On the Royal Road of the Cross"

'Tis 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.

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

'Tis 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 (S.M.R.): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.M.R.

We also remember Venerable Richard Henkes, Priest & Martyr, S.A.C. (1900-1945), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Venerable Richard is scheduled be beatified later in A.D. 2019.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Authority is a duty, a burden, a deb, a ministry to others, to lead them to the life of God. It is a channel, an obligatory, necessary, but saving channel, & it is called the care of souls. This is the pastoral function."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the 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' the Day

"He who deserts the chair of Peter, upon whom the Church was founded, does he trust himself to be in the Church?"
—St. Cyprian (200-258, feast day: 16 September)