The meaning of the celebration
+ Today’s feast, an ancient celebration of the authority entrusted to Saint Peter and his successors, highlights the reality of Peter’s special role in the life of the Church.
+ The Gospel for this feast recounts the confession of Simon that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God (see Matthew 16:13-19). In response to this statement of faith, Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, signifying his new mission and identity: Peter becomes the “Rock” on which the Church is built and the powers of evil and death will never be able to conquer it.
For prayer and reflection
Blessed be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy
gave us a new birth
to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready
to be revealed in the final time.—1 Peter 1:3-5
Spiritual bonus
On February 22, we also remember Blessed Diego Carvalho, a Jesuit missionary to Japan, who was martyred with 60 companions at Sendai, Miyagi, on February 22, 1624. Blessed Diego was beatified with other Japanese martyrs in 1867.
Prayer
Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the Living God: Keep your Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, now and for ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
And today we celebrate...