The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is a commemoration of the contributions of the Apostle to the Christian Church. It celebrates his authority and endless efforts to build a strong community around the teachings of Christ and has been celebrated since the earliest times in the Christian era.
St. Peter was known to hold the keys to the kingdom of heaven, entrusted to him by Jesus himself. For this and many other reasons, St. Peter became a celebrated figure in Christianity.
PRAYER FOR THE FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF SAINT PETER
O God, who by delivering to Thy blessed Apostle Peter
the keys of the kingdom of Heaven,
didst confer upon him the pontifical power of binding and of loosing,
grant that, by the help of his intercession,
we may be delivered from the bonds of our sins.
Who livest and reignest with Thee,
One God, world without end.
Amen.
Prayer for the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that no tempests may disturb us,
for you have set us fast on the rock of the Apostle Peter’s confession of faith.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Chair of Saint Peter Novena
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Antiphon: That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
R. And upon this Rock I will build my Church.
[Each day’s scripture and intention is followed by the final prayers.]
Day 1
And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, [Jesus] saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
– St. Mark 1:16-18
Intention: That we may follow the call of Christ without hesitation.
Concluding Prayer
Day 2
[Jesus] said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
– St. Luke 5:4-8
Intention: That we may obey our Lord’s commandments with humility.
Concluding Prayer
Day 3
[Jesus] asked his disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
– St. Matthew 16:13-18
Intention: That we may confidently confess our faith in Jesus Christ.
Concluding Prayer
Day 4
After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves; and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
– St. Mark 9:2-3
Intention: That with Peter, we may see Christ as he is.
Concluding Prayer
Day 5
Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
– St. John 6:67-69
Intention: That we may know Christ as the Incarnate Word, and follow him.
Concluding Prayer
Day 6
[Jesus asked the soldiers,] “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he; so, if you seek me, let these men go.” Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s slave and cut off his right ear.
– St. John 18:7-8,10a
Intention: That we may refrain from hasty or imprudent words and actions.
Concluding Prayer
Day 7
Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself.
– St. John 20:3-4, 6-7
Intention: That our lives may give witness to the Risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Concluding Prayer
Day 8
Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
– St. John 21:15-17
Intention: That we may remain in close communion with the Successor of St. Peter, through whom Christ strengthens us.
Concluding Prayer
Day 9
Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”
Acts 2:14
Intention: That in union with St. Peter we may proclaim the Gospel to the whole world.
Concluding Prayer
CONCLUDING PRAYER (to be offered each day)
O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commanded him earnestly to feed thy flock: make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same; that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles; Pray for us.
Litany of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, Pray for us.
Queen of Apostles, Pray for us.
Saint Peter, Pray for us.
Prince of the Apostles, Pray for us.
St. Peter, to whom were given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Pray for us.
St. Peter, so ardent for the glory of Christ, Pray for us.
St. Peter, whose heart was pierced with one look from Jesus, Pray for us.
St. Peter, who ceased not to grieve for having denied the Son of God, Pray for us.
St. Peter, whose cheeks were furrowed by a stream of tears which flowed to the end of thy life, Pray for us.
St. Peter, who cried out: Lord, thou knowest that I love Thee! Pray for us.
St. Peter, bound in chains for Christ, Pray for us.
St. Peter, delivered from prison by an angel, Pray for us.
St. Peter, who rejoiced to suffer for Christ, Pray for us.
St. Peter, whose very shadow healed the sick, Pray for us.
St. Peter, whose voice even the dead obeyed, Pray for us.
St. Peter, that we may have a constant and mutual charity among ourselves, Pray for us.
That we may taste and see more and more, how sweet is the Lord, Pray for us.
That we may be zealous in loyalty to thy successor, the present Vicar of Christ, Pray for us.
That we may help, at least by prayer, to restore to the unity of thy Holy See the scattered sheep, Pray for us.
That we may be prudent, and watch in prayer, Pray for us.
That we may die the death of the just, Pray for us.
V. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him,
R. And his wonderful works to the children of men.
V. Pray for us, Saint Peter the rock:
R. That we may be worthy of the Vicar of Christ.
Let us pray.
O God, Who, upon blessed Peter, Thine Apostle, didst bestow the pontifical power of binding and loosing, and didst give to him the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven: grant that his intercession may ensure our deliverance from the bondage of sin. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.
Amen.
The Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
On this feast of the Chair of Peter, let us take a moment to pray for all who renew the church, for Pope Francis, and for the unity of the churches.
Let us pray for all who renew the church.
Almighty God, we praise you for your servants, through whom you have called the church to its tasks and renewed its life. Raise up in our own day teachers and prophets inspired by your Spirit, whose voices will give strength to you church and proclaim the reality of your reign. Through Jesus Christ our Lord…
Let us pray for Francis, the Pope.
May the Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
(Traditional prayer for the successor of Peter.)
Let us pray for the unity of the church.
Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one: Grant that your church, being bound together in love and obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit, that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord…
Prayer to St. Peter
O glorious St. Peter, who, in return for thy lively and generous faith, thy profound and sincere humility, and thy burning love, wast honored by Jesus Christ with singular privileges, and, in particular, with the leadership of the other Apostles and the primacy over the whole Church, of which thou wast made the foundation stone, do thou obtain for us the grace of a lively faith, that shall not fear to profess itself openly, in its entirety, and in all its manifestations, even to the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it, and to the sacrifice of life itself in preference to surrender. Obtain for us likewise, a sincere loyalty to our Holy Mother, the Church; grant that we may ever remain most closely and sincerely united to the Heir of thy Faith and thy Authority, the one, true, visible Head of the Catholic Church, that mystic Ark outside of which there is no salvation. Grant, moreover, that we may follow, in all humility and meekness, her teaching and Her counsels, and may be obedient to all Her precepts, in order to be able here on earth to enjoy a peace that is sure and undisturbed, and to attain one day in Heaven to everlasting happiness. Amen.
V. Pray for us, St. Peter the Apostle.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, who hast given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the power to bind and loose, grant that we may be delivered, through the help of his intercession, from the bonds of all our sins, Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen. (500 days.)
“My God, make us to be of one mind in truth and of one heart in charity.” (300 days — St. Pius X.)
Peter the Apostle
Novena to St. Peter for the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
O Holy Apostle, you are the Rock upon which Almighty God has built His Church. Obtain for me I pray you: lively faith, firm hope, and burning love, complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, recollection in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be made worthy to appear before the Chief and Eternal Shepherd of Souls, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever.
Amen.
O Glorious St Peter
O Glorious Saint Peter,
who, in return for thy strong and generous faith,
thy profound and sincere humility,
and thy burning love,
was rewarded by Jesus Christ with singular privileges,
and, in particular, with the leadership of the other Apostles
and the primacy of the whole Church,
of which you were made the foundation stone,
obtain for us the grace of a lively faith,
that shall not fear to profess itself openly,
in its entirety and in all of its manifestations,
even to the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it,
and to sacrifice of life itself rather than surrender.
Obtain for us likewise, a sincere loyalty to our holy mother, the Church;
grant that we may ever remain most closely
and sincerely united to the Roman Pontiff,
who is the heir of thy faith and of thy authority,
the one, true, visible Head of the Catholic Church.
Grant, moreover, that we may follow,
in all humility and meekness,
her teaching and her advice,
and may be obedient to all her precepts,
in order to be able here on earth to enjoy
a peace that is sure and undisturbed,
and to attain one day in heaven to everlasting happiness.
Amen.
L. Pray for us, Saint Peter the Apostle,
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let Us Pray:
O God,
who has given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter
the keys to the kingdom of heaven,
and the power to bind and loose:
grant that we may be delivered,
through the help of this intercession,
from the slavery of all our sins:
Who lives and reigns world without end.
Amen.
St Peter, Pray for Us
Closing Prayer:
Lord,
Like Peter, I am sometimes so afraid,
yet you made him the rock of your Church.
I long to be closer to you.
Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life
unless it glorifies you in some way.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying,
“Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer,”
but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now.
Help me to rely on you for help.
The prayer asks you that I reach perfection.
Please, Lord, remind me that “perfection”
isn’t the crazy, “successful” way I try to live my life,
but a perfection of my most authentic, real self.
My “perfection” might be holding my many flaws in my open hands,
asking you to help me accept them.
Heal me, Lord, and help me to find you in the darkness of my life.
Let me reach out in this darkness and feel your hand and love there to guide me.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
