Carissimi: Today’s Mass; S. Peter’s Chair at Rome

stpeterschairS. Peter’s Chair at Rome; Commemoration of St Prisca, Virgin Martyr; beginning of the Octave of Christian Unity: Missa “Státuit ei Dóminus”

Eleven years after the Ascension of our Blessed Lord, Saint Peter who had been appointed the head of the Church on earth by Christ Himself, transferred the seat of the Papacy from Antioch to Rome, where he preached the Faith and established his episcopal chair, and there the Bishops of Rome have been ever since accounted his successors. The feast of the Chair of St. Peter is that of the foundation of the See of Rome. From the Third Century it was symbolized by a chair carved in wood or tufa, a relic now kept high in the apse of the Vatican Basilica.

Today is also the feast of Saint Prisca, Virgin, Martyr. A commemoration is likewise made of St. Prisca, a noble Roman virgin who suffered martyrdom about the year 275 at the age of 13 under the Emperor Claudius. Her relics are preserved in the ancient church in Rome which bears her name. St. Prisca was condemned to be torn to shreds by lions in the Colosseum. Instead, the wild beasts licked her feet. She won the martyr’s crown when the Emperor had her beheaded.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began in 1908 as the Octave of Christian Unity, and focused on prayer for church unity. The dates of the week were proposed by Father Paul Wattson, cofounder of the Graymoor Franciscan Friars. He conceived of the week beginning on the ancient Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (the Confession of Peter, the Protestant variant) on 18 January, and concluding with the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on 25 January.

INTROIT Psalm 65: 4

The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince; that the dignity of priest-hood should be to him for ever. (Ps. 131: 1) O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness. v. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Repeat The Lord made to him…

COLLECT

O God, Who, committing to blessed Peter, Thine apostle, the keys of the heavenly kingdom, didst bestow on him the pontifical function of binding and 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 in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

Commemoration of St. Paul
Let us pray. O God, Who by the preaching of the blessed apostle Paul didst teach the multitude of the gentiles, grant us, we pray Thee, that, honoring his commemoration, we may experience the benefit of his patronal influence with Thee. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

Commemoration of St. Prisca
Let us pray. Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God that we, who venerate the birthday of blessed Prisca, Thy virgin and martyr, may both rejoice for her annual solemnity and profit by the example of so great faith. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

EPISTLE 1 Peter 1: 1-7

Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Peter the Apostle. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers dispersed through Pontus, Galatía, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the fore-knowledge of God the Father, unto the sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that can not fade, reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are kept by faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time Wherein you shall greatly rejoice, if now you must be for a little time made sorrowful in divers temptations: that the trial of your faith, much more precious than gold (which is tried by the fire), may be found unto praise, and glory, and honor, at the appearing of Jesus Christ our Lord.

GRADUAL/ALLELUIA Psalm 106: 32, 31

Let them exalt him in the church of the people; and praise him in the chair of the ancients. V. Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him; and his wonderful works to the children of men. Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Matt. 16: 18) Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church. Alleluia

GOSPEL Matthew 16: 13-19

At that time, Jesus came into the quarters of Cæsarea Philippi, and He asked His disciples, Saying, “Whom do men say that the Son of man is?” But they said, Some, John the Baptist, and other some, Elias, and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. Jesus saith to them, “But whom do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answering, said to him, “Blessed art thou, Simon BarJona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father Who is in Heaven: and I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in Heaven.”

OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Matthew 16: 18-19

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven.

SECRET 

We beseech Thee, O Lord that the prayer of the blessed apostle Peter may commend the sacrifices and supplications of Thy Church, so that the celebration we hold for his glory may profit for our pardon. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

Commemoration of St. Paul
Sanctify, O Lord, the offeriíngs of Thy people by the prayer of Thine apostle Paul, that those things which are pleasing to Thee by Thine own institution may become the more pleasing by the favor of his intercession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R.Amen.

Commemoration of St. Prisca
May this sacrifice, we beseech Thee, O Lord, which we offer to commemorate the birthday of Thy saints, both loose the bonds of our base nature and bring upon us the gifts of Thy mercy. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. R.Amen.

PREFACE of the Apostles

It is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, to entreat Thee humbly, O Lord, that Thou wouldst not desert Thy flock, O everlasting Shepherd; but through Thy blessed Apostles, wouldst keep it under Thy constant protection; that it may be governed by those same rulers, whom as vicars of Thy work, Thou didst set over it to be its pastors. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…

COMMUNION ANTIPHON  Matthew 16:18

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church.

POSTCOMMUNION

Let the gift we offer bring us joy, O Lord, that, as we declare Thee wonderful in Thine apostle Peter, so through him we may share the generosity of Thy forgiveness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Paul
Let us pray. Sanctified by the mystery of salvation, O Lord, we pray that his prayer may fail us not, by whose patronage Thou halt granted us to be governed. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Commemoration of St. Prisca
Let us pray. We pray Thee, O Lord, that, being filled with the mysteries of salvation, we may be helped by her prayers whose feast we celebrate. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who livest and reignest, with God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever.
R. Amen.