- St. Prisca (270). Martyr, Virgin.
- Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. (Historical)
- St. Valusian (496). Bishop. (Historical)
ST. PETER having triumphed over the devil in the East, pursued him to Rome in the person of Simon Magus. He who had formerly trembled at the voice of a poor maid, now feared not the very throne of idolatry and superstition. The capital of the empire of the world, and the centre of impiety, called for the zeal of the Prince of Apostles. God had established the Roman Empire, and extended its dominion beyond that of any former monarchy, for the more easy propagation of His gospel. Its metropolis was of the greatest importance for this enterprise. St. Peter took that province upon himself, and repairing to Rome, there preached the faith, and established his ecclesiastical chair. That St. Peter preached in Rome, founded the church there, and died there by martyrdom under Nero, are facts the most incontestable by the testimony of all writers of different countries who lived near that time; persons of unquestionable veracity, and who could not but be informed of the truth in a point so interesting, and of its own nature so public and notorious.
This is also attested by monuments of every kind; also by the prerogatives, rights, and privileges which that church enjoyed from those early ages, in consequence of this title. It was an ancient custom observed by churches, to keep an annual festival of the consecration of their bishops. The feast of the Chair of St. Peter is found in ancient martyrologies. Christians justly celebrate the founding of this mother-church, the centre of Catholic communion, in thanksgiving to God for His mercies to His Church, and to implore His future blessings.
REFLECTION: As one of God’s greatest mercies to His Church, let us earnestly beg of Him to raise up in it zealous pastors, eminently replenished with His Spirit, with which He animated His apostles.
WORD OF THE DAY
CHRISTOCENTRISM. The quality of a system of thought or a mode of life in which Christ is the acknowledged center around whom everything revolves. Applied to theology, it means that even the natural world is considered as somehow affected by the Incarnation, man’s state of grace before the Fall is related to Christ, the Incarnation is seen as part of God’s plan even though man had not fallen, and human destiny is viewed as the consummation of Christ’s Mystical Body in its heavenly glory. (Etym. Latin Christus; from Greek Christos, "the anointed [one]," from chriein, to anoint + kentrikos, from kentron, center.)
Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)
There is a Christmastide Meditation for Today also
This article, JANUARY 18, 2024 – ST. PETER’S CHAIR AT ROME. is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
https://bellarmineforum.org/january-18-2024-st-peters-chair-at-rome/
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