Celebrating a Chair

Today is the FEAST of the CHAIR of St. Peter.  Of course, we are not actually celebrating an old chair, but rather the authority of St. Peter, given to him by Jesus, and passed on through the centuries. Why a chair? While in our culture it is customary to stand to give important speeches or to teach in classrooms, this isn't the case in the Jewish Tradition. The Rabbi, teacher, sits down to give his teachings on the Sacred Scripture. Accordingly, there are a few places in the Scriptures where this position is explicitly described in order to give weight to the following teaching. The "chair" then is a definitive sign of authoritative teaching. Such authority was given to St. Peter, and with it came the usage of the term "chair" to express this authority.

Peter's authority is present throughout the New Testament. In the Acts of the Apostles it is strikingly clear that St. Peter was the leader. The primary position as "teacher" belonged to him, and has been handed down until our own Pope Benedict XVI.

Where else do we see the chair, this teaching authority, represented in the Church? You are likely familiar with "ex cathedra" and "cathedral". The former literally means "from the chair" and it denotes a teaching that is infallible. The latter, you know well, is properly speaking the bishop's church, where he instructs, teaches, and leads worship.

Simply put, when we celebrate the "Chair of St. Peter" we are celebrating the unique teaching authority of the Church. This authority is an instrument of great unity, so desperately needed in today's society, for all those who will humbly bow before the throne. It demonstrates Jesus' unwillingness to leave us alone without a Shepherd to guide us and illumine our search for Truth. This Feast, then, is a cause for much rejoicing. Let us commit ourselves with renewed passion to the authority of the Church, and give thanks to Our Lord for the our shepherd and teacher - seated on the Chair of St. Peter - Pope Benedict XVI.