One of the hallmarks of the change in the calendar of 1960 was the getting rid of the “needless repetition” of feasts. It was too much to have more than one feast per saint; therefore, one of them had to go. Here are the ones that were axed:
Jan 2 –- Octave day of St. Stephen
Jan 3 -- Octave day of St. John
Jan 4 --- Octave day of the Holy Innocents
Jan 18 – Chair of St. Peter at Rome (merged with Chair of St. Peter in Antioch on Feb 22)
Jan 28 – Octave day of St. Agnes (commemorating when she appeared to her parents)
3rd Wed after Easter --- Easter Solemnity of St. Joseph (the papal conclave began on this feast last year!)
May 3 – Finding of the Holy Cross
May 6 – St. John Before the Latin Gate (commemorating his “martyrdom” by being boiled in oil)
May 8 – Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel on Mt. Gargano (Pope Leo XIV was elected on this feast!)
August 17 – Octave day of St. Lawrence
Today (Jan 18) is one of those feast days: the Chair of St. Peter at Rome. This feast day was merged with the Chair of St. Peter in Antioch on Feb 22. Since the feast of the Chair of St. Peter at Rome falls on a Sunday this year, it is the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany which is the 3rd Manifestation of the Divinity of Our Lord at the Wedding at Cana. This feast does not trump the Sunday, but it would be commemorated. There would also be the Proper Last Gospel of the feast with the Gospel account taken from Matthew 16.
This recently abolished feast has a beautiful history. It was established in 1558 by Pope Paul IV when the Protestants were casting doubt on the fact that St. Peter travelled to Rome, lived and died there. In the early 20th century, as Anglicans converted to the Catholic Faith, many dedicated their lives to pray for true Christian Unity. In 1909, it was decided to have an Octave for Christian Unity beginning on this feast day and ending on the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on Jan 25 which is the Octave day. Think about the significance of this for a moment. What IS true Christian Unity? It is ONE flock with ONE shepherd. We are praying for the conversion of all those who are outside the True Faith (i.e. Catholic Faith)! The greatest convert was St. Paul. It was through the prayers of St. Stephen as he was being stoned to death that brought about Saul’s magnificent conversion. This is what we want for all men---their conversion to the Catholic Faith given to us by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We want them to have the fullness of Truth, not just partial truths. There is no salvation outside of the Church. It is a great charity to pray for the conversion of others that they may be saved. (This in not to be confused with the false ecumenism of today).
There is a very short prayer for each day of the Octave:
Ant. That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that Thou has sent me.
℣. I say to thee, that thou art Peter,
℟. And upon this rock I will build my Church.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, Who didst say to Thine Apostles: peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, look not upon my sins, but upon the faith of Thy Church; and vouchsafe unto Her that peace and unity which is agreeable to Thy will: Who livest and reignest God forever and ever. Amen.
Daily Intention to be stated each day during the Octave:
- 18 January: The union of all Christians in the one true Faith and in the Church
- 19 January: The return of separated Eastern Christians to communion with the Holy See
- 20 January: The reconciliation of Anglicans with the Holy See
- 21 January: The reconciliation of European Protestants with the Holy See
- 22 January: That American Christians become one in union with the Chair of Peter
- 23 January: The restoration of lapsed Catholics to the sacramental life of the Church
- 24 January: That the Jewish people come into their inheritance in Jesus Christ
- 25 January: The missionary extension of Christ’s kingdom throughout the world
There is a plenary indulgence granted to those who pray the entire Octave---under the usual conditions.
St. Peter, pray for us!
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