TOPIC | Haiti after the earthquake

• Saint of the Day

x

February 22

Chair of Saint Peter

Early Roman Christians celebrated on this day a feast in honour of their departed loved ones, including their predecessors in the faith, Peter and Paul. When, in the 4th century, the feast of these two saints was moved to June 29th, this day in February focused on celebrating Peter and his successors as bishops of Rome and expressing our gratitude for their service.

"To celebrate the 'Chair' of Peter - the symbol of his authority and of the evangelical teaching that he, as successor to the Apostles, is called to protect and transmit to the Christian community - means giving it a strong spiritual significance, and recognizing therein a privileged sign of the love of God, the good and eternal Shepherd who wishes to unite the whole of his Church and lead her along the way of salvation... As the Father of the Church Saint Jerome writes: 'I follow no leader save Christ, so I consult the Chair of Peter, for this I know is the rock upon which the Church is built'." (Benedict XVI)

©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.

• Today's Gospel

x

February 22nd

 

Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6.1-6, 16-18)

Jesus said to the disciples, “Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

The gospel of the Lord.

 

Text accreditation CCCB
Used by permission of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Daily Reflection

x

February 22nd

 

In Christ's name

Several years before he died, my father gave me power of attorney. Not until later did I realize what an enormous act of trust that was. The power of attorney gave me the same authority he had - over his property, his bank accounts, his business affairs. I could act in his name. The third great commandment says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain." My father trusted me not to take his name in vain. Jesus, too, gave his disciples a kind of power of attorney. "Even the demons obeyed us," they exulted, "when we gave them a command in your name." That took enormous trust on Jesus' part. Now we, like Paul, are trusted to speak in his name.

God, may I always speak in your name faithfully and lovingly.

©2012 Novalis Publishing Inc., www.novalis.ca. Reprinted with permission.

• Mass

x

Messe

http://www.seletlumieretv.org/messe/