O holy apostles, Peter and Paul, I choose you this day and for ever to be my special patrons and advocates; thee, St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, because thou art the Rock, upon which Almighty God hath built His Church; thee, St. Paul, because thou wast forechosen by God as the Vessel of election and the Preacher of truth in the whole world. Obtain for me, I pray you, lively faith, firm hope and burning love; complete detachment from myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, attention in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession and your glorious merits, I may be able to overcome the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil, and may be made worthy to appear before the chief and eternal Shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth for endless ages, to enjoy His presence and love Him forever. Amen.
This Prayer to St. Peter is the Raccolta prayer that chooses Sts. Peter and Paul as one’s special patrons. The Church has always honored the two Apostles together, and no traditional prayer to St. Peter alone has come down to us. The traditional Collect of the Chair of St. Peter follows.
Sts. Peter and Paul, by El Greco (1587–1592), Hermitage Museum. Public domain.
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 world without end. Amen.
Pray it on February 22, the Chair of St. Peter, on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, or whenever you ask for strong faith and fidelity to the Church. It is fitting to add an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be and a prayer for the Pope. The prayer is from The Raccolta (1957), as printed by Catholic Culture; the Collect is from the traditional Roman Missal, as printed by the Institute of Christ the King, New Brighton.
Simon Peter was the fisherman whom Jesus made the rock on which He would build His Church and to whom He gave the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:18–19). He denied the Lord three times, was forgiven and three times told to feed His sheep (John 21:15–17), and was crucified in Rome under Nero. Pope Benedict XVI’s homily reflects on his confession and mission.
The feast of the Chair of St. Peter, February 22, honors the authority Christ gave Peter and his successors to teach and govern the Church. The “chair” is the sign of a bishop’s office.
The Church keeps Sts. Peter and Paul together on June 29, and the Chair of St. Peter on February 22.
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