Gospel in Art: Feast of St Peter's Chair

The Chair of Saint Peter, by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, made 1647-1653, encasing 1st century chair by repute used by St Peter ©Christian Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 22 February 2024
Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.'

Reflection on the gilt-bronze sculptural chair

Today is a feast day which has a rather peculiar name: the Chair of St Peter. How does the chair of an apostle merit a holy day? Let us first of all look at the object itself. The Chair of St Peter is a relic kept at the very back of St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. It is a basic wooden relic throne that tradition claims was used by St Peter himself when he was leading the early Christians in Rome. The chair is now enclosed in a sculpted gilt-bronze ornamental chair designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, which he completed between 1647 and 1653. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as 'a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ's flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity'. The chair is of course only a few feet away from St Peter's tomb. The wooden throne chair was a gift from Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald to Pope John VIII in 875 AD.

In today's Gospel reading Christ says, 'You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church'. Whilst the chair in St Peter's might look opulent in its magnificence, it is not intended to be a regal throne or a vain assertion of power. No, it is placed at the very end of the basilica to be an authentic reflection of the office entrusted by Jesus Christ to Saint Peter and his successor-shepherds of the Church. Peter was entrusted with his role to interpret the message of Jesus for the Church. Within our own Roman Catholic tradition, we consider this role of Peter to reside with the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. In every age the church looks to him as the focal point of unity for all disciples of the Lord and as the authoritative interpreter of the message of Jesus for the church and the world.

Peter's unique understanding of Jesus was the basis of the authoritative role Jesus went on to give him. Whereas Peter's role was unique, the question of Jesus is addressed to us all, 'Who do you say I am?'

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-16-13-19-2024/