Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Chair of Peter

This feast brings back memories of Rome, as you well might imagine. Actually, I just happened to go to St. Peter's on this feast one day while I was living in Rome. (When you actually live there, you end up not going to St. Peter's too often; it sort of becomes just another big Baroque church!) Well, Feb. 22 is definitely the day to go. The famous "chair of Peter" (upheld by four enormous Bernini statues) is covered in lit candles today. The whole of St. Peter's Basilica is replete with tapers--every horizontal (or even sloping) surface is set with blazing candles. And the Cavaletti statue of Peter, the one with the bronze foot worn smooth by pilgrims' touches, is done up in cope and tiara today.
By the way, it's a great day to pray for the Pope and his teaching ministry... (don't just light candles about it!).

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