Novena to St Peter

 

INTRODUCTION

According to the New Testament accounts, St Peter is one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, assigned by Christ and recognized by the Church as the leader of the twelve; and as it was, the first of its unbroken succession of leaders, now referred to as popes. He was called to Apostleship by Christ at the beginning of our Lord’s public ministry. He was originally named Simon, and received from Christ the name Cephas (Aramaic) or Peter (Greek) which means Rock. He was with Jesus during events witnessed by only few apostles, such as the Transfiguration. The zeal of St Peter is evident in the Gospel and Acts of the Apostles. Peter was the first Apostle to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the one promised by God to save his people. He was part of Jesus’ inner circle, walked on water, witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration, denied Jesus, was restored by Jesus, and preached on the day of Pentecost. He gave up his life as a fisherman to lead others to Jesus, by being a fisher of men (Matthew 4:19) for Christ.

After the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost, Peter was filled with all the gifts he needed to lead the young Church. That Pentecost morning, he gave a powerful speech about Jesus to the crowd in Jerusalem; three thousand people were converted to the faith. Peter was the first Apostle to perform a miracle in Christ’s name; working with St. Paul, he recognized that the Church needed to be open to all people. He was also the first bishop of Rome, a title that has been given to every pope, he made Rome the home of the worldwide Church, and he wrote two general epistles. The Gospel of Mark is also ascribed to him (as Mark was his disciple and interpreter).

Peter is said to have been crucified under Emperor Nero around 64 AD, the cross being upside down at his own request since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ. Catholic tradition holds that Saint Peter’s mortal bones and remains are contained in the underground Confessio of St. Peter’s Basilica, a site where Pope Paul VI announced the excavation discovery of a first-century A.D. Roman cemetery in 1968. Since 1969, a life-size statue of Saint Peter is crowned every year in St. Peter’s Basilica with a papal tiara, ring of the fisherman, and papal vestments every June 29th, commemorating the holy feast of Saints Peter and Paul.

Saint Peter’s great love for Jesus made it possible for him to do everything that Jesus asked. The Lord asks the same of each of us. Like Peter, we can use our strengths to continue his work of bringing love and peace to others. We can pray that Jesus will help us to overcome our weaknesses so that we can serve him every day. Jesus can and will work through us, as he did with Simon Peter, the Rock of the Church. The feast of St Peter is celebrated together with Paul on the 29^th of June; the Chair of Peter is celebrated on the 22^nd of February and the dedication of the Basilica of St Peter. St Peter is the patron saint of those entrusted with leadership responsibilities. However, the novena to St Peter can be said by all the faithful.

Muogbo Michael, SSP

 

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

DAILY PRAYERS

DAY ONE: St. Peter, when Jesus told you and your brother to follow Him and become fishers of men, you dropped your nets at once and followed Him. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may follow Jesus promptly when He calls. Amen.

DAY TWO: St. Peter, when Jesus asked who His disciples said that He was, you exclaimed that He was the Son of God, a bold proclamation of what was revealed to you by the Father. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may be bold in proclaiming the good news. Amen.

DAY THREE: St. Peter, when Jesus walked on water to the boat bearing the disciples during a terrible storm, you made a bold request that Jesus call to you to walk out to Him on the giant waves. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may yearn to walk on deeper waters, relying on Jesus alone. Amen.

DAY FOUR: St. Peter, when Jesus went to wash your feet, you told Him that He would never wash your feet; you viewed Him as your Master and only servants wash feet. However, when He told you that you would have no inheritance with Him if He did not wash you, you asked that He wash all of you as well as your feet. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may not be embarrassed by the parts of me that are unclean but ask Jesus fervently to wash all of me clean. Amen.

DAY FIVE: St. Peter, when Jesus was placed on trial, you three times denied knowing Him, but after His Resurrection, when you heard He was at the shore, you were so eager to see Him, even though He would surely have known how you hurt Him, that you leapt from your boat and swam to Him. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may run to Jesus for reconciliation, no matter how much I have hurt Him by my actions. Amen.

DAY SIX: St. Peter, when Jesus asked you if you loved Him with an “agape” (unconditional) love, knowing how you had denied Him, you responded that you loved Him with a “philia” (brotherly) love. Such was your humility. Intercede on my behalf that I may be honest with myself and with Jesus about how much I love Him, so that I may grow in love. Amen.

DAY SEVEN: St. Peter, after the Holy Spirit descended on you at Pentecost, you went out to the streets to proclaim the Gospel even though you knew it would most likely lead to your imprisonment and death. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may have the courage to speak and to act in accordance with God’s will. Amen.

DAY EIGHT: St. Peter, when you were imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, an angel led you out of the prison to the city gates. After your release, you continued preaching the Gospel. Such was your fortitude. Intercede on my behalf that I may be persistent in doing the work of God. Amen.

DAY NINE: St. Peter, when you were martyred by crucifixion, you said that you were not fit to die the same death as your Master and asked to be crucified upside down. Such was your zeal. Intercede on my behalf that I may have a fraction of the zeal to pursue God you had during your life on Earth. Amen.

 

NOVENNA PRAYER

O Holy Apostle, you are the Rock upon which Almighty God has built His Church. 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, recollection 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 made worthy to appear before the Chief and Eternal Shepherd of Souls, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever. O Holy Apostle, intercede on my behalf as I earnestly ask the Risen Lord (mention your request) and may His will be done. St. Peter, you had such zeal to run to Jesus during your life on Earth, which is why I am confident that you will run to Him now with my intentions.

Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory be…

V. Pray for us, Saint Peter the Apostle,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 

LET US PRAY

O God, who hast given unto Thy blessed Apostle Peter the keys to thy kingdom of heaven, and the power to bind and loose: grant that we may be delivered, through the help of his intercession, from the slavery to all our sins: Who lives and reigns world without end. Amen.