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St. Peter in Chains | pre-1955 Missal | Latin Mass Readings | 8/01/2026 · Vox Liturgica

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  Vox Liturgica: The Propers of the Day According to the Roman Missal before 1955. The Feast of Saint Peter in Chains. August 1 in the year of our Lord 2026.
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  The church venerates on this day in the Basilica Of Saint Peter Ad Avincula on Mount Escaline at Rome, the chains with which the Prince of the Apostles was fettered, as mentioned in the Collect and the Epistle. This church, where the station is held on the Monday in the first week of Lent and on the Monday in the Octave of Pentecost was built over the Baths Of Trajan and restored towards the middle of the fifth century by the princess Eudoxia, whence the name of Eudoxian Basilica sometimes given to it.
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  It was dedicated on this day. The date of August 1 was chosen so as to substitute a solemnity in honor of the Apostle, Bishop of Rome and head of the Church for the pagan festival which used to be kept at Rome in honor of the Emperor Augustus. The Chains of Saint Peter are in two portions, one having 11 links of lengthened shape to bind the hands, and the other 23 links to the last of which are fixed two half circles to hold the neck. The Popes used to send, as a rich present, a few particles of the filings of these chains enclosed in a golden key. They symbolized the power of the keys by which Peter unbinds from sin.
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  They were also put into rings or crosses to preserve from dangers. On the same day the church honors Saint Paul. There are preserved with Saint Peter's chains four links of the chains which bound his arms during his captivity at Rome. Commemorated today along with Saint Paul who is always commemorated with Saint Peter are the holy Maccabees. The seven Maccabees who were brothers were martyred with their mother under Antiochus Epiphanes.
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  Their relics are kept at Rome in the Church of Saint Peter's Chains. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The introit. Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
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  Lord, thou hast proved me, and known me. Thou hast known my sitting down, and my rising up. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be through all ages of ages. Amen. Now I know in very deed that the Lord hath sent his angel and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.
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  The Collect. Let us pray. O God, who did cause blessed Peter the Apostle to depart, loosed from his chains and unhurt. Loose we beseech thee the chains of our sins and graciously keep all evils far from us. A commemoration of Saint Paul.
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  O God, who by the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul didst teach the multitude of the Gentiles, grant us, we pray, honoring his commemoration, we may experience the benefit of his paternal influence with thee. A commemoration of the holy Maccabees. May the fruits of the fraternal crown of thy martyrs, O Lord, make us joyful, both to afford our faith increase of virtues and to console us with their manifold prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. A lesson from the Acts of the Apostles.
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  In those days, Herod exerted his authority to persecute some of those who belonged to the church. James, the brother of John, he beheaded, and then finding that it was acceptable to the Jews, he went further and laid hands on Peter too. It was the time of unleavened bread and he imprisoned Peter after arresting him with a guard of four soldiers relieved four times a day. When Paschal time was over, he would bring him out into the presence of the people. Peter then was well guarded in prison, but there was a continual stream of prayer going up to God from the church on his behalf.
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  And now the day was coming when Herod was to bring him out. That night, Peter was sleeping with two chains on him between two soldiers, and there were warders at the door guarding the prison. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord stood over him and a light shone in his cell. He smote Peter on the side to rouse him. Quick, he said, rise up.
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  And thereupon the chains fell from his hands. Then the angel said to him, gird thyself up, and put on thy shoes. And when he had done this, throw thy cloak over thee, and follow me. So he followed him out unaware that what the angel had done for him was true. He thought he was seeing a vision.
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  Thus they passed one party of guards then a second and reached the iron gate which leads out into the city. This opened for them of its own accord. They came out and as soon as they had passed on up one street, the angel left him. At this, Peter came to himself. Now I can tell for certain, he said, that the Lord has sent his angel to deliver me out of Herod's hands and from all that the people of the Jews hoped to see.
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  The gradual. Thou wilt divide a world between them for their domains. Thy name, O Lord, will never be forgotten. Children are born to thee to continue the line of their fathers. Thereupon shall nations do thee honor.
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  Alleluia. Alleluia. Loose, O Peter, the chains of the world at the bidding of God, you who opens the heavenly realms to the blessed. Alleluia. A continuation of the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
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  At that time Jesus came into the neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi and there he asked his disciples, What do men say of the Son of Man? Who do they think he is? Some say John the Baptist, they told him, others Elijah, others again Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus said to them, And what of you? Who do you say that I am?
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  Then Simon Peter answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed art thou Simon son of Jonah. It is not flesh and blood: it is my Father in heaven that has revealed this to you. And I tell you this in my turn, that you are Peter, and it is upon this rock, that I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
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  Offertory: Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth. They shall remember Thy name, O Lord, throughout all generations. The secret: May the sacrifice offered to thee, O Lord, by the intercession of blessed Peter ever vivify and strengthen us. A commemoration of Saint Paul. Sanctify the gifts of thy people, O Lord, through the prayers of Paul, thine apostle, that what is pleasing to you by your own ordinance may become the more pleasing by the patronal influence of his supplication.
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  A commemoration of the holy Maccabees. May we devoutly deal with thy mysteries, O Lord, for the honor of thy holy martyrs, and by them may both protection and joy be increased unto us through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen. The Preface of Apostles. Just it is indeed and fitting, right in for our salvation to entreat thee humbly, O Lord, that thou wouldst not desert thy flock, O everlasting shepherd, but through thy blessed apostles wouldst keep it under thy constant protection, that it may be governed by those same rulers whom, as vicars of thy work, thou didst set over it to be its pastors.
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  And therefore with angels and archangels, with thrones and dominions, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of thy glory, saying without ceasing. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, the heavens and the earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
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  The communion. Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church. The post communion. Let us pray. Filled with the sacrificial food of thy sacred body and precious blood, we beseech thee, O Lord our God, that what we perform in pious devotion we may effectually obtain in assured redemption.
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  A commemoration of Saint Paul. Having received your sacraments, O Lord, we beseech you by the intercession of blessed Paul, that what has been celebrated for his glory may profit unto our healing. A commemoration of the holy Maccabees. Grant we beseech Thee, O Almighty God, that we may more and more closely follow faith of thy saints, whose memory we venerate in partaking of thy sacrament, through our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God through all ages of ages. Amen.
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  In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Saint Peter, pray for us. Saint Paul, pray for us. The holy Maccabees, pray for us.