The Feast of St. Peter in Chains recalls St. Peter's freeing from prison by an angel as told in Acts 12:3-19. In about the year 42, on the orders of Herod Agrippa, the Apostle Peter was thrown into prison for preaching about Christ the Savior. In prison he was held secure by two iron chains. During the night before his trial, an angel of the Lord removed these chains from the Apostle Peter and led him out from the prison (Acts 12:1-11).

The feast Day of St. Peter in Chains was once known as "Lammas Day" from the Old English "hlafmaesse" for Loaf Mass. The name was applied to the feast because it was observed as an early harvest thanksgiving and loaves made from the new corn were blessed and distributed at the Masses.

St. Peter in Chains can help you break through barriers that have kept you bound and stuck. Here is a recipe for St. Peter in Chains Bread you can make as an offering to him and eat in a ritualistic way to break the chains that bind you.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 1 package yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 4 cups flour
• 1 egg (optional)

Directions:
Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Add the sugar and salt. Mix in the flour and knead until the dough is smooth. Roll out dough and form into chain links. Connect the links to form a chain. Brush the dough with a beaten egg for a golden finish if desired. Bake in a preheated oven at 425˚F for 15 minutes.

Offer some bread to St. Peter on his Feast Day. He takes a red candle as he is an Apostle. Set some aside for yourself. Say the prayer for St. Peter:

 "Glorious chains! Never will you make St. Peter’s successors tremble any more than St. Peter himself; before the Herods and Neros and Caesars of all ages you will be the guarantee of the liberty of souls. O Holy Apostle, Peter, thou dost preside over the Apostles by the precious chains which thou didst bear. We venerate them with faith and beseech thee that by thine intercessions we be granted the great mercy." State your petition. "Amen."

For each link of St Peter's Bread you eat, name it for an obstacle. Eating the obstacle symbolically gives you power and control over that problem so that you can move forward unencumbered. After three days, put the bread offering outside under a bush or a tree.

Be thou opened!