The Thanksgiving of a Pope

Almighty God prefigured the structure of his Holy Church, built on the foundation of St. Peter, in the worship tent Moses and Aaron built in the desert, as well as in the temple which King Solomon built.  Central to this structure is the office of the Papacy.  Here follows a sermon by Pope St. Leo the Great (d. 461) on the anniversary of his consecration to the throne of Peter:

"God, deeming me worthy, causes me to honor this day on which he raised me from my lowliness to the highest rank, for he showed that he despises no one that is his.  Thus, even if we must tremble due to our lack of merit, still it is right for us to rejoice in his gift.  For he who is the Origin of what is to me a burden, is himself the Helper in the work.  And he who confers the dignity gives strength, lest a weak man sink under the magnitude of his grace.  Therefore, the recurrence of the day on which The Lord willed for me to be chief of the episcopal office is a true cause for me to rejoice in the glory of the God who loves me so much and has forgiven me so much.  And, that he might make his grace wonderful, he has conferred gifts on one in whom he does not find a wealth of merit.  In this work of his, he affirms and commends to our hearts that no one may anticipate his justice or despair of his mercy, which is more exalted when a sinner is sanctified and a fallen man is raised up.  For, the measure of his heavenly gifts does not depend on the quality of our works, or is this awarded to him as something merited in this world, in which 'all of life is a test' (Job 7, 1), where, if The Lord observed our iniquities, no one would be able to endure his justice.  

"Therefore, dearly beloved, 'magnify The Lord with me: together let us exalt his holy name' (Psalm 33, 4), that the whole cause of today's celebration may redound to the praise of our Creator.  For, I confess that I rejoice greatly regarding the devotion of all of you, and when I see this most splendid assembly of my venerable fellow priests, I feel the angelic presence gathered in so many holy men.  I do not doubt that the grace of the divine presence has been visited upon us very abundantly when those who are present as so many tabernacles of God, as so many most excellent members of the Body of Christ, shine together as one light.  Nor, as I trust, is the holy dignity and faithful love of the most blessed Apostle Peter absent from this banquet.  Nor does he, by whose reverence he has gathered you together, spurn your devotion.  He himself rejoices in your joy, and cherishes the reverence shown to those who share in the honor his institution by The Lord, approving the highly ordered charity of the whole Church which sustains Peter in the seat of Peter, and is warmed by the great love of a shepherd not so much for his person but as an unequal hair.  Therefore, dearly beloved, so that this piety which you all show toward my lowliness may receive the fruit of its zeal, humbly beseech the most clement mercy of our God that he might fight against those who fight against us, fortify our faith, strengthen our love, spread his peace for us, and deign to make me, his lowly servant, whom he has willed to preside so as to show the riches of his grace to those governing his Church, sufficient for such a great work, and useful for your edification.  May he grant to extend the times of our service and advance us in our devotion.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen."