“I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.” 2 Chronicles 7:16
The temple – or the Church – is the place where we forever proclaim the name of the Lord and encounter him in a profound way, and so, this weekend, we celebrate the dedication of the oldest and most important Basilica in our faith tradition, Saint John Lateran – also known as the Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. One might think that Saint Peter’s Basilica is the most important being that it is where the pope now resides; however, Saint John Lateran continues to be the official cathedral of Rome, making it not only the “mother church” of the Archdiocese of Rome but the “mother church” of the entire world.
Saint John Lateran was officially dedicated in the year 324 by Pope Sylvester and given the name the “House of God,” with a special designation to Christ the Savior. Later, in the 10th century, Pope Sergius III rededicated the basilica to Saint John the Baptist while in the 12th century, Pope Lucius II dedicated the basilica to Saint John the Evangelist, and so, officially, the basilica continues to honor Christ the Savior first and the two saints as the co-patrons. The basilica and the attached palace were therefore the official residence of the Pope through 1305 when Pope Clement V moved the papacy to Avignon, but in its return in 1377, the papacy was moved to Saint Peter’s on Vatican Hill.
This anniversary is therefore a feast because Saint John Lateran is the parish church of all Catholics, “the spiritual home of the people who are the Church,” and it also offers us the opportunity to reflect about two other things. First, we reflect on the significance of a church building in our life of worship, and so, we’re given the chance to pray for our local parish and its foundation as community, helping to see how important it is for us to support and participate in our local parish. Secondly, we’re also reminded of another place where God dwells, that is, in us. We too are “temples of the Holy Spirit,” and as such, we’re to see and treat our bodies with sacredness and respect, using these God-given temples to not only praise but serve the Lord as well. We should then reflect this week on how we’re actively participating in parish life and revealing God to others though our lives.
Congratulations and prayers as well this week for those who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this weekend.
In Christ
Fr Robert