Nov. 9th - St. John Lateran

 

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica, which is the cathedral of Rome. There is an inscription on the outside of the church, which states, “The holy church of the Lateran, mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world.”

After the church was constructed by the emperor Constantine and given to pope Sylvester I, it was consecrated in 324. The pope lived at the Lateran palace for about 1000 yrs, before moving to St. Peter’s Basilica. The church also possesses the relics of the heads of Peter and Paul and the holy table our Lord used at the Last Supper.

We celebrate the dedication of the physical structure of the Lateran Basilica, not so much because it is old, or that it was the resident of the pope for centuries, but most importantly, because of who is in the Church. Our Lord Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist now resides in the Lateran Basilica and every Catholic church in the world.

Recall that previously St. Francis heard the voice of Jesus at San Damiano, which said, “Build my house, which as you can see is falling into ruin”. Heeding Our Lord’s voice, he went about restoring churches. Later, when he went to obtain approval of his rule, Pope Innocent III, had a dream, in which he saw St. Francis of Assisi, holding up the Lateran Basilica, which seemed to be falling down. The pope came to understand that the Franciscan way of life, would build up the temple of the mystical Body of Christ—the Church.

In the second reading today, St. Paul said, “Do you not know you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you.” Saint Caesarius of Arles when speaking of St. John Lateran he said, “Do you wish to find this basilica immaculately clean? Then do not soil your soul with the filth of sins. Do you wish this basilica to be full of light? God too wishes that your soul be not in darkness, but that the light of good works shine in us...”

By coming to Mass today, we recognize our need to drive those things in our heart, which prevent the temple of our soul from truly being the Father’s house. We need to be like Jesus, and have holy zeal, to drive out the sheep, oxen, and money changers within our heart (which are our sins).

Regular confession in a particular way, cleanses the temple of our heart and when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion, He comes to dwell within our temple, giving us graces and gifts to endure life’s daily difficulties, and drive out our sins and gives us peace.

Today, let us therefore honor and praise St. John Lateran Church, the mother church of all Christians, let us with zeal strive to make our soul immaculate in imitation of Mary, the image and model of the Church and in this way, Our Lord will find within us a miniature palace, a little tabernacle and a home He can dwell.