+ Today we celebrate the feast of the oldest of the four major basilicas of Rome, The Achbasilica of St. John Lateran – whose official title is the Patriarchal Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and St. John the Baptist
at the Lateran. It stands on the site of an ancient palace on the Celian
Hill, which formerly belonged to the Laterani family. The Lateran Basilica, (not St.
Peter’s), originally known as the Church
of Savior, is the pope’s “cathedral church,” in his primary role as Bishop
of Rome. It has within it the “chair – cathedra” from which he presides as
Bishop of Rome and the world. It is considered “the mother and head of all
churches of Rome and the world.” Five
ecumenical councils were held there (in 1123, 1139, 1179, 1215 and 1512-17).
The emperor Constantine received the palace as part of his wife’s dowry and
then donated it to the Church about the year 312. Thereafter, it was the
official residence of the popes until their departure for Avignon, France, in
1309. This feast commemorates the original dedication of the basilica by Pope
Sylvester I on November 9, 324.
Any
church, cathedral or basilica is meant to be first, last and in all ways, “a
house of prayer” – and that according to the desire and formulations of Jesus
himself as we see in the gospel passage. They are to be “awesome” places – which stir up a sense of wonder and awe from the
most humble and small of expressions to the largest and grandest. Above all,
the faithful that gather there must reflect on the fact that the building they
are in represents themselves as spiritual
dwelling places for God – they
themselves are God’s building, God’s temple, God’s church, with God
dwelling in them in a much deeper way than he ever could in a compilation of
stone, mortar and glass – beautiful though they may be. Ask this question of
yourself right now – do I consider myself such a sacred and awesome dwelling
place for God that I could be compared with a grand cathedral? Why or why not?
It is not meant to be impossible at all!
Lastly,
all of our church buildings are to meant to re-present and lead us to the most
supreme awesome throne of God – where we will dwell in our spiritual home
forever in Christ as One Body, One Temple, and One Church forever!
The waters of the river gladden the city
of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
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