Nov. 9: FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA OF ST. JOHN HOMILY AND COMMENTARY.

November 9
THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA [Feast] HOMILY AND COMMENTARY.

The Lateran Basilica is the cathedral of Rome. It was built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324. This feast became a universal celebration in honor of the basilica called “the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world” as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

A sermon of St Caesarius of Arles
Baptism makes every one of us into a temple of God.

My fellow Christians, today is the birthday of this church, an occasion for celebration and rejoicing. We, however, ought to be the true and living temple of God. Nevertheless, Christians rightly commemorate this feast of the church, their mother, for they know that through her they were reborn in the spirit. At our first birth, we were vessels of God’s wrath; reborn, we became vessels of his mercy. Our first birth brought death to us, but our second restored us to life.
Indeed, before our baptism we were sanctuaries of the devil; but after our baptism we merited the privilege of being temples of Christ. And if we think more carefully about the meaning of our salvation, we shall realise that we are indeed living and true temples of God. God does not dwell only in things made by human hands, nor in homes of wood and stone, but rather he dwells principally in the soul made according to his own image and fashioned by his own hand. Therefore, the apostle Paul says: The temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.
When Christ came, he banished the devil from our hearts, in order to build in them a temple for himself. Let us therefore do what we can with his help, so that our evil deeds will not deface that temple. For whoever does evil, does injury to Christ. As I said earlier, before Christ redeemed us, we were the house of the devil, but afterward, we merited the privilege of being the house of God. God himself in his loving mercy saw fit to make of us his own home. My fellow Christians, do we wish to celebrate joyfully the birth of this temple? Then let us not destroy the living temples of God in ourselves by works of evil. I shall speak clearly, so that all can understand. Whenever we come to church, we must prepare our hearts to be as beautiful as we expect this church to be. 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, so that he who dwells in the heavens will be glorified. Just as you enter this church building, so God wishes to enter into your soul, for he promised: I shall live in them, I shall walk through their hearts.
Responsory
℟. I saw a stream of water flowing from the right side of the temple, alleluia.*Wherever this water flowed, it brought life, and all who were saved by it cried out: Alleluia, alleluia!Responsory
℣. When the church was consecrated, the congregation broke in to cries of joy, and sounds of sweet singing burst from their mouths.* Wherever this water flowed, it brought life, and all who were saved by it cried out: Alleluia, alleluia!
Let us pray.
O God, who from living and chosen stones prepare an eternal dwelling for your majesty, increase in your Church the grace you have bestowed, so that. by new growth your faithful people may build up the heavenly Jerusalem. Through our Lord.

VIDEO COMMENTARY FROM THE COUPLES OF CHRIST INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN, BONG ARJONILLO

TOPIC:  Do you know why we celebrate the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John in Lateran today?

Not many know that the Pope is also the bishop of Rome. Popes lived in the Lateran Basilica from the fourth to the fourteenth century. It is the oldest of the four major basilicas in Rome. A basilica is a church edifice similar to a priest being made into a monsignor. It is accorded special privileges by the Pope. The four major Papal basilicas are: Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major.Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. The palace of the Laterani belonged to the family bearing its name and came into the possession of Emperor of Rome, Constantine and his wife Fausta. When he declared conversion to Christianity, he gave it to the Pope to become the Pope’s private residence. It was dedicated to Christ our Savior by Pope St. Silvester on Nov. 9, 324. At least 15 popes have been buried here.

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