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Whenever the ninth of November falls on a Sunday, many
churchgoers are surprised to learn that the regular Mass has been replaced
by one for the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran. Christmas,
Easter, even All Souls Day we understand. But John Lateran? The feast most
nearly resembles Independence Day on the national calendar. It celebrates
the freedom to worship and the dedication of a place to gather for worship.
Early in the fourth century the persecution of Christians came to a close
with the conversion of the emperor Constantine, who granted the followers
of Jesus the right to public worship. Constantine offered Pope Sylvester
I some property owned by the Lateran family, which became the site of the
first Christian basilica, dedicated on November 9, 324. In time, the church
was placed under the patronage of St. John the Baptist and St. John the
Evangelist. The popes lived in a palace adjoining the church which underwent
several renovations over the centuries. Several councils were held in the
building, including the ones legislating celibacy for priests and communion
once a year for the faithful. Even though the popes moved to Avignon, France
for a century and eventually to a residence in the Vatican palace, the
Lateran Basilica remains the cathedral church of Rome. When we speak of
the pope as bishop of Rome, this is his cathedral, not St. Peter’s. Since
the pope is the shepherd of the universal church, the Lateran Basilica
of St. John is the cathedral church of the world. Each year the dedication
of this building is celebrated in every Catholic parish in the world on
November 9. It proclaims the original freedom of Christians to worship,
the dedication of our ancestors to worship, the perseverance of our faith
and the universal nature of our community. By commemorating the dedication
of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, we pass on that faith to new generations.
Copyright
© 1997, Resource Publications, Inc. 160 E. Virginia St. #290, San
Jose, CA 95112, (408) 286-8505. This article may not be reproduced in any
form without permission from the publisher. For permission e-mail
info@rpinet.com.
Paul
Turner, pastor of St. Munchin Parish in Cameron, MO, holds a doctorate
in sacramental theology from Sant' Anselmo University in Rome. |
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