In November every year Catholic Church through out the world celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, mother and head of all the churches of the city of Rome and of the world, the Cathedral of the Pope, constructed by the Emperor Constantine and originally dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour and later, in the Middle Ages also to St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.
The Lateran Basilica with its adjacent palaces was for many centuries the usual seat of the Pope.There, five Ecumenical Councils were held among them in 1215 during the pontificate of Innocent 111, IV Lateran Council, considered by historians to be the most important Council of the Middle Ages. For a thousand years the history of Christian Rome gravitated around that Basilica which the Popes, Emperors, Kings and faithful gradually adored with precious gifts and splendid works of art, signsof their intense faith in Christ.
The feast of the dedication of the church is a feast of our Lord. That is the reason why this feast has precedence over an ordinary Sunday of the year.
In remembering the initial dedication of the cathedral of Rome to Jesus, the Saviour of the world, today’s liturgy invites us to one of the fundamental mysteries of Christian revelation: Jesus of Nazareth,Messiah,Lord,Son of God, he is the one who brought total and definitive salvation to men and women of all times and places.
“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” John 2, 19).Christ’s words proclaimed in the Gospel bring us to the very heart of the paschal mystery. Having entered the temple in Jerusalem, Christ shows his indignation that his Father’s house has been turned into a huge market. In response to this action of Jesus, Jews protest: “what sign have you to show us for doing this?”(John 2, 18).Jesus answers them by indicating the definitive sign:” Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2, 19).
We see the temple and contemplate the Church. We see the building and penetrate its mystery. With the beauty of its symbols, the building reveals to us the mystery of Christ and his Church. In the cathedral of the Bishop we discover Christ the teacher who, through the apostolic succession, teaches us throughout the ages. In the alter we see Christ himself in the supreme act of redemption. In the baptismal font we find the bosom of the Church, virgin and mother, who impacts the life of God to the heart of her children. And looking at ourselves, we can say with St Paul: You are…God’s building…God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple”(1 Cor 3,9.17).