From Deacon Mike: the Lateran Basilica
This weekend we celebrate a somewhat unique feast day. Instead of celebrating and honoring a saint or a special event in the life of Jesus, this weekend we celebrate the dedication of a church in Rome, the Lateran Basilica.
In Rome, there are four major basilicas, St Peter’s Basilica, The Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, The Basilica of St Mary Major and The Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist in the Lateran. This last Basilica, with the really long official name, is also called St John Lateran, or the Lateran Basilica for short. Of these four the oldest and most important is the Lateran Basilica.
Pope Leo XIV lives next to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican City, but the Lateran Basilica is the official cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. In other words, it is the Pope’s Cathedral. This means that the Lateran Basilica is not only the mother church of the Archdiocese of Rome, it is the mother church of the entire world.
The Lateran Basilica is also the oldest Christian church building in the world. It was dedicated in 324 AD by Pope Sylvester I, just 300 years after Jesus.
Today’s feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica is not a celebration of just a building, but a celebration of all members of the Church. St Paul reminds us, we are “the “temple of God” and the Spirit of God dwells in us.
In the Gospel this weekend, Jesus shows His immense love for the Temple in Jerusalem. He drives out the money-changers, telling them, “Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” In just the same way, Jesus loves and cherishes his Body, the Church, which is the place where His presence dwells.
The most important temple is the temple of a person’s soul because, by our baptism, God dwells within each one of us. In the most secret center of our being is that sacred sanctuary where we meet God. St Teresa of Ávila called it the Presence Chamber, the most central and interior dwelling place within us.
In addition to the temple of the soul, there are many sacred places throughout the world. There are shrines, churches, basilicas, grottos, cathedrals, and other holy places that are set aside for the sole purpose of the worship of God. They create a little Heaven on earth, places where we join with the Seraphim, Cherubim, and Thrones in their angelic praises of the Most Holy Trinity. Today’s feast commemorates one such place, the most important church on earth.
The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica invites us to consider our love and zeal for the Church. As our love for the Lord grows, we will grow to love what our Savior loves.
Deacon Michael Braun
P.S. Black Vestments
Black is a traditional color of mourning. Black is sometimes worn at funerals to express sadness for the loss of a loved one. Black vestments in the Liturgy serve as a reminder to pray for the souls of the deceased and to reflect on the reality of death.
Despite the somber color, black can symbolize the potential for spiritual growth, as new life can emerge from darkness, much like a seed germinating underground. Using black in the liturgy balances the message of sorrow with the hope of resurrection and eternal life.
Black is an optional color for funeral Masses and Masses for the dead. The color is often used on November 2nd, the day the Church remembers all the faithful departed.
Black vestments are less common as many priests choose to wear white to emphasize the joy of the resurrection.
Photo credit: By NikonZ7II - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=101762109