November 9 • The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
You are God’s building. . .Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? — 1 Corinthians 3: 9, 16
I found this passage to be a curious one to be located in today’s readings when we celebrate the Lateran Basilica. Here is a little history of the Basilica and why it is important to the church:
“When the Emperor Constantine granted full liberty to Christians in 313, they did not spare in order to construct places for the Lord – numerous are the churches constructed at that time. Constantine himself also constructed churches, one of which he was a magnificent basilica on the Caelian Hill in Rome, over the ancient Lateran Palace, which Pope Sylvester I dedicated to Christ the Savior (318 or 324). A chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist was built inside it which served as the baptistry. This moved Pope Sergius III to dedicate it to Saint John the Baptist as well. Lastly, Pope Lucius II also dedicated it to Saint John the Evangelist in the 12th century. Thus, the name of this Papal Basilica is the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran. Christians consider the Basilica to be the mother church of all churches in the world. The church was destroyed several times in the course of the centuries and always rebuilt. The final reconstruction took place under the pontificate of Benedict XIII. The church was rededicated in 1724. It was at that time that the feast celebrated today was established and extended to the universal Church.” The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – Vatican News
“To dedicate, consecrate, or reserve” a place to God is found in every religion as an act of recognizing God’s glory and honor. This has been most often applied to physical buildings or external spaces. Yet, as we clearly see in 1 Corinthians, Paul recognizes that God truly dwells within the human person. Even if all the physical churches in the world would disappear, God would still be dwelling within each of us. For me, this is why the social teaching on the dignity of the human person is so important. Once we recognize each person as a temple of the Spirit of God, we must respect their personhood. If we conscientiously did this, even with people we do not like, we would advance in the unity that God intended. May you be for God a thoughtful dwelling place.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS, Direct
Office of Human Life, Dignity, and Justice Ministries
Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral Raleigh, NC