As Catholics we are used to great feast days, many in honor of Apostles or great events in the church, celebrations honoring Mary, etc. Today the church celebrated the Feast of the Dedication of Saint John Lateran Basilica. What does this mean?
First, St. John Lateran Basilica is considered the mother church of all Christianity. Built for another purpose, it was gifted to the Church in the 4th century and erected as a church in 324 by Emperor Constantine. Despite what many people believe, it is St. John Lateran Basilica that is the official church of the diocese of Rome. When the Pope functions as Bishop of Rome, this is his cathedral parish.
This feast day dates back to the 12th century. Originally a local feast day, it was extended to the church universal as a sign of devotion to and unity with the Chair of Peter.
An interesting side note is that St. John Lateran Basilica is outside the borders of Vatican City and is part of Rome. By special agreement, it enjoys Vatican City status so it can in fact retain it's posture as the cathedral church.
Catholics should celebrate this feast with joy both because St. John Lateran points to our universal (catholic) mission and because it serves as our reminder that we are indeed true and living temples of God!
Happy Feast Day!
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