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Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran

Like last week’s Commemoration of All Souls, this week another liturgical feast day supersedes the Ordinary Time Sunday. To explain this unique feast, I am sharing a bulletin insert from Liturgy Training Publications, written by Paul Turner.

Whenever November 9 falls on a Sunday, many churchgoers are surprised to learn that the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran has replaced the regular Sunday Mass. 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 it.

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.

MASS FOR FAMILIES OF DECEASED CHILDREN – The pain of losing a child is a wound that never completely heals. Each year our parish hosts a mass specifically for those who have lost children. This year the mass will take place on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 pm.

HONORING VETERANS – This Tuesday we honor all who have served our nation as members of our Armed Forces. Their sacrifices allowed us to be the nation we are today, a democratic republic which enables us to select servant leaders who are obliged to put the needs of its people above their own self interests. We can never take for granted the men and women who have defended and continue to defend our nation and its democratic and peaceful transfer of power. In addition, our servicemen and women model for us the call to care for the common good. We ask for God’s blessings on our Veterans and give thanks for their families who support them.

PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS – Last week National Vocation Awareness Week was celebrated in our countryPlease ask Our Lord for more dedicated, holy priests, deacons, and consecrated men and women. May they be inspired by Jesus Christ, supported by our faith community, and respond generously to God’s gift of vocation.

Peace,