Friday, November 9, 2012

The Pope's Cathedral is the Church of Our Saviour or St. John Lateran


The "cathedra" of the Bishop of Rome: the seat of the Pope's treaching office 

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of Rome. This is not St. Peter's, but it is the Pope's cathedral.

Also called the Church of Holy Saviour or the Church of St. John Baptist, it was the baptism church of ancient Rome. It was built in the time of Constantine and was consecrated by Pope Sylvester in 324.

This feast became a universal celebration in honour of the basilica called "the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput) as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

The photos of Canadians at St. John Lateran were taken on October 22, during and following the Mass of Thanksgiving for the canonization of St. Kateri Tekakwitha.

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O God, who from living and chosen stones prepare an eternal dwelling for your majesty, increase in your Church the spirit of grace you have bestowed, so that by new growth your faithful people may build up the heavenly Jerusalem. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

1 comment:

  1. You didn't include the nice pictures I took of you at St. John Lateran!

    ReplyDelete