FEAST OF THE DAY MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER, 2026 DEDICATION OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN BASILICA Today the liturgy celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, called “mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.” In fact, this basilica was the first to be built after Emperor Constantine's edict, in 313, granted Christians freedom to practice their religion. The emperor himself gave Pope Miltiades the ancient palace of the Laterani family, and the basilica, the baptistery, and the patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome's residence — where the Popes lived until the Avignon period — were all built there. The basilica's dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324 and was named Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the names of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist added, and now is typically denominated by these latter. Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches of the Roman rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of expressing love and veneration for the Roman Church, which, as St. Ignatius of Antioch says, “presides in charity” over the whole Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans, 1:1). On this solemnity the Word of God recalls an essential truth: the temple of stones is a symbol of the living Church, the Christian community, which in their letters the Apostles Peter and Paul already understood as a “spiritual edifice,” built by God with “living stones,” namely, Christians themselves, upon the one foundation of Jesus Christ, who is called the “cornerstone” (cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Ephesians 2:20-22). “Brothers, you are God's building,” St. Paul wrote, and added: “holy is God's temple, which you are” (1 Corinthians 3:9c, 17). The beauty and harmony of the churches, destined to give praise to God, also draws us human beings, limited and sinful, to convert to form a “cosmos,” a well-ordered structure, in intimate communion with Jesus, who is the true Saint of saints. This happens in a culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the “ecclesia,” that is, the community of the baptized, come together in a unified way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the Body and Blood of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living stones is built up in truth and charity and is internally formed by the Holy Spirit transforming herself into what she receives, conforming herself more and more to the Lord Jesus Christ. She herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, in this way becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.Dear friends, today's feast celebrates a mystery that is always relevant: God's desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a community that worships him in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24). But this observance also reminds us of the importance of the material buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the praises of God. Every community therefore has the duty to take special care of its own sacred buildings, which are a precious religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she help us to become, like her, the “house of God,” living temple of his love. PRAYER: 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. Amen.
I always get mixed up with the Basilica's in Rome, There are the four main ones, St Peters, St Marys, St John and St Paul. And there are another 62 others. Imagine that 66 Basilicas in the one city! I don't really recall St Johns so well. There is much to envy the people of Rome for and one of the main ones is their Churches. One lovely thing I find there is whenever you go into a Church there is very often the body of a saint inside, sometimes incorrupt. One thing I notice about the Rosary is how often they centre on the Holy City of Jerusalem. Our own Catholic Jerusalem which is the Holy City of Rome. How sad that Catholic Prophecy indicates that Rome is about to be burnt in Great Fire. This is because it has become so corrupt and evil. Our Shepherds have become wolves. Only fire can cleanse it of its great wickedness and Apostasy. In this too Rome reminds me of Jerusalem which too had to be cleansed by fire again and again. Luke 21:5-38 Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple 5 Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was [a]adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, 6 “These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” One thing I notice here in Spain is how much attention they pay to the hermit of Assisi who speaks a lot prophetically about the future of the Church. https://www.ctsbooks.org/take-a-vir...0z6mA8o4WPGMKocQUyBPdYtGDnhclsJDsB3Es-zAR4D2K
