Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Massimo Palombella
Emperor Constantine built a basilica on the Caelian Hill in Rome, on the site of the ancient Lateran Palace, which Pope Sylvester I dedicated to the Holy Saviour (318 or 324). A chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist was built inside it to serve as a baptistery, and in the 9th century Pope Sergius III added the dedication to the Baptist. In the 12th century, Pope Lucius II also dedicated it to St. John the Evangelist. Hence the name Papal Basilica of the Most Holy Saviour and St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist in Lateran. The Basilica is considered the mother of all churches in the world.
Destroyed several times over the centuries, it was always rebuilt, and its last reconstruction took place under the pontificate of Benedict XIII, who reconsecrated it in 1724. It was on this occasion that the feast we celebrate today was established and extended to all of Christendom.
Dedicating, consecrating a place means reserving for God a free space of beauty that is the fruit of the highest human production, namely culture and faith, which becomes plastic, accessible through art.
We become capable of reserving time and space for the people who constitute our existence if we are in touch with the truth of ourselves, where all our needs find a healthy place.
We slowly enable ourselves to surrender our lives more and more when, not without suffering, we give ourselves permission to go beyond the noise of our unmet needs (to be recognised, loved, considered…), and this is a great opportunity that the Lord offers us at every period of our existence.
Only the surrender of life makes life itself worth living.
The Offertory antiphon for today’s celebration is taken from chapter 29 of the First Book of Chronicles (1 Chron 29:17-18) with the following text:
Domine Deus, in simplicitate cordis mei laetus obtuli universa;
et populum tuum, qui repertus est, vidi cum ingenti gaudio:
Deus Israel, custodi hanc voluntatem, Domine Deus.
(O Lord God, in the simplicity of my heart I have joyfully offered all things;
and I have beheld w ith immense joy your people gathered here.
God of Israel, preserve this good intention, O Lord God).
The attached music is by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594), and comes from the book ‘Offertoria totius anni’ published in Venice in 1594 (GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA, Offertoria totius anni [Venetiis, apud Angelum Gardanum 1594]).
The live performance is by the “Pontifical Sistine Chapel Choir” at the Papal Celebration in the Basilica of St. John Lateran on 9 November 2015.
A blessed Sunday and heartfelt greetings.
