Today, we celebrate the consecration of one of our most holy places in Christendom called St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome—the cathedral church of the pope, and the Mother Church of all churches in the world. Some think it a mistake when they hear that St. John Lateran—not St. Peter’s Basilica—is the Mother Church and the pope’s own cathedral. [And having been inside it, I rank it the most beautiful church in the world]. Cathedral comes from the word cathedra, which means, chair. A cathedral is the seat of the diocese; and it is from the cathedral, where the ‘cathedra’ (chair) of the bishop is located that he governs. The cathedral is not simply a big church building. Wherever the bishop’s cathedra (chair) is, there is the cathedral. Here, size doesn’t matter.
So, why honor this church? Perhaps a short history might help. The first few hundred years of Christianity was tough. In fact, that might be an understatement. There was unthinkable hostility toward Christians. They were called extremists, accused of being atheists, and arch-disruptors of peace and concord. As punishment, Christians, by imperial decree, were thrown to lions and wild beasts; they were burned alive. Their burning bodies provided torches to the emperors and spectators at the “Gladiator Games,” where they feasted their eyes on incredible cruelty, which they called “games.” No one expected that being burned alive and used as torches was part of what Jesus meant when He said, “You are the light of the world.” But it came close.
Things took a different turn when a Roman soldier named Constantine became emperor in AD 306. History has it that Constantine had a vision prior to one of his military campaigns in which he saw a cross in the sky with the words, “In this sign you shall conquer.” Learning that that was a Christian symbol, he went to battle with the cross emblazoned on his standards. He won victory, which he attributed to the cross. Upon his return, Constantine immediately put an end to the persecution of Christians, and made it legal to be Christian. He followed with building a magnificent church in a land donated by the Laterini family, which became the first open Christian church building.
This Lateran Basilica was consecrated in AD 324 and has the title of Ecumenical Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Faithful. It is the major papal, patriarchal, and Roman archbasilica cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, Mother and Head of all churches in Rome and in the world. It was the home of the popes before the present location at St. Peter’s Basilica. St. John Lateran has a special door (Jubilee Door) that is opened every twenty-five years. It is in a special sense, the church of and for all Christians—a wonderful sign of God’s providential care. This church is a sign that the Christian faith would endure as promised by the Lord. God’s design will triumph over the world and our individual wills.
Having said all that, today’s feast is not so much about a building as it is of a people who have persevered, weathered many storms, strove to be faithful—yes, imperfectly—yet, in many ways, as best as they could. We do not celebrate a magnificent building that survived; rather the faith of God’s people in whom God has chosen to make His dwelling. St. Paul writing to the Corinthians said, “You are God’s building” (I Cor 3:9)—you and I. God has desired us for His dwelling. Again, St. Paul writes, “For the temple of God, which you are, is holy” (I Cor 3:17). We’re Christians not because we come to Church, but because we’re members of Christ’s body, consecrated in baptism.
Today’s feast reminds us that as water flowed from the temple, and from Jesus’ side, we the baptized, should flow like fresh water out of the doors of every church to refresh the world. So, next time you desire to see God’s holy place or behold His temple, you need not look outside; look rather in a mirror.
Fr. Chukwudi Jo Okonkwo