“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” John 2:19.
On November 9th, we celebrate the feast of our first temple with the dedication of St. John Lateran Archbasilica Cathedral in Rome. The church was dedicated in 324 A.D. and is still today the home parish of the Pope. It is where the Bishop of Rome celebrates Mass every Sunday. St. John Lateran has the most extensive collection of art and relics in the Catholic Church. The basilica houses relics as the remains of the heads of Peter and Paul, and parts of John the Baptist. It is dedicated both to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. Furthermore, the cathedral is called “Lateran” because it resides in the Lateran district of Rome.
All of that is interesting, but why do we celebrate the dedication of this particular church?
We celebrate this dedication because the temple was nearly destroyed, and God raised it up. In 64 A.D., Emperor Nero began his ruthless persecution of Christians by murdering Peter and Paul. For hundreds of years, the Catholic Church was torn apart again and again. In addition, baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit was punishable by death. Yet, the Faith of our ancestor Church prevailed all the way to 312 A.D.
Constantine the Great became the ruler of Rome and ended the persecution of Christianity. He gave the Catholic Church ownership of the Lateran Palace in the Lateran district of Rome. It became the first official temple of the Catholic Church.
Our temple was nearly destroyed, but God raised it up with Constantine the Great and the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. Not only did Constantine give our Faith a physical church, he gave our Church permission to be public and unafraid. With the end of Christian persecution, it became safe to be a temple of God.
We are all called to the Houses of the Lord.
Each and every Catholic is a temple that must not be destroyed. We carry the Word of God. Our bodies receive His flesh and blood in Holy Communion. Our faith may not be a crime, but it is most certainly persecuted. Marriage and family are under attack. The safety of the unborn is continuously threatened. Truth and reality are challenged. But if we stand with God, our temples can be destroyed and raised up again and again. He restored Himself in three days when He resurrected. Christ gave the Catholic Church a second chance with St. John Lateran Basilica. He will do it for us, if we trust Him and hold to our Faith.
So on November 9th, thank the Lord our temple was raised up. Raise your heart to the Lord.
