Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, was constructed in honour of St. Francis of Assisi and consecrated in the 13th century. 

The Church is a place in which God is worshipped and His Saints are honoured.

CCC 1186, Finally, the church has an eschatological significance. To enter into the house of God, we must cross a threshold, which symbolizes passing from the world wounded by sin to the world of the new Life to which all men are called. The visible church is a symbol of the Father's house toward which the People of God is journeying and where the Father "will wipe every tear from their eyes." Also for this reason, the Church is the house of all God's children, open and welcoming.

Saturday, 24 May, 2014
Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Feast)

Reading

Revelation 21: 1 - 5
1	Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
2	And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;
3	and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them;
4	he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."
5	And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true."

Psalm

Psalms 95: 1 - 7
1	O come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2	Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3	For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4	In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
5	The sea is his, for he made it; for his hands formed the dry land.
6	O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7	For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today you would hearken to his voice!

Gospel

John 10: 22 - 30
22	It was the feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem;
23	it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.
24	So the Jews gathered round him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
25	Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me;
26	but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.
27	My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me;
28	and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.
29	My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
30	I and the Father are one."