Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Rome

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is  the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome and the official ecclesiastical seat of His Holiness our Pope as the Bishop of Rome. It is also known as known as St. John Lateran's Archbasilica, Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, Archbasilica of Our Saviour  or Arcibasilica Papale di San Giovanni in Laterano in Italian. It is the ecumenical mother church (Universal Church) to Roman Catholics worldwide, and it is rank highest among all churches in the Catholic Church, even above St. Peter's Basilica. The basilica is the oldest among the four basilicas in Rome. It is located in the south-eastern part of Rome outside the Vatican City, however it has been granted as the property of the Holy See, Vatican.

9 November is dedicated to the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.  This feast became a universal celebration in honor of the basilica called "the mother and mistress of all churches of Rome and the world" (omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput) as a sign of love for and union with the See of Peter.

The word "Lateran" in the name of the Basilica is due to this site was occupied by a palace like mansion belonging to the rich Laterani family, which was confiscated by Emperor Nero. A hundred years later, the first Christian emperor, Constantine the 1st, acquired the old  palace and  chose to give the Lateran palace to the Roman Church as a gift. It was then was converted and enlarged and became Lateran Basilica the official residence of the Pope.  In year 324 AD, the Basilica and the adjacent Lateran Palace was officially dedicated by Pope Sylvester which he declared as “Domus Dei” (“The house of God”). The Papal Throne was placed in the Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome. The interior is richly and beautifully decorated by Constantine. There are seven silver altars, more than 100 chandeliers and a gold covered apse vault in the Basilica.

 

The Lateran Basilica has been rededicated twice. The first time was in the 10th century when it was dedicated to Saint John the Baptist in honor of the newly consecrated baptistery and the second time was in the 12th century, when it was dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist. On the top of the front entrance of the basilica there are 11 sculptures, in the middle is Jesus Christ is carrying a cross and surrounded by St. John the Evangelist, St. John the Baptist and the other Doctors of the Church. Below the statues is a long Latin text inscribed which says “Clement XII, Supreme Pontiff, in his fifth year, to Christ the Savior in honor of Saints John the Baptist and Evangalist.”  Jesus Christ our Saviour is the Chief patron of the cathedral and the co-patrons being St. John the Evangelist and St. John the Baptist.

Major renovation in 18th century, which included the addition of the new facade.

YouTube Link

Basilica of St John Lateran, Rome [HD]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56kx6OMFL8I&list=LPbbEZr516fAc&index=1&feature=plcp

Procession at Saint John Lateran (San Giovanni Laterano) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aY3p3tKp3Y&feature=related

Dedication of the ArchBasilica of St. John Lateran (Feast)

Liturgy of the Word for Friday, 9th November,  2012

Feast of the Dedication of the ArchBasilica of St. John Lateran

 

 

 

1st Reading

Ezekiel 47: 1 - 2, 8 - 9, 12

1  Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 

2  Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate, that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side. 

8  And he said to me, "This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh. 

9  And wherever the river goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. 

12  And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." 

 

Psalm

Psalms 46: 2 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 9

2  Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; 

3  though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Selah] 

5  God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early. 

6  The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

8  Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has wrought desolations in the earth. 

9  He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, he burns the chariots with fire! 

2nd Reading

1 Corinthians 3: 9 - 11, 16 - 17

9  For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 

10  According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. 

11  For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

16  Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 

17  If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are.

 

Gospel

John 2: 13 - 22

13  The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

14  In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers at their business. 

15  And making a whip of cords, he drove them all, with the sheep and oxen, out of the temple; and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 

16  And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; you shall not make my Father's house a house of trade." 

17  His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for thy house will consume me." 

18  The Jews then said to him, "What sign have you to show us for doing this?" 

19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 

20  The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 

21  But he spoke of the temple of his body. 

22  When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.