Dedication of Lateran Basilica
November 2008
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is the Cathedral Church of the Bishop of Rome, who is Benedict the XVI. Also known as the Holy Father or the Pope.
In every diocese, the cathedral church, that is the church of the bishop of the diocese, is the principal church of the diocese and the symbol of the unity of the church in that diocese. In the same way the parish church is the symbol of the unity of the church in the parish.
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is not only the symbol of unity for the Diocese of Rome but also for the Catholic Church throughout the whole world.
What today’s feast is about is celebrating the unity of our church throughout the world under the direction of the bishop of Rome.
Just as it is not the house where the family lives that makes a family to be a family - for a family can be a family if they live in a tent or under a tree or are nomadic and live in a different place every day - so also it is not the church building which makes the group of people who meet therein to be the church.
The church, like the family, must not be confused with the building which houses it at any particular time or place. The church is this group of people, be they few or many, who under the leadership of and in union with, Jesus Christ, live a life of unity, mutual respect and mutual support to the best of their ability.
Of course the building where they meet to offer thanks to God their creator is important, just as the house where the family lives is important, but the building is not the church as the house is not the family.
The great value of a church building, as well as keeping out the rain, is that, whether it be a basilica or St. Patrick’s, Corsham, it is a symbol of the presence of God among us (Immanuel). Whenever we see a church, even a church steeple in the distance, we are reminded of Immanuel (God with us).
As scripture says ‘Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house’ the important thing is the people.
So if you experience an overwhelming urge to donate a large sum of money, towards the beautification of a particular church building, firstly consider what the physical and spiritual needs of the people who worship in that building are. Only when these needs are seen to should one look to the building itself.