Dedication of St. John Lateran, Saint of the day for 9 November

Saint of the day for November 9

History of the dedication of San Giovanni in Laterano

Most Catholics think of St. Peter's as the pope's main church, but they are wrong. San Giovanni in Laterano is the church of the Pope, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome presides.

The first basilica on the site was built in the XNUMXth century when Constantine donated the land he had received from the wealthy Lateran family. That structure and its successors suffered fires, earthquakes and war devastation, but the Lateran remained the church where the popes were consecrated. In the XNUMXth century, when the papacy returned to Rome from Avignon, the church and adjacent palace were found in ruins.

Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646. One of the most impressive churches in Rome, the imposing facade of the Lateran is crowned by 15 colossal statues of Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist and 12 doctors of the Church. Under the main altar rest the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds St. Peter himself celebrated Mass.

Reflection

Unlike the commemorations of other Roman churches, this anniversary is a holiday. The dedication of a church is a celebration for all its parishioners. In a sense, San Giovanni in Laterano is the parish church of all Catholics, because it is the pope's cathedral. This church is the spiritual home of the people who are the Church.