More formally known as the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior in honor of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, or more commonly called St. John Lateran, this most important and oldest of the four basilicas in Rome has a long history dating back to 324 A.D. The emperor Constantine received the basilica, owned by the Laterani Family, through his second marriage and gave it to the Bishop of Rome who placed his cathedra (chair) in it, making it the cathedral of Rome and the Pope's Church. It has been destroyed by earthquake and fire, rebuilt, renovated, and embellished many times over the centuries, a symbol of the endurance of the Church till the end of time promised by Jesus. (Cf. Mt 28: 20)
St. Paul likens each one of us to God's building built on the foundation of Jesus Christ. As such we are "the temple of God" in which the Spirit dwells, which thus is holy. (Cf. 1 Cor 3: 9-17). Buildings are important, tangible signs of God's dwelling amongst us, places of worship and centers of sacramental life; they contain family memories of the sacrifices made to build them, and the marriages, baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Ordinations, and funerals celebrated in them, but they are not the Church. We are!
Bro. Rene
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