Cristy Li

Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter & St. Paul
Image: St.Paul Street Evangelization

Today Christians celebrate the dedication of two of the 4 major Basilicas in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica was originally built in 323 by the Emperor Constantine over the tomb of Saint Peter the Apostle (Feast Day: 29 June) the Church’s first Pope.

After standing for more than 1,000 years Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns. The reconstruction of the new Church spanned over 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on this date in 1626 and is considered  the most famous Church in Christendom.

St. Paul’s Basilica is located outside the original walls of Rome. Originally build by Emperor Constantine, it was destroyed by fire in 1823 however donations from around the world made the reconstruction possible.

Before the completion of St. Peter’s Basilica – St. Paul’s Basilica was the largest Church in Rome–This Basilica was built over the grave of St. Paul (Feast Day: 29 June) — Pope Pius IX consecrated the Basilica in 1854

• On the 09 November, I wrote here about the Feast of the Dedication of St. John Leteran Basilica in Rome and on the 05 August, I wrote here about the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Paul’s Basilica continue to draw millions of tourists each and every year.

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Related: For Today’s Bible Readings for the Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St’s Peter and Paul, -Visit: -USCCB

Interior of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome
Image Courtesy: Indianapolis Museum of Art

Many people think of St. Peter’s Basilica as the Pope’s main Church but they are wrong. St. John Lateran is the Pope’s Church, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Italy Rome, where the Bishop of Rome presides.

The first Basilica on the site was built in the 4th century when Constantine donated he had received from the wealthy ‘Lateran Family’ however that structure and its successors were damaged by fire, earthquake and the ravages of war but the ‘Lateran’ remained the Church where Pope’s were consecrated until the Pope’s returned from France Avignon, in the 14th century to find the Church and adjoining palace in ruins.

Pope Innocent X commissioned the present structure in 1646 — One of Rome’s most imposing Churches the ‘Lateran’ towering facade is crowned with 15 colossal  statutes of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, together with 12 Doctors of the Church. — Beneath its high altar rests the remains of the small wooden table on which tradition holds, Pope Saint Peter himself celebrated Mass.

Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB

Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome

Happy “All Saints Day”
Image Courtesy: Archdiocese of Los Angeles

(Franciscan Media) Today the Church celebrates all of the Saints: Canonized or Beatified and the multitude of those who are in heaven enjoying the beatific vision that are only known to God.

During the early centuries the Saints venerated by the Church were all Martyr’s — Later on the Pope’s set the 01 November, as the day for commemorating all the Saints. We all have this ‘universal call to holiness.’

What must we do in order to join the company of the Saints in heaven?

We must follow in His footsteps and conform ourselves to His image, seeking the will of the Father in all things. — We must devote ourselves with all (of) our being to the glory of God and the service of our neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the people of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many Saints in Church history. —Lumen Gentium 40

During the year, the Church celebrates one-by-one the Feasts of the Saints but today, She joins them all in one festival. In addition to those whose names She knows, She recalls in magnificent vision all the others “of all nations and tribes standing before the throne and in the sight of the Lamb (of God) clothed with white robes and palms in their hands, proclaiming Him who redeemed then in His Blood.”

The ‘Feast of All Saints’ should inspire us with tremendous hope. Among the Saints in heaven are some that we have known. All lived on earth, lives like our own. They were baptized, marked with the sign of faith, they were faithful to Christ’s teaching and they have gone before us to the heavenly home, where they call on us to follow them.

The Gospel of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) read today, while it shows their happiness shows too, the road that they followed, there is no other that will lead us to which they have gone.

The Commemoration of “All Saints” was first celebrated in the East, how the Western Church came to celebrate today’s Feast now recognized as a Solemnity in November is a puzzle to historians. The Anglo-Saxon theologian Alcuin observed the Feast on the 01 November, 800 as did his friend Arno, the Bishop of Salzburg — Rome finally adopted that date in the 9th century.

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Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit: -USCCB