Basilica

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(Usus Antiquior) Dedication of the Archbasilica of our Saviour, Feast of St. Theodore, Martyr (Double II Classis) – Saturday, 9 November 2024 : Introit and Collect 

Liturgical Colour : White

Introit

Genesis 28 : 17 and Psalm 83 : 2-3

Terribilis est locus iste : hic domus Dei est et porta caeli : et vocabitur aula Dei.

Response : Quam dilecta tabernacula Tua, Domine virtutum! Concupiscit, et deficit anima mea in atria Domini.

Response : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto, sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper : et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

Terrible is this place : it is the house of God, and the gate of heaven; and shall be called the court of God.

Response : How lovely are Your tabernacles, o Lord of hosts! My soul longs and faints for the courts of the Lord.

Response : Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Collect

Collect for the Dedication of Archbasilica of our Saviour

Deus, qui nobis per singulos annos hujus sancti templi tui consecrationis reparas diem, et sacris semper mysteriis representas incolumes : exaudi preces populi tui, ut praesta; ut, quisquis hoc templum beneficia petiturus ingreditur, cuncta se impetrasse laetetur. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Dei, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, who year by year renews the day of the consecration of this Your Holy Temple, and ever bring us again in safety to the holy mysteries, hear the prayers of Your people, and grant that whoever enters this temple to seek blessings may rejoice to obtain all that he seeks. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect for the commemoration of St. Theodore

Deus, qui nos beati Theodori Martyris tui confessione gloriosa circumdas et protegis : praesta nobis ex ejus imitatione proficere, et oratione fulciri. Per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum Filium Tuum, qui Tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Dei, per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

English translation

O God, who encompasses and protects us with the glorious testimony of Blessed Theodore, Your martyr, grant us to profit by imitating him and to be supported by his prayers. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who with You lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

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Monday, 5 August 2024 : 18th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this day we listened to the words of the Sacred Scriptures in which we are told of the story of God’s enduring love and kindness for each and every one of us, while at the same time He also wants us to turn away from all sorts of wickedness and evils, all the sins which we have committed in our respective lives. We must not easily be swayed and tempted by all the temptations and falsehoods present all around us in this world, which many of our predecessors had been tempted by, and led to them falling into the path of wickedness of sin, distancing themselves from God’s grace and love. We are all reminded that God has always loved each and every one of us, and He desired for all of us to be reunited and reconciled fully with Him, and that was why, He has reached out to us through His loving Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and also His Blessed Mother, Mary, whom we commemorate today.

In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah in which we heard of the moment when there was a confrontation between Jeremiah and one called Hananiah before the king of Judah, Zedekiah, who also happened to be the last king of Judah before its destruction. Hananiah was a false prophet because he was not sent by God and did not speak according to whatever He has willed and desired, but instead presented his own thoughts and false ideas to the king and people of Judah. There were also others like him, the other false prophets who had led Judah and its people astray ever further from God, even as the Lord had constantly reminded His people through Jeremiah and many of his predecessors. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of God’s truth, telling them how Judah’s days were numbered and the kingdom would soon be destroyed by the Babylonians, the city and the Temple, the House of God would soon be destroyed as well.

On the other hand, Hananiah spoke to the king and to the people of Judah the message that they wanted to hear, the message of false comfort and consolation as he spoke of how the yoke of Babylon would be destroyed and that the kingdom and people of Judah would be freed from their enemies. Hananiah and the other false prophets were pandering to try to gain favours with the king and the people by telling them whatever they wanted to listen to, all the good things and happy things which were indeed nice to be listened to, but which could not be further from the truth. According to historical and Scriptural evidences, they were also aligned with many within the kingdom of Judah then who were trying to align the kingdom with the forces of the Egyptians, hoping that their politics and alliances would be able to regain Judah its independence and freedom from Babylon. Unfortunately, it was exactly this which led to the ultimate downfall and destruction of Judah, just as Jeremiah had told the people.

In our Gospel passage today, we heard from the Gospel of St. Matthew in which the Lord Jesus showed God’s generous love for His people, as He Himself has manifested this love and kindness to them, through Himself in the flesh. He showed everyone how God ultimately loves every one of us, even as He chastised and punished His beloved ones for their sins. For example, as we have heard in our first reading today, on how He chastised the people of Judah and earlier on, those in the northern kingdom of Israel, for their many sins and wickedness, but He warned them many times before everything would come to happen, just as He had done through the prophet Jeremiah. This shows us all that God wants each and every one of us to embrace His love and to get rid from ourselves the taint of sin, evil and wickedness, all of which can lead us to our destruction and downfall.

This is because we must realise that while God is forever ever merciful and loving, kind and compassionate to us, but at the same time He is also a just and holy God, in Whose Presence, no sin and wickedness can exist and remain. He wants us all to be forgiven from our many sins, and showing us all that His love is greater than whatever this world can grant to us. He gave us all His Beloved Son, revealing to us the fullness of His love personified and made manifest, approachable and tangible for us. That is why as we heard in our Gospel passage today, the Lord showed His care and love for the people who had come to Him in their many thousands upon thousands, as all of them came together and were miraculously fed with the five loaves and two fishes that the Lord had multiplied and gave to all of them to eat, to be satisfied and filled, just as He fed them spiritually with His words and teachings.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, what we are all reminded of is the need for us all to reorientate our lives back towards the Lord, to follow Him wholeheartedly once again and to reject all sorts of evil and sins. We must not allow ourselves to be swayed by the path of sin and wickedness, and we must not let the wickedness of this world to lead us astray in our path. Instead, we must allow God to come into our lives and to lead us to the path of righteousness and justice. Each and every one of us are therefore called and reminded to return to the Lord our most loving God, and to be truly faithful to Him in all things, to grow ever stronger in our love and dedication for Him. It is by doing all these that we can become true and genuine Christians, filled with God’s ever generous and wonderful love and grace, in everything that we say and do, in every moments of our lives.

Today, the Church also celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, also known as Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four Papal Major Basilicas and it is the most important Marian church in the world. On this day, we remember the memory of the establishment of this great House of God, dedicated to His Blessed Mother by the original title of Our Lady of the Snows. According to the traditions of the Church, during the time when the Church and the faithful had just recently been emancipated from the relentless persecutions of the Roman state, about seventeen centuries ago, a Roman patrician or nobleman and his wife, both of whom were Christians, and who had no heirs, prayed to the Lord and made a vow to dedicate their possessions to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. They asked the Lord to show them how they could properly dedicate their possessions, and the Lord answered with a great miracle.

On the fifth day of August, which henceforth became as is today, the day of the commemoration of this event, a miracle of snow happened, falling during the height of summer in the often hot Roman summer. The very site where the snow had fallen marked where the faithful couple dedicated their possessions to God, establishing the Basilica dedicated to the Mother of God herself, which would therefore become the Basilica of St. Mary Major. In this great House of God, through His mother, Mary, Holy Mother of God and all of us, many people had come seeking God, His love and forgiveness, one of which ways was through the popular Marian icon, Salus Populi Romani, which had protected the city and the people of Rome in many occasions, and inspired more Marian devotions elsewhere in the world, bringing even more people ever closer towards God through His loving Mother.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, each and every one of us as Christians have also been called to be the faithful bearers of our Christian faith and truth, and to lead others towards the Lord and His salvation. As we have heard from our Scripture passages today and discussed with this great event of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, let us all therefore first remind ourselves of God’s great love, and consider just how fortunate we are to have been loved in such a manner by the Lord. And then, let us all continue to propagate and showcase this great love of God in our world today, by living our own lives worthily in the path that God has shown and taught us. May the Lord continue to bless each and every one of us, our every efforts, that we may continue to glorify Him at each and every moments of our lives. Amen.

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Monday, 5 August 2024 : 18th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Matthew 14 : 13-21

At that time, when Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, He set out by boat for a secluded place, to be alone. But the people heard of it, and they followed Him on foot from their towns. When Jesus went ashore, He saw the crowd gathered there, and He had compassion on them. And He healed their sick.

Late in the afternoon, His disciples came to Him and said, “We are in a lonely place and it is now late. You should send these people away, so that they can go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fishes.” Jesus said to them, “Bring them here to Me.”

Then He made everyone sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fishes, raised His eyes to heaven, pronounced the blessing, broke the loaves, and handed them to the disciples to distribute to the people. And they all ate, and everyone had enough; then the disciples gathered up the leftovers, filling twelve baskets. About five thousand men had eaten there, besides women and children.

Alternative reading (Mass for Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Luke 11 : 27-28

At that time, as Jesus was speaking, a woman spoke from the crowd and said to Him, “Blessed is the one who gave You birth and nursed You!”

Jesus replied, “Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God, and keep it as well.”

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Monday, 5 August 2024 : 18th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Psalm 118 : 29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102

Keep me away from deceitful paths; be gracious and teach me Your Law.

Take not the word of truth from my mouth, for I would also lose my hope in Your word.

Let those who fear You, turn to me; they will understand Your statutes.

May my heart be blameless in Your decrees, that I may not be ashamed.

The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I look to Your word for salvation.

I have not departed from Your decrees, for You, Yourself, have instructed me.

Alternative reading (Mass for Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Judith 13 : 18bcde, 19

My daughter, may the Most High God bless you more than all women on earth. And blessed be the Lord God, the Creator of heaven and earth, Who has led you to behead the leader of our enemies.

Never will people forget the confidence you have shown; they will always remember the power of God.

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Monday, 5 August 2024 : 18th Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Jeremiah 28 : 1-17

Early in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah spoke to me.

Hananiah son of Azzur from Gibeon proclaimed in YHVH’s house in the presence of the priests and the people, “This is what YHVH the God of Hosts and the God of Israel says : I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects that king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away from YHVH’s house and carried to Babylon.”

“I will likewise bring back Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all who were taken from Judah and deported to Babylon. For I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon – word of YHVH.”

Then Jeremiah replied to Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people, “So be it! May YHVH fulfil the words you have spoken and bring back from Babylon to this place the objects taken from the house of YHVH and all the exiles. Yet hear now what I say in your hearing and the hearing of all the people.”

“The prophets who came before you and me continually prophesied war, disaster and plague to many nations and great kingdoms. So the prophet who prophesies peace will not be recognised as truly sent by YHVH, until his predictions are fulfilled.”

Then Hananiah took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah and broke it. Hananiah proclaimed in the presence of all the people, “YHVH says this : In the same manner, within two years, will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar from the neck of all the nations.” Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.

Some time later, a word of YHVH came to Jeremiah, “Go and tell this to Hananiah : This is what YHVH says : You have broken a wooden yoke but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. For this is what YHVH the God of Hosts and the God of Israel says : I am placing a yoke of iron on the neck of all the nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.”

Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, you have not been sent by YHVH and yet you have deceived these people, giving them false hope with your lies. That is why YHVH says with regard to you : I am removing you from the face of the earth. You will die this very year because you have counselled rebellion against YHVH.”

And in the seventh month of that year Hananiah died.

Alternative reading (Mass for Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

Revelations 21 : 1-5a

Then, I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and no longer was there any sea. I saw the new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God, out of heaven, adorned as a bride prepared for her husband.

A loud voice came from the throne, “Here is the dwelling of God among mortals : He will pitch His tent among them, and they will be His people; He will be God-with-them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the world that was, has passed away.”

The One seated on the throne said, “See, I make all things new.”

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Saturday, 18 November 2023 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the great Feast of the Dedication of not just one but two of the great Papal Major Basilicas in Rome, namely that of the Basilica of St. Peter and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Both of these Basilicas are two of the four Papal Major Basilicas, ranking just below the most important and Mother of all the Churches, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, or the Lateran Basilica, which Dedication we had just celebrated earlier last week. While the Lateran Basilica was dedicated firstly to the Lord Himself, the Most Holy Saviour, both of these great Basilicas were dedicated after the two great patrons of the Church especially in Rome, namely that of St. Peter the Apostle, the first Pope and Vicar of Christ as the Bishop of Rome, and St. Paul the Apostle, the Apostle to the Gentiles.

The Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican is the second most important church in all of Christendom, and because it is located at the Vatican City, over which the Pope is the Head of State and Sovereign, it is the place where most of the Pope’s liturgical celebrations and other major Church celebrations are celebrated, and is arguably the most well known of all the churches of all Christendom. Meanwhile, the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, or San Paulo Fuori le Mura is named as such because it is located just outside the ancient walls of Rome, and was the place where St. Paul the Apostle himself stayed during his time in Rome before he was martyred, in his final missionary journey. Both of these churches were ancient, and while the current Basilica of St. Peter was rebuilt about five centuries ago, but the original building and site dated back from the early days of the Church, together with the other Papal Major Basilica, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Santa Maria Maggiore.

Both St. Peter and St. Paul are the Patron saints of Rome because they were first of all both martyred in Rome during their respective ministries and works. St. Peter as the leader and chief of all the Apostles had been active in going around many places, proclaiming the Good News of God, and also establishing the foundations of the Church in those places. St. Peter himself was the first Bishop of Antioch, establishing the first Church community and leadership in the place where the faithful themselves were known as Christians for the first time, and then, later on, St. Peter would go on to Rome in his later years, establishing the Church community there, together with St. Paul and other missionaries who had gone there to proclaim the word of God and His truth. Rome back then was the heart and capital of the Roman Empire, and hence, was pretty much the centre of the world then.

Meanwhile, St. Paul was a great missionary who dedicated himself to proclaim God’s words and salvation to many people all throughout the Mediterranean region, and for his commitment and service in proclaiming the Lord to the many non-Jewish people, also known as the Gentiles, he was thus known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. Most of the Epistles or letters that are contained within the New Testament were also written by him, and through all these efforts and works, he has brought the knowledge of God and His salvation to countless people, who have thus embraced the Lord and became Christians, committing themselves to the Lord as their Master and Saviour. Through his persistence and efforts, his endurance of many sufferings and trials, St. Paul had done so many good works for the salvation of many souls, and he is truly an inspiration to all of us.

Then, how did each one of them met their end in their martyrdom? According to Apostolic traditions and Church history, St. Peter the Apostle was persecuted in the terrible persecution of Christians during the end of the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero. St. Paul the Apostle was similarly persecuted under Emperor Nero as well, but was likely martyred earlier than St. Peter, in the Year of Our Lord 64, in that year when the Great Fire of Rome happened. Now historical evidences showed that the fire was likely initiated by the Emperor himself, or attributed to other natural sources, but back then, the fire was blamed on the local Christian community, which became a scapegoat for the Emperor and the Romans, for them to carry out the first of the many intense persecutions against Christians. St. Paul was beheaded by an axe during that persecution, while St. Peter was arrested later on, and then was crucified at the site where the Basilica of St. Peter stands now. He chose to be crucified upside down, in a humble gesture of acknowledging that he was unworthy to die in the same manner as his Lord and Saviour.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, having gone through the lives and actions of both St. Peter and St. Paul, Holy Apostles, in whom the two great Basilicas were dedicated to, let us all hence now reflect on ourselves and our own way of life. How have we lived our lives as Christians in these lives and opportunities that God had given us? Have we been obedient and faithful to Him in the manner that the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, as well as the innumerable saints and martyrs, holy men and women of God had done? Have we followed the Lord wholeheartedly in all things and have we committed ourselves truly to His Law and commandments? Or have we instead allowed the temptations, evils and vices of this world to mislead us down the wrong path, in bringing us to disobedience and rebellion against God?

Let us all also reflect and ponder on the fact that each and every one of us are also truly the Temples of the Lord’s Holy Presence, where He dwells, just as the Basilicas are truly great Houses of God, the House of the Lord’s Holy and Real Presence. We ourselves have received the Lord Himself, in the flesh, through the Eucharist, of His Real Presence in His Most Precious Body and Blood, as well as through the Holy Spirit that the Lord has imparted upon us, and dwelled in us. Hence, just as in the dedication of churches, and the Dedication of the great Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, the edifices and places have been set aside, sanctified and made worthy of God’s Holy Presence, thus, we should also do the same with our own lives, our own bodies, hearts, minds and souls. Essentially, our whole being, in which God dwells in, should be truly holy and worthy of God.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore reflect and remember upon the lives and works of the great Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul, and as we rejoice in the memory of the Dedication of the great Basilicas dedicated to their name and memories in Rome, let us all also commit ourselves anew to the Lord in faith. Let us all strive to be good, holy and worthy in everything that we say and do, so that we may indeed be truly worthy of God, Who dwells in us and in our midst. May the Lord continue to help and encourage us, and strengthen us with the power and the will to live our live worthily as Christians, at all times. May He bless us all and encourage our every good efforts and deeds, for His greater glory. Amen.

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Saturday, 18 November 2023 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul (Gospel Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Luke 18 : 1-8

At that time, Jesus told them a parable, to show them that they should pray continually, and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge, who neither feared God nor people. In the same town there was a widow, who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Defend my rights against my adversary!'”

“For a time he refused, but finally he thought, ‘Even though I neither fear God nor care about people, this widow bothers me so much, I will see that she gets justice; then she will stop coming and wearing me out.'”

And Jesus said, “Listen to what the evil judge says. Will God not do justice for His chosen ones, who cry to Him day and night, even if He delays in answering them? I tell you, He will speedily do them justice. But, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

Alternative reading (Mass for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul)

Matthew 14 : 22-33

At that time, immediately, Jesus obliged His disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowd away. And having sent the people away, He went up the mountain by Himself, to pray. At nightfall, He was there alone. Meanwhile, the boat was very far from land, dangerously rocked by the waves, for the wind was against it.

At daybreak, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, thinking that it was a ghost. And they cried out in fear. But at once, Jesus said to them, “Courage! Do not be afraid. It is Me!” Peter answered, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Jesus said to him, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water to go to Jesus. But seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and began to sink; and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and took hold of him, saying, “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?”

As they got into the boat, the wind dropped. Then those in the boat bowed down before Jesus, saying, “Truly, You are the Son of God!”

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Saturday, 18 November 2023 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul (Psalm)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Psalm 104 : 2-3, 36-37, 42-43

Sing to YHVH, sing His praise, proclaim all His wondrous deeds. Glory in His holy Name; let those who seek YHVH rejoice.

Then He smote all the firstborn, the first fruits of their manhood. He led Israel out of the alien land, laden with silver and gold, and none were left behind.

For He remembered His promise to Abraham, His servant. So He led forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with singing.

Alternative reading (Mass for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul)

Psalm 97 : 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4, 5-6

Sing to YHVH a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand, His holy arm, has won victory for Him.

YHVH has shown His salvation, revealing His justice to the nations. He has not forgotten His love, nor His faithfulness to Israel.

The farthest ends of the earth all have seen God’s saving power. All you, lands, make a joyful noise to YHVH, break into song and sing praise.

With melody of the lyre and with music of the harp. With trumpet blast and sound of the horn, rejoice before the King, YHVH!

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Saturday, 18 November 2023 : 32nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul (First Reading)

Liturgical Colour : Green or White (Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul or Saturday Mass of Our Lady)

Wisdom 18 : 14-16 and Wisdom 19 : 6-9

While all was in quiet silence and the night was in the middle of its course, Your Almighty Word leapt down from the royal throne – a stern Warrior to a doomed world. Carrying Your fearful command like a sharpened sword and stretching from heaven to earth, He filled the universe with death.

All creation in its different forms was fashioned anew at Your command, in order to protect Your people. The cloud covered the camp with its shadow, dry land emerged where water had been. A safe passage was opened through the Red Sea, the tempestuous flood became a green plain where the whole nation of those protected by Your hand passed across, witnessing Your astounding deeds.

They were like horses led to pasture, or like frolicking lambs, praising You, their Lord, Who had delivered them.

Alternative reading (Mass for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul)

Acts 28 : 11-16, 30-31

After three months, we boarded a ship that had spent the winter at the island. It belonged to an Alexandrian company, and carried the figurehead of Castor and Pollux as insignia. We sailed for Syracuse, staying there for three days; and, after circling the coast, we arrived at Rhegium.

On the following day, a south wind began to blow, and, at the end of two days, we arrived at Puteoli, where we found some of our brothers, who invited us to stay with them for a week. And that was how we came to Rome. There, the brothers and sisters had been informed of our arrival, and came out to meet us as far as the Appian Forum and the Three Taverns.

When Paul saw them, he gave thanks to God and took courage. Upon our arrival in Rome, the captain turned the prisoners over to the military governor, but permitted Paul to lodge in a private house, with the soldier who guarded him.

Paul stayed for two whole years, in a house he, himself, rented, where he received, without any hindrance, all those who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God, and taught the truth about Jesus Christ, the Lord, quite openly and without any hindrance.

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Thursday, 9 November 2023 : Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (Homily and Scripture Reflections)

Liturgical Colour : White

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today the Church celebrates the joyful occasion of the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, which is the most important of all the churches in the whole entire world, being the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome and hence is the seat of the Pope as its Bishop and leader of the whole Universal Church. This Lateran Basilica is the place where the Cathedra or the seat of the bishop, in this case, for the Pope, is placed at, and hence, why the Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of the Pope. Since the Cathedral of the diocese is Mother Church of the whole diocese, and Rome is the seat of the Pope as the leader of the Universal Church as the Vicar of Christ, hence, this Basilica is the Mother Church of the whole entire world and is consequently also the most important and preeminent of all the world’s churches.

The Lateran Basilica, also known as the Basilica of St. John Lateran, or by its proper full name of The Archbasilica Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist in the Lateran, as the only Archbasilica in the world, the most important and mother of all churches in the city and Diocese of Rome and the whole entire world, dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the two saints, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, is one of the earliest and longest-enduring historical church buildings from the early days of the Church, having been built and consecrated about a thousand and seven hundred years ago during the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.

Back then, the Church and the Christian communities had just emerged out of long period of constant but intermittent episodes of persecution of Christians by the Roman and local authorities, that under the same Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, had ended officially with the famous Edict of Milan. The Edict of Milan extended toleration to all Christians, ending the persecution of Christians by the state, and with the Emperor Constantine increasingly becoming favourable and supportive to the Christian faith and Church, the Church began to flourish, and with the Emperor’s support, extensive building programs of various churches began in the city of Rome and elsewhere. Within the city of Rome, the Lateran Basilica was one of the first to be built, intended as the Cathedral for the Pope, as well as the Old St. Peter’s Basilica built atop the tomb of St. Peter in the Vatican Hill, among other churches and Basilicas.

Many people mistook the St. Peter’s Basilica, or the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican as the place of the Pope’s Cathedral, because of its frequent use in the Papal Masses and liturgies. This was because St. Peter’s Basilica, which current building dated from about five centuries ago and replaced the Old St. Peter’s Basilica, was the place where the Popes resided after their temporal and worldly authority were no more when the Papal States ceased to exist about one and a half centuries ago. Prior to that, for a long time the Pope often resided at the Lateran Palace located just adjacent to the Lateran Basilica itself, as the seat of his temporal and spiritual power, as both the ruler of the Papal States or the States of the Church, as well as the Vicar of Christ and Supreme Pontiff.

Thus, on this day, we are reminded of this less well-known but not less important Basilica and church, upon which the whole entire Christendom revolved around. It was founded in the Year of Our Lord (Anno Domini) 324, almost a thousand and seven hundred years ago, during the reign of Pope St. Silvester I, who reigned during the pivotal twenty-one years during which the fate of Christianity and the Church was evolving and changing rapidly, from a faith that was just recently being tolerated and emerging from the very intense persecution by Emperor Diocletian and Galerius, to a Church that was growing rapidly and gaining many support and followers not just from the Emperor himself, but also from many segments of the Roman society. It was truly a time of great transformation in the Church and the community of God’s faithful people.

Many people mistook St. Peter’s Basilica as the Pope’s Cathedral and principal church because in the recent decades and centuries, that is where the Pope usually carried out most of his functions and celebrated the Mass, and that is where he also dwelled, historically because of the establishment of the Vatican City State as an independent and sovereign country, with the Pope as the Head of State, which is centred upon the Basilica of St. Peter and the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. The Papal Basilica of St. Peter is indeed a very important church, the second in importance and precedence after the Lateran Basilica itself, but the fact remains that the Cathedral and hence the Mother Church of all Christendom, is the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, which dedication we celebrate today.

In today’s readings, we heard Scripture passages related to the dedication of a church, and reminded of the importance of these places consecrated and set aside to be House of God, the place of God’s dwelling, His Holy Presence, and a House of Prayer for all. In our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, we heard of the heavenly vision of Ezekiel, who saw a great vision of a Heavenly Temple and Sanctuary, in God’s Holy Presence, from which a great torrent and flood of water came forth, purifying and blessing all that came within its path. This water is a life-giving water and spring which came from the Lord Himself, and is a reminder for us of another part of the Gospel, when the Lord Jesus met a Samaritan woman who was collecting water from Jacob’s well, and told her that He is the Life-giving Spring, in Whom she will no longer thirst or seek for anything else.

In the second reading, from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the Christian community in Corinth, we heard of the famous passage in which the Apostle reminded the faithful there, and hence also all of us, that we are all God’s Temple, the Temple of the Holy Presence of God, and how the Church has been built upon the foundation of the Apostles, and we are all the parts of this Church, as parts of the one and same Body of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is a reminder that just as we celebrate and commemorate this anniversary of the Dedication of this great Basilica and House of God, we must not neglect the Temple, the House of God, that is each and every one of us, because God dwells in us too, and not just in the churches and Basilicas.

In the ceremony and parts of the Dedication of a church and Basilica, there are many components that if we examine closely, resembles and are similar to the rite of Baptism, done either on Easter Vigil or at the adult and infant baptisms. In the Dedication of a church, holy water is sprinkled upon the Altar and the whole Church, which is just as how the catechumens are baptised with holy water in the Sacrament of Baptism. Then, the Altar is also anointed with holy oils, the sacred chrism, to mark and consecrate it to God, together with the twelve consecration crosses throughout the church building, just as how the newly baptised are anointed with sacred chrism as well, anointing and consecrating us to God, as His holy and beloved people.

The church that is being dedicated is also lighted with the light from the blessed fire which ultimately originated from the holy fire blessed on Easter Vigil, symbolising Christ’s light, the Altar candles and all the other candles throughout the church, just as how the newly baptised Christians receive the light of Christ symbolised through their lighted baptismal candles. The Altar is then covered with pure white ‘garments’ that is the Altar cloths, just as we don our white baptismal garments at the time of our baptism. Then both are also incensed, just as the Altar and the church are incensed with the fragrant aroma pleasing to God, as we all, the whole living Church of God are incensed, marking us to be holy and dedicated to God.

Now, I hope we can already see very clearly how each and every one of us as Christians are also God’s Temples, where His Holy Presence dwells. He has also given us His Holy Spirit to dwell in us, and hence we, as the Temples of the Holy Spirit, in the words of St. Paul the Apostle, are all called to be holy and worthy, all the more because we also receive Him in the flesh and in His Real Presence, through the Most Holy Eucharist we partake, that the Lord Himself, in His Body, Soul and Divinity, has entered into our beings, not just spiritually but also physically, and hence, it is imperative that each and every one of us recognise the importance and the gravity of the matter, in ensuring that all of us remain vigilant in how we live our lives as Christians, that we always strive to do what is right and just according to God’s will, His Law and commandments.

In our Gospel passage today, this is alluded in the famous occasion of the Lord Jesus clearing the Temple from the many merchants, money changers and all others peddling their businesses in the courtyard of the Temple. Contextually, those merchants, money changers and others serve practical purpose providing the pilgrims and all those who came to the Temple to worship the Lord, the sacrificial offerings and animals to be offered and burnt to God. And at that time, since many Jewish people and believers lived in faraway places in the diaspora that spanned the entire Roman Empire and even in distant places like Persia and Ethiopia, they would have used different coins and currencies that might need to be exchanged first. Hence, this was why those merchants and money changers carried out their works and businesses there at the Temple.

What the Lord was against, was their practice in cheating and being dishonest in the way they carried their businesses and works, as they likely overcharged the worshippers by a lot, taking advantage of the fact that most if not all worshippers and other pilgrims needed their services. They treated the people of God and the sanctity of His holy place, His own House, the Temple of Jerusalem, with disdain, committing grievous sins in His very Presence. This was what angered the Lord very much, Who struck them all with a whip and chased those corrupt merchants and money changers out of the Temple courtyard. This is also a reminder therefore for us, that we must always keep our own Temples, that is our own beings, truly holy and worthy, just as we also should keep our churches, that had been dedicated to God for sacred worship, holy and worthy of God’s Holy Presence.

Now, brothers and sisters in Christ, can we therefore ensure that we always strive to uphold the sanctity and holiness of our places and worship, as well as our own beings, our bodies, minds, hearts and souls as well? As we rejoice today in the memory of the Dedication of the Mother Church of all Christendom today, let us all do what is tangible and possible for us, that is to keep ourselves truly holy and worthy of the Lord, by striving to be always obedient to His Law and commandments at all times. May the Lord continue to bless us all and guide us in our respective journeys in life, in all the things we say and do, and in our every interactions all the time. Amen.