The Importance of the Lateran Basilica

The Lateran Basilica or St. John Lateran Basilica is famous for having the distinct honour of having its own feast day in the Church calendar as a commemoration to its dedication.

Usually we commemorate and celebrate feasts and memorials of saints but today we celebrate the dedication of a Church.

We have to know that this Basilica is the Mater et Caput, or the Mother and Head of the Church of Rome and of the whole world.

As such it is where Ex Cathedra of the Bishop of Rome, the Supreme Pontiff is enshrined. It is the seat of his power and authority. The celebrations today is more of the commemoration of the dedication not only of the Church building but the Celebration of the gift of Papacy.

In addition to the magnanimous reasons stated, Lateran Basilica is alos an institution whic reminds us of our fundamental identities as Catholics.

The Basilica is dedicated Christ the Saviour through the Patronage of to Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist.

What is awesomely morbid about this Archbasilica is that the heads of Peter and Paul are preserved in this Church. While the bodies of St. Peter and St. Paul are found in their individual Basilicas, their heads are kept solemnly in here.

Thus, this Lateran Basilica is dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, and St. Paul and St. Peter are kept in here.

What is awesome about the coming of the three great apostles is the identities they have which are important to the Church. The Johanine, the Pauline and the Petrine identities of the Church are present here.

The Johannine identity is about the liturgical, mystic, evangelical and theological aspects of the Churh.

The Pauline identity of the Church fulfills her missionary mandate as lived and fulfilled by St. Paul, the apostle to tge Gentiles.

Lastly, the Petrine identity. It is the hierarchical identity of the Church.

All the reasons why we are Catholics are embodies by this Church.