Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Why does the whole Church celebrate the dedication of one building in Rome? The readings move from a temple with water flowing from its side to the temple of Christ's own body.
The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome (November 9) honors the cathedral of the Pope, called the mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world. In The Mass Readings Explained, Dr. Brant Pitre walks through the readings and shows how they point beyond a building to Christ and his Church as the true temple.
Ezekiel sees life-giving water flowing from the side of the temple, bringing life wherever it goes (Ezekiel 47:1–12); St. Paul calls Christians God's building and the temple of God in whom the Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:9–17); and in the Gospel, Jesus cleanses the temple and speaks of the temple of his body, to be raised in three days (John 2:13–22). Pitre draws out how the temple, the body of Christ, and the Church come together.
The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
November 9th in the Roman calendar is the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Now, this is one of those solemnities in the Roman calendar where it's such a significant day that even when it falls on a Sunday, it's going to replace that Sunday Mass readings and the Sunday Mass celebration with the particular readings for the solemnity commemorating this particular basilica.
GOSPEL, FIRST READING & PSALM TRANSCRIPT (Subscribe or Login for Full Transcript):
November 9th in the Roman calendar is the Solemnity of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome. Now, this is one of those solemnities in the Roman calendar where it's such a significant day that even when it falls on a Sunday, it's going to replace that Sunday Mass readings and the Sunday Mass celebration with the particular readings for the solemnity commemorating this particular basilica.
The Readings for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
First Reading: Ezekiel 47:1–2, 8–9, 12
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 46:2–3, 5–6, 8–9
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:9c–11, 16–17
Gospel: John 2:13–22
Key passages & sources examined: the river flowing from the temple (Ezekiel 47); "you are God's building" and "you are the temple of God" (1 Corinthians 3); the cleansing of the temple; "the temple of his body" raised in three days (John 2:19–21).
What are the Mass readings for the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica? Ezekiel 47:1–2, 8–9, 12; Psalm 46:2–3, 5–6, 8–9; 1 Corinthians 3:9c–11, 16–17; and the Gospel, John 2:13–22.
What is the Lateran Basilica? The cathedral church of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, called the mother and head of all churches.
Why celebrate the dedication of a church? It honors Christ present in his Church and reminds the faithful that they themselves are God's temple.
What does "the temple of his body" mean? In the Gospel, Jesus identifies the true temple with his own body, to be raised up in three days.
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This was another great and informative lecture on Catholic teachings concerning a Catholic belief not shared by our Christian brothers and sisters. And, like his other lectures on the Jewish Roots of our Faith, Dr. Pitre gives great insight using biblical texts, history and language lessons. But, this left me burning questions Dr. Pitre did not ask or answer: When, after death, is purgatory? Do our resurrected bodies partake in purgatory? If those who experience purgatory are saved then how does the doctrine of the beatific vision play into all this? Maybe these questions are answered in another lecture?
This was another great and informative lecture on Catholic teachings concerning a Catholic belief not shared by our Christian brothers and sisters. And, like his other lectures on the Jewish Roots of our Faith, Dr. Pitre gives great insight using biblical texts, history and language lessons. But, this left me burning questions Dr. Pitre did not ask or answer: When, after death, is purgatory? Do our resurrected bodies partake in purgatory? If those who experience purgatory are saved then how does the doctrine of the beatific vision play into all this? Maybe these questions are answered in another lecture?
