Prayer & Meditation
Principal's Message
Reflections on the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Yesterday, as Catholics, we celebrated the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the mother Church of all Catholic Churches and the Pope’s Cathedral. Just as the Basilica is a visible sign of God’s presence, we too are called to be temples of God, dedicated to sharing His love. As St. Catherine of Siena said, “If you are who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire.”
November 10, 2025
The Feast of the Dedication
by Ms. Judith Hehs, November 10, 2025
Yesterday, as Catholics, we celebrated the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, and not the 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. The feast day bears so much significance to us as Christians and Catholics.
In 324 AD the Church was dedicated, actually consecrated, to be set apart for a purpose, to be the mother Church of all Catholic Churches, becoming the Pope’s Cathedral.
Learning from the Sermon
In wanting to be reminded about the significance of the Basilica, I did a little reading and listening. I came across a beautiful sermon by Fr. Mike Schmitz, describing the “Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.”
He made a connection between Jesus, who was meant to be the new temple, where God’s presence would be found and felt, through whom God would save the world, and the consecrated Church of St. John Lateran.
A Sign of Unity and God’s Presence
From him, I learned that St. John Lateran was meant to be a sign of unity so that Catholics throughout the world could say, “that is the mother Church of all Churches”, and also that it is a visible sign of God’s invisible presence.
A temple is built, dedicated/consecrated to be where God’s presence is found and also a place of worship.
Our Call to Be God’s Temple
We, too, are meant to be the visible sign of God’s invisible presence. We are meant to be the vehicle by which God saves the world. That is what we are meant to be.
How symbolically he then pointed out that our own St. Catherine of Siena stated:
“If you are who you are meant to be, you will set the world on fire.”
If we as Christians are meant to be who we are meant to be, we will set the world on fire with God’s love.
Living Our Purpose
We are meant to be a temple of God. We are meant to be dedicated, like St. John Lateran Basilica, to be God’s presence and the vehicle to His saving the world, because that is what we are meant to be.
And, we know, if we are meant to be who we are meant to be, we will set the world on fire.
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