THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA:
This Sunday’s Feast is of huge significance for a number of reasons. Firstly, although the focus is often on St Peter’s, the Pope’s Cathedral is actually the Lateran Basilica, dedicated to both St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist. Dating back to the time of the Roman Empire and Constantine’s conversion, it is, therefore, the Mother Church for us all, a sign of our unity with Pope Leo and the whole Christian community. For our Redemptorist family it is also of considerable significance, because it was on this Feast Day in 1732 that Saint Alphonsus Liguori founded the Congregation. And, furthermore, as many of you know, it was because our Mother Church in Rome is situated between this basilica and that of Saint Mary Major (where Pope Francis is now buried) that we have the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Succour.
The eve of the Feast this year marks the 80th birthday of Cardinal Vincent Nichols, and, of course, his church in Rome is that very church, dedicated to Saint Alphonsus and housing the original icon. How about that for a set of connections!
