The Dedication of the Lateran

Basilica in Rome

“You are the temple of God…”

Although the basilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral of the Holy Father in
Rome, today’s liturgy focuses not on the Petrine ministry but on the place of
God’s abode, the temple. The first reading is about Solomon’s temple, and the
Gospel tells of Jesus coming to stay in the home of Zacchaeus.

Writing to the Corinthians, Paul asks them: Are you not aware that you are the
temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you? Notice his use of the sin-
gular: the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple. He has in mind the com-
munity of God’s people as the temple of God: from living stones, your chosen
people, you built an eternal temple to your glory.

Is this temple (the People of God) only for the presence of God? What else is
there in this temple? Are there false gods as well, such as the gods of wealth and
power? Do the people in this temple worship the one true God, or do they bow
down before other gods, such as economic and political systems? Do the people
in this temple work hard at creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives?
Gerald Darring

“The Church has more often been called the edifice

of God.... This edifice is adorned by various names:
the house of God in which dwells His family; the
household of God in the Spirit; the dwelling place
of God among men; and, especially, the holy tem-
ple.

This temple, symbolized by places of worship built

out of stone, is praised by the holy Fathers and, not
without reason, is compared in the liturgy to the
Holy City, the New Jerusalem. As living stones we
here on earth are being built up along with this
City.”
Vatican II, Constitution on the Church (1964) 6

November 9, 2008
Some καιρός / kairos thoughts…
καιρός / kairos—Greek—time—viewed as an occasion rather than an ex-

I see you
in
the tunnels
of
the city

dedicated
to
begging
and
non-injury
Prayer List
you do not
Pray the rosary for world peace, Avis Cox, Fr. Clarence Biggers, Gladys and
crush Ben Kramkowski, Rita Moenk, Doug Bearden, Sarah Snider, Julian Campbell,
the bruised reed Annie & family, Connie, her mother & family, Blake, Erik, Jonathan &
family, Sharon & family, Will, FMS, Cap. Corp., Patrick & Brittany,
nor Broughman family, Fannie Crowder & family, VAL, Father Ingram’s father &
family, Karen’s mother, Cheryl Mobley & family, William Hudson, Robert,
quench smoldering Walter, Danielle, Christopher, Barbara, Katherine, Nicholas, Kaylin, Kasie,
flax Mary Beth & family, Mary Ann Mahoney & family, Donna & family, Ann
Chancellor & family, Sheila & family, cancer patients & families, military &
families, Brandon, Plantation Villa residents, Don, Mrs. Carpenter, Mr. & Mrs.
Rooks, Katherine & family, Mr. Dunn, Mr. & Mrs. Barlow, Jane & family,
you are the Scott & family, Diane & Peter, Michele & Gary, Lucy & family, Bobbie, Joan
trust & family, Karl’s mother & family, June & family, Tina & family, Belinda &
family, OLM family, Kat, Delgratia’s family & friends, Mr. Gomez & family,
of the sparrow Sara’s mother, Dr. Lynch & family, Rob/Allie & family, Chuck & family,
Frank & family, Liesa & family, mother of Dr. Petros, Dr. Issa & family,
and Odessa, Anita’s mother & family, Ruby, Ruby’s mother & family, Davies
field lily family, Katie & family, family of Angie, Ann & family, Gretchen & family,
Eileen, Scott & family, Robert, Flavia & family, Tony’s family, Roy & Martha
Wright, Roy, Alice Swygert, Alan, Nard, Tony, Glenda, Nelson, J. Bob, Munn,
neither earth Vogt, Wolfe families, Russell & family, Ola, Gene Wilson & family, Jane Brock
& family, Janet Kramer & family, Elayne & family, Winnie, Phil & family,
nor Tony, Stan, Emily & family, Ruthie & Ed, Mr. Bergin & family, Russell &
family, Mrs. Sanseverino & family, CC Center, veterans & families Jessie
heart lies scarred Emmett, Mark, Michael’s mother, Carrie’s husband & family, VAMC,
with Josephine Mary, Mary Anna, S. Paul, Tony, J. W. Wilson & family, Jason &
Kim, Josie, Kelly, Mickey’s family, Jon & Janet Cook & family, Karen’s
your passing cousin, Mike Aguado & family, Carl & family, Dr. Lopez & family, Dr.
Vanapalli & family, Dr. Nair & family, Garrett & family, family of Duffie,
anda Poem from liturgy.slu.edu Aaron Christian, Marina & family, Mitchell’s father & family, Estella’s mother
& family, Kerry’s mother & family, Gail & family, Beth & family, Bernard,
Anna & family, Sara Lucas & family, Mary Gilliam & family, Bobbie, Carol,
There are all sorts and kinds of birthday parties. Cheryl Mobley & family, Bettie & family, Jane & family, Scott, Chris &
family, Billy & family, Karen, Campbell family, Beth & family, John & family,
Church buildings, as well as the people who use Tony & family, Michael & family, Carolyn Williamson, Berger family, Mendez
family, Ikai family, Joshua Moser, Stephanie Christian, Chris B., Justine , Anna
them, have anniversaries for their beginnings. To- & Henry, Edna, Mary Ondovchik, Ann Rudy, Peggy Cable, Claude Rickman,
day it is for Our Savior’s Basilica and Saint John’s Dames gang, Mary & Sybil O., Amy & family, Phil Lee, Jack Sexton, Denise &
Sam Kell, Chad Nostrant, Randy Taylor, Brian Strickland, Florence & Vincent
Baptistery, the pope’s cathedral as bishop of the Santaniello, Emilia, JT, Robert S. & family, Louis Talbot, Wright family, Ellie,
people of Rome. We belong to the “Roman fam- Christopher, & Katie Doane, Jeremy & Erica Granier, Michael Coates, John
Crowe, Mr. Beatty, Carlo Dellaquila, Katherine Catti, Maria Beck, Joanna &
ily” in the church, so it is our feast too. Celebrate Michael Spataro, Stephanie, Mark & Baby Fletcher, Angela & Justino Prado,
Tom Wood, Heidi Fitzgerald, Debbie McCloud, Joyce Jones, Patricia Finch,
the Lord’s coming! God’s people are truly the Ed Schaffer, USA, Nancy Truesdale, Rita & Jim Maharry, Joey Milani, Paul,
place of Christ’s presence in this world. We would Brett & Janet Williams, Mr. Wringer, Joe M., rain, Clara Schmidt, Mar Ann
Toeffer, Morme Forst, Clary Alicea, Barbara Borchert, Martha Mercure,
all do well to celebrate the birthday of our own Wicktus Dekock, Sue Witt, Chris Cudd, Dawn, Jacqueline, Brian, Samantha,
church or parish or community of faith and ac- Carline, Sharlene, Caron, Anais, & Ken Pierre, Rick Long, Sheila & John
Bedell, Ira Scott, Darius Cooper, Jennifer Chisholm, John Vitelli, Mike Pruitt,
knowledge Christ’s presence with thanks. Cotton Elphingstone, Cathy Garger, Harriett H.
Text, Philip J. Sandstrom, S.T.D. © 2000, OCP. All rights reserved.