DEDICACIÓN DE LA BASÍLICA DE LETRANO 2025

Hoy conmemoramos la dedicación de la primera basílica cristiana en el año 324. Fue construida por el emperador Constantino para permitir el culto público a Dios, después de casi tres siglos de celebrar la misa en secreto. Esta fiesta se celebró primero en Roma y luego se extendió a toda la Iglesia católica como signo de unidad y amor hacia la Sede de Pedro. Honramos a esta basílica, como la «madre y cabeza de todas las iglesias de la ciudad y del mundo».

Las lecturas de este domingo hablan del Templo. La primera lectura nos dice que el Templo es como una fuente de donde brota agua, purificando y fertilizando todo lo que toca. En el Evangelio, vemos a Jesús purificando el Templo. En la época de Jesús, el Templo era un lugar para alabar a Dios, pero también se utilizaba para hacer negocios. Era como una especie de banco o un mercado donde la gente vendía cosas y cambiaba dinero para las celebraciones religiosas. En cierto sentido, el Templo había perdido su verdadero significado como lugar de culto y se había convertido en un banco lucrativo. Por esta razón, cuando Jesús fue allí, expulsó a los que vendían cosas y les dijo: «Está escrito que mi casa será una casa de oración, pero vosotros la habéis convertido en una cueva de ladrones».

Con esta acción, Jesús purificó el Templo, devolviéndole su propósito original como Casa de Oración, y de encuentro con Dios, y no de un lugar para hacer negocios o una «cueva de ladrones». Los sumos sacerdotes, los escribas y los líderes de Israel se enfadaron tanto por esta acción de Jesús que empezaron a planear la manera de matarlo. Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, creo que a veces los católicos hemos olvidado el significado original del Templo. Muchas personas que acuden a nuestra Iglesia no saben por qué van allí. Olvidan que es un lugar para rezar a Dios. No es un lugar para hablar, contestar el teléfono, socializar, criticar a la gente, vestirse de manera inapropiada o masticar chicles, entre otras cosas, sino un lugar de oración al que acudimos para adorar, bendecir y darle gracias a Dios.

Todo lo que hagamos o digamos en la iglesia debe llevarnos a la oración y al encuentro con Dios, por eso es muy importante hacer silencio y vestirse de una manera decorosa que no distraiga a nadie y ayude a todos a concentrarnos en Dios. Algunas personas que llegan temprano a la iglesia piensan que ese tiempo extra lo deben aprovechar para hablar con sus amigos, pero están equivocadas. Deberían usar ese tiempo para estar en silencio, hablar con Dios y disponer sus corazones para la celebración de la misa. Después de la eucaristía tendrán tiempo suficiente para compartir con los amigos.

Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, deberíamos preguntarnos: ¿Qué hago cuando llego temprano a misa? ¿Rezo en silencio a Dios o charlo con mis amigos? Recordemos que San Pablo en la primera carta a los Corintios nos recuerda que somos templos del Espíritu Santo y que debemos usar nuestros cuerpos para alabar a nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Hoy, te invito a pensar en tu relación con tu iglesia. ¿Amas la iglesia donde te congregas? ¿Sientes que eres parte de ella? ¿Participas en alguno de sus grupos? Recuerdas la iglesia donde recibiste tus sacramentos. ¿La visitas? ¿Cómo te sientes cuando vas allí? Por último, ¿qué haces cuando estás en la iglesia? ¿Eres consciente de la paz y la tranquilidad, del refugio que tienes del ruido constante del mundo exterior? Disfruta de este oasis de paz en un mundo lleno de negatividad e insinceridad. Deja que tu alma se restaure con la paz y el amor que solo Dios puede proporcionarte. Amén.

P. Lui s Segura M.S.C.

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DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA 2025

Today we commemorate the dedication of the first Christian basilica in the year 324. It was built by Emperor Constantine to allow public worship of God, after almost three centuries of celebrating Mass in secret. This feast was first celebrated in Rome and then spread throughout the Catholic Church as a sign of unity and love for the See of Peter. We honor this basilica as the “mother and head of all the churches of the city and of the world.”

This Sunday's readings speak of the Temple. The first reading tells us that the Temple is like a spring from which water flows, purifying and fertilizing everything it touches. In the Gospel, we see Jesus purifying the Temple. In Jesus' time, the Temple was a place to praise God, but it was also used for business. It was like a kind of bank or marketplace where people sold goods and exchanged money for religious celebrations. In a sense, the Temple had lost its true meaning as a place of worship and had become a lucrative bank. For this reason, when Jesus went there, he drove out those who were selling things and said to them, “It is written that my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.”

With this action, Jesus purified the Temple, restoring its original purpose as a House of Prayer and a place of encounter with God, not a place for doing business or a “den of thieves.” The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of Israel were so enraged by Jesus’s actions that they began plotting to kill him. My dear brothers and sisters, I believe that we Catholics have sometimes forgotten the original meaning of the Temple. Many people who come to our Church don’t know why they go there. They forget that it is a place to pray to God. It is not a place to talk, answer the phone, socialize, criticize people, dress inappropriately, or chew gum, among other things, but a place of prayer where we come to worship, bless, and give thanks to God.

Everything we do or say in church should lead us to prayer and an encounter with God. That's why it's so important to be silent and dress modestly so as not to distract anyone and to help everyone focus on God. Some people who arrive early at church think they should use that extra time to talk with their friends, but they're mistaken. They should use that time to be silent, talk to God, and prepare their hearts for the celebration of Mass. After the Eucharist, they'll have plenty of time to spend with friends.

Given the above, we should ask ourselves: What do I do when I arrive early for Mass? Do I pray silently to God or chat with my friends? Let us remember that St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that we are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we should use our bodies to praise our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I invite you to reflect on your relationship with your church. Do you love the church where you attend? Do you feel a sense of belonging? Do you participate in any of its groups? Do you remember the church where you received your sacraments? Do you visit it? How do you feel when you go there? Finally, what do you do when you are at church? Are you aware of the peace and tranquility, the refuge you find from the constant noise of the outside world? Enjoy this oasis of peace in a world filled with negativity and insincerity. Let your soul be restored with the peace and love that only God can provide. Amen.

Fr. Luis Segura, M.S.C.

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The Living Temple of His Love…

Today the liturgy commemorates the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, which is the Cathedral of Rome and which tradition defines as “mother of all Churches of the city and of the world”. The term “mother”, refers not as much to the sacred building of the Basilica, as to the work of the Holy Spirit who is made manifest in this building, bearing fruit through the ministry of the Bishop of Rome, and in all communities which abide in unity with the Church over which he presides.

Each time we celebrate the dedication of a church, an essential truth is recalled: the physical temple made of brick and mortar is a sign of the living Church serving in history, that is to say, of that “spiritual temple”, as the Apostle Peter says, in which Christ himself is the “living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious” (1 Pt 2:4). In the Gospel from today’s liturgy, Jesus, speaking about the temple, reveals a shocking truth: that the Temple of God is not only a building made of brick and mortar, but is his Body, made of living stone. Through the power of Baptism, every Christian takes part in “God’s building” (1 Cor 3:9), indeed they become the Church of God. The

spiritual structure, the Church community of mankind sanctified by the Blood of Christ and by Spirit of the Risen Lord, asks each one of us to be consistent with the gift of the faith and to undertake a journey of Christian witness. And we all know that in life it is not easy to maintain consistency between faith and testimony; but we must carry on and be coherent in our daily life. “This is a Christian!”, not so much in what he says, but in what he does, and the way in which he behaves. This coherence, which gives us life, is a grace of the Holy Spirit which we must ask for. The Church, at the beginning of her life and of her mission in the world, was but a community constituted to confess faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God and Redeemer of Man, a faith which operates through love. They go together! In today’s world too, the Church is called to be the community in the world which, rooted in Christ through Baptism, humbly and courageously professes faith in Him, witnessing to it in love.

The institutional elements, the structures and the pastoral entities must also be directed toward this goal, this essential goal of bearing witness to the faith in love. Love is the very expression of faith and also, faith is the explanation and the foundation of love. Today’s celebration invites us to meditate on the communion of all Churches, that is, of this Christian community. By analogy she spurs us to commit ourselves in order that humanity may overcome the confines of enmity and indifference, to build bridges of understanding and dialogue, to make of the entire world one family of people reconciled among themselves, in fraternal solidarity. The Church herself is a sign and preview of this new humanity, as she lives and, through her witness, spreads the Gospel, the message of hope and reconciliation for all mankind.

Let us invoke the intercession of the Most Holy Mary, that she may help us to become like her, the “House of God”, the living temple of his love. [Synthesized from Pope Francis, Angelus, 9 XI 14]

Rev. Jos Rajesh Peter M.S.C

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

My friends, today, we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome.

The first time I heard about this Feast Day I thought, “Why would the Church set aside a special Feast day to celebrate the dedication of a church building?” 

Here are some facts and reasons as to why this building is so important:

1. The Church was built in the 4th century by the Emperor Constantine.

2. It was dedicated in the year 318 and Consecrated on November 9th in the year 324 – exactly 1,701 years ago from today.

3. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times. The current basilica building dates back to the 1600’s.

4. It was the first church to be built in Rome.

5. The church has several names:

a)    It’s called the Lateran Basilica.

b)    It’s also known as: St. John Lateran because it was dedicated in honor of both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist.

c)    And, its other very important name:  St. John Lateran CATHEDRAL…. 

The Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.  AND, it’s pastor is none other than our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV.

Most people think that St. Peter’s is the pope’s main church, but it’s not.  St. Peter’s Basilica is located in Vatican City.  Vatican City is very small – only 110 Acres.

The Diocese of Rome, however, is quite large – over 340 square miles, with 333 parishes.

In comparison – our Diocese of San Bernardino has almost 21,000 square miles – and has 94 parishes.

Our Diocese is the whole of Riverside and San Bernardino counties and would take over 6 hours to drive from one end to the other.

Like our Bishop Rojas and every other bishop, the Pope is the spiritual leader and shepherd for all those parishes within his diocese. 

So, the Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome where the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) presides. 

Some other interesting facts:

• What is the difference between a basilica and a cathedral ?  Well, a Basilica is a very significant church, having historical and architectural significance.  We have no basilica in our diocese.  In fact, there are only 6 basilicas in the State of California.

• BUT – every diocese in the world has a Cathedral.

• A cathedral gets it’s name from Cathedra – which means chair or throne.  Every bishop has a cathedral and every cathedral has a  Cathedra or bishop’s chair.

• Our Cathedral is Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral on North Arrowhead Ave. in San Bernardino and it is a humble building, compared to a Basilica.

• The Pope’s Cathedra is located in the Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome….

• What’s important about this chair is that this is the place where a pope sits when he proclaims something that is or will be law for Catholics.

• Sometimes the Pope proclaims something ex cathedra – which is Latin for “from the chair.”  When the pope proclaims something ex cathedra, he is proclaiming it with his Papal Infallibility.  Whatever is proclaimed ex cathedra becomes a matter of dogma, which all Catholics are obliged to believe and that dogma may not be disputed whatsoever.

• How many  times has the pope proclaimed something infallible ?  Only once.  In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary as being an article of faith for all Roman Catholics.

Regarding individual bishops, Canon Law provides that each bishop can proclaim as law something that affects his own diocese and that is called, Particular Law.  The Pope proclaims those things which are Universal Law…..

For instance, Universal Law states that every parish in the world must have a Parish Finance Council.  That comes from the Pope and that is binding on every parish in the world….

An example of Particular Law is when our Bishop Emeritus, Most Reverend Gerald R. Barnes, proclaimed that every parish in his diocese must also have a Parish Pastoral Council. Both Universal Law and Particular Law are binding.  Both receive their authority from Canon Law.

Another Particular Law which I dealt with when I was the Director of the Office of Construction and Real Estate for our diocese is the matter of the location of the Tabernacle.  Universal Law states that the Tabernacle must be located in a place of prominence.

Bishop Barnes declared that all new churches must locate the Tabernacle in a Eucharistic Reservation Chapel.  Universal Law must be obeyed and have the Tabernacle in a place of prominence.  Our Particular Law states that the place of prominence is in a Eucharistic Reservation Chapel.

Bishop Barnes invoked his authority under Canon 838, where it states:  “It belongs to the diocesan Bishop to lay down for the Church entrusted to his care, liturgical regulations which are binding on all.”

So, if we were to ask Pope Leo where the Tabernacle should be placed, he would say, “Ask your bishop – not me.”

So, my friends, we celebrate this special Feast Day in honor of this special church building, the Lateran Basilica.

The Lateran Basilica is an elevated example of a church building, which is God’s house.

St. Augustine had this to say when he preached in this very building in the 4th Century.  This could also be said for every church building.  St. Augustine said: 

"What was done here, within these walls is reproduced when we bring together here all those who believe in Christ. For, as these walls were shaped using timber and stones, so it is when our people are shaped and formed by the instructing, catechizing and baptizing which is done here. Most importantly, they do not make a house for the Lord until they are fitted together through love."

So, my friends, that is why our gospel story was chosen for today.  Jesus threw the money changers out because they used God’s House to cheat and extort sincere people who came to pray and worship. 

That’s also why our second reading was chosen.  St. Paul tells us, “You are God's building – because Jesus Christ is your foundation.  You are God's temple, because the Holy Spirit dwells in you.”