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It is a standard joke among seminarians that someone have a devotion to Saint John Lateran. “Lateran” is in fact a family name, but it belongs to the Basilica, not to Saint John. The Saint John in question is The Baptist, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The name “Lateran” originates with the family whose property was given to the Bishop of Rome by the Emperor in the fourth century. What that Pope and his successors built on that property is a grand basilica that is the cathedral of the diocese, a spiffy ancient baptistery (8th or 9th century), and a residential and administrative palazzo. There, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV was ceremoniously “seated” in the cathedra, or bishop’s throne, on May 25.
After last weekend’s double-header of All Saints and All Souls (with the Halloween warm-up act), again our regularly scheduled Ordinary Sunday (the 32nd) is displaced by a feast. We mark the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, celebrated universally throughout the Church as she is counted the “Mother of all churches”. It is good to remember the importance of sacred places and that the buildings themselves serve a symbolic and sacramental purpose in addition to a practical one.
This detour might take our attention off the usual focus for these last weeks of the liturgical year, which we call the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. We wrap up the year with the reminder that everything Our Lord Jesus has been trying to teach us all these weeks has not been How To Be A Good Person, but rather the very matter of life and death.
That we have this reminder in November is helpful, as we might otherwise be distracted by other contests and lose sight of real battle. The World Series is not the only sporting championship that is decided in November; there have been several others on our own back field. The real on-field drama is our daily contest against sin, and consequently death. Our opponent the devil, a roaring lion, prowls about the world seeking someone to devour. (cf. 1 Peter 5:8) In that contest, there is no way to challenge the call if it go against us.
November is also our month for electoral contests, which have even more hype than sports and are invariably billed as the potential End of the World. We who are near to the Lord realize that the End is in fact near, but it has nothing to do with who gets elected to any office and everything to do with our being elected to the flock that Christ the Good Shepherd has chosen. In fact, we know that as far as this world goes, we are just passing through, because our true citizenship is elsewhere. (Php 3:20)
But just like sports and election seasons, coming to the end can focus the mind wonderfully and draw forth extra effort and enormous drama. November is the month where we open our eyes to the real drama of our salvation and realize that it’s not over ‘til it’s over. Yes, the victory is already accomplished, but our effort is indispensable to securing a share of the sweet fruits of that victory. I am not talking about a tickertape parade, much less four years of executive authority.
So even as we have many examples before our eyes of the simple statement Game Over, we have a chance to focus on the big Game Over that comes for us all. Yes, it’s dramatic language, but that’s because this is the authentic drama that requires our full attention.
Meanwhile, we have the opportunity to draw near to Him Who is the Victor over sin and death, and receive from Him grace, mercy, and peace that will endure to everlasting life. He is to be found exactly where He promised he would be, at a sacred place near you, where this week we commemorate the dedication of a more distant sacred place, Saint John Lateran.
Monsignor Smith
