From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   November 9th - Dedication of St. John Lateran Archcathedral   
      
   This feast is not so much about a building as about the whole Catholic   
   Christian family. Today we celebrate the consecration of this building to   
   the divine worship of God in the name of all the churches (worshipping   
   believers) throughout our world. In the earliest centuries after Christ's   
   death and Resurrection, worship took place in private homes. It wasn't until   
   the beginning of the third century that we hear of a building specifically   
   set apart as a Christian Church.   
      
   It was in the 4th century that Emperor Constantine ended the persecution of   
   Christians and in fact made Christianity the official religion of his   
   empire. The palace of a noble Roman family, the Laterani, changed hands   
   several times and eventually became the property of the Emperor through his   
   second wife Fausta. He donated it to the Church, and the great hall of the   
   palace was made into what became known as the Church of the Savior.   
      
   It has subsequently been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times because of   
   fires, earthquakes, wars and other tragedies. It has also undergone several   
   renovations, although it wasn't until the end of the middle ages, that it   
   lost most of the traces of it's ancient basilican form. It was under the   
   renovation of Francesco Borromini that it came to the form we see today.   
      
   This basilica became the center of Christendom. It was the primary residence   
   of the Bishop of Rome until the 14th century. The name St. John Lateran   
   developed at a time when there was an adjoining monastery called St. John   
   the Baptist. Also the Baptistery of the basilica is dedicated to St. John   
   the Baptist. Because of political and religious chaos the papal seat was   
   moved to Avignon and it wasn't until 1378 that the pope moved back to Rome.   
   Because of decay and destruction, the Lateran was not fit to live in and   
   eventually the present day Vatican became the home of the Popes and center   
   of the Catholic world.   
      
   The Lateran Archbasilica remains the oldest, and ranks first of the   
   patriarchal basilicas. On the front façade are carved the words,"Omnium   
   urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput." (The Mother and Head of all   
   churches of the City and of the World) It is the Cathedral Church of Rome   
   and of the Pope, as the Bishop of Rome and the Mother Church of all Catholic   
   believer's. St. Peter's is the Cathedral of the Universal Church. Until   
   1870, most of the popes were crowned in the Lateran basilica. Because of   
   extreme tensions between the civil government and the Church this event was   
   moved to St. Peter's. The celebration of the dedication of St. John Lateran   
   goes back to the 4th century and is still continued today.   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   A slight sabre-cut will separate my head from my body, like the spring   
   flower which the Master of the garden gathers for His pleasure. We are all   
   flowers planted on this earth, which God plucks in His own good time: some a   
   little sooner, some a little later . . . Father and son may we meet in   
   Paradise. I, poor little moth, go first. Adieu.   
   -Saint Theophane in a letter to his father just before his martyrdom   
      
   Bible Quote:   
   Every individual is capable of sin and every individual can by God's grace   
   repent of sin. As Jesus said in the parable about the rich man, "For God,   
   everything is possible."(Matt. 19:25-26)   
      
      
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   Novena - Prayer to St. Philomena   
      
   Illustrious Virgin and Martyr, Saint Philomena, behold me   
   prostrate at the foot of the throne, where it is has pleased the   
   Most Holy Trinity to place you. Full of confidence in your   
   protection. I beseech you to intercede for me with God. Ah!   
   From the height of your heavenly throne, deign to look upon   
   your humble servant. Spouse of Jesus Christ, in my trouble   
   console me: strengthen me in temptations; protect me from the   
   dangers that surround me on all sides: obtain for me...   
      
   (make request)   
      
   and especially and above all, assist me at the hour of my   
   death.  Amen.   
      
   Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr, pray for us, so that through   
   your powerful intercession we may obtain that purity of mind   
   and heart which leads to the perfect love of God.  Amen.   
      
      
      
      
   **Don't forget to pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)