The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome – November 9, 2025
November 9 last fell on a Sunday in 2014. Today’s feast, then, is a beautiful treat for the universal church. The Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome is the “ecumenical mother church” of the entire church because it is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, who also happens to be the Pope! We often think of St. Peter’s Basilica as the papal “motherhouse,” but Pope Francis has always reminded the church that his primary role is as the Bishop of Rome, a bishop among many bishops.
Today’s collect asks God to “increase in your Church the spirit of grace you have bestowed, so that by new growth your faithful people may build up the heavenly Jerusalem.” And in the Preface, the church rejoices “as the mother of countless children.” Today’s feast reminds us, then, that our own cathedrals and parish churches have been birthed from the mother church of the Lateran.
Today’s feast reminds us, then, that our own cathedrals and parish churches have been birthed from the mother church of the Lateran.
The anniversary of a parish’s dedication is always celebrated as a solemnity within that parish church. As the community of our mother church celebrates her feast day today, recall your own parish’s anniversary of dedication and mark it on your calendar. Look up also the dedication date of your own cathedral. Today and on your own local church’s dedication days, pray for all God’s children born from the faith of those communities over the centuries.
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