Basilica of St. John Lateran

   

This morning, we officially visited our second of the four papal Basilicas - St. John Lateran.  St. John Lateran, originally built by the Emperor Constantine, is dedicated to both St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, and it houses the cathedra of the Bishop of Rome.  Thus, it ranks higher than all the other churches, even St. Peter's Basilica.  It is the oldest of the four major basillicas and is the mother Church of all the world, and we celebrate its dedication each year on November 9.

 

Members of the class look down the expansive nave of the Basilica

In honor of John the Baptist and the Evangelist

One of the most distinctive features of the Basilica is the adornment of the nave with massive, powerful statues of the Apostles:

St. Peter

St. Peter, detail

St. Matthew

St. Bartholomew

The mosaic apse of the Basilica. The Pope's cathedra is located at bottom center.

We celebrated Mass in the beautiful Colonna Chapel:

Deacon John Rutten entering the chapel through a huge decorative door

Deacon Evan Koop prays in the choir stalls before Mass

Deacon John takes his place beneath his patron, St. John the Beloved.

Deacon Albert Wugaa, Fr. Juan Miguel Betancourt, Deacon Joe Backowski

Deacon Ben Kociemba

Deacon Joe Backowski preaching

The Consecration

The words of the Baptist, in the Basilica dedicated in his honor: "Behold the Lamb of God.."