It’s actual name is Cathedral of the Most Holy Savior and of Saints John the Baptist and the Evangelist in the Lateran. Inside are 12 enormous and magnificent statues of the 12 apostles, who form the foundation on which Christ builds His Church.
Over the doors is inscribed SACROS LATERAN ECCLES OMNIUM VRBIS ET ORBIS ECCLESIARVM MATER ET CAPUT" ("Most Holy Lateran Church, mother and head of all the churches in the city and the world").
We need these magnificent, historic buildings. They soar to the sky and remind us, not of who we are, but who we are called to be.
Today the Office of Readings gives us chapter 2 of the First Letter of St. Peter,
Strip away everything vicious, everything deceitful; pretenses, jealousies, and disparaging remarks of any kind.
Could any words be more apt for the moment in which we are living?
Today, as we celebrate this feast, let us focus our hearts on those original 12 called to proclaim the gospel to the world. And should there be a moment when we are tempted to think ill of another, let us recall the command of St. Peter, our first Pope.
