Homily for November 9, 2019

The earliest days of the Church saw the beginning of the official persecution of Christians with the words of Emperor Nero, who said, "Let there be no more Christians." After Nero’s death, persecutions continued on and off for the next 240 years until 313 AD, when, about a year after he converted to Christianity, Emperor Constantine granted religious liberty to Christians and all people of good will. To the Pope, Constantine gave the Lateran Palace that had been seized by Nero from an early Christian family named Laterani.

Within a few years, a baptistry dedicated to John the Baptist, and a large basilica dedicated to Christ the Redeemer, were built next to the palace. Pope Sylvester consecrated it on November 9, 324 AD. Our freedom to worship in this church of St. Thomas the Apostle and every parish church began on that November day so long ago.

Since that time, the Roman empire rose and fell. The Coliseum, where Christians died for their faith was abandoned. Throughout the centuries, wars, earthquakes, and fires severely damaged or entirely destroyed the cathedral church and the palace six times. Each time they were restored with even greater magnificence. The empire is gone, but Christians still celebrate the Eucharist in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

The Lateran church reminds us how great it is to have religious freedom. Sometimes, though, that freedom is taken away in some parts of our world. When persecutors say, "Let there be no more Christians," the grace of the early Church is needed again, the grace of martyrdom and courage to publicly embrace the Cross of Christ is needed once again. For we know that the future of Christians is not in palaces like that of the Laterani Family, nor in hidden catacombs where early Christians would worship, but in heavenly places, in the full presence of God, where the Church will truly be free. +