Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – November 9


In the Catholic Church, on November 9, the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, named for Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, is commemorated, it being one of the four principal churches in Rome. However, this day is important also for other reasons.

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The feast of the dedication of the church is important in the Catholic calendar because this church serves as the seat of the Bishop of Rome who is by definition the Pope. The Church was dedicated in 324. It was the first to be built of the four principal churches of Rome, the other three being: St Peter's, St Paul outside the Walls and St Mary Major.


However, on this day occurred other important events for us:


On this day, in 1938, Kristalnacht occurred when the Nazis destroyed and burnt many synagogues and much property belonging to Jews throughout Germany.


On this day, in 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, symbolizing the end of the Communist period.


On this day, in 2003, Father Jean-Baptiste Gourion, osb, responsible for the Hebrew speaking Catholic communities and Patriarchal Vicar, was ordained a bishop.

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