Nov 18 – Memorial for the Dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul
The Basilica of St. Peter is located within the Vatican City. It occupies a unique position as one of the holiest sites and as the greatest of all churches of Christendom. It is the burial site of St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, and, according to tradition, was the first Bishop of Antioch and later the first Bishop of Rome, and therefore the first in the line of the papal succession.
Catholic tradition holds that St. Peter’s tomb is below the altar of the basilica, which is why many popes, starting with the first ones, have been buried there. There has been a church on this site since the fourth century. Construction on the present basilica, over the old Constantinian basilica, began on Apr 18, 1506, and was completed in 1626.
While St. Peter’s is the most famous of Rome’s many churches, it is not the first in rank, an honour held by the Pope’s cathedral church, the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Contrary to popular misconception, St. Peter’s is not a cathedral, as it is not the seat of a bishop. It is properly termed a basilica.
The Basilica of St. Paul Outside The Walls is one of four churches considered to be the great ancient basilicas of Rome. This basilica was founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I, over what was believed to be the burial place of St. Paul where it was said that after the Apostle’s execution, his followers erected a memorial over his grave.
In 386, Emperor Theodosius I began the erection of a much larger and more beautiful basilica with a nave and four aisles with a transept. The work, including the mosaics, was not completed till the pontificate of Leo I. Under Pope Gregory the Great (590-604), the basilica was again extensively modified. As it lay outside the Aurelian walls, this basilica was damaged during the Saracen invasions in the ninth century. Consequently, Pope John VIII fortified it, the monastery, and the dwellings of the peasantry forming the town of Joannispolis, which existed until 1348 when an earthquake totally destroyed it.
On 15 Jul 1823, the negligence of a workman repairing the roof resulted in a fire which almost totally destroyed the basilica. Alone of all the churches in Rome, it had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. The whole world contributed to its reconstruction. The Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster, and the Emperor of Russia sent the precious malachite and lapis lazuli of the tabernacle. The work on the principal façade, looking toward the Tiber, was completed by the Italian government, which declared the church a national monument.
The basilica was reopened in 1840 but was reconsecrated only 15 years later at the presence of Pope Pius IX, with 50 cardinals. On 31 May 2005, Pope Benedict XVI ordered the basilica to come under the control of an archpriest. On the same day, he named Archbishop Andrew Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo as its first archpriest.
- Wikipedia
Apo 1:1-4,2:1-5
Lk 18:35-43
The people in front scolded him…
Much has been spoken about the blind man and the extraordinary amount of faith he demonstrated. What I would like to focus on today is the crowd around him. Notice how many were telling him to keep quiet, but once he had the (positive) attention of the Lord, they became supporters. What interesting behaviour! The question we need to ask ourselves is this: are WE enablers or disablers (which the crowd in the Gospel of today were) in the faith journeys of others around us? In fact, let’s go beyond faith journeys and look at the parts we play in the life journeys of those around us?
Two years ago, I embarked on a walking pilgrimage on the Camino Ignacio in Spain and met so many wonderful people… lovely folks who enabled me to experience the growth I did. Without naming them specifically, I wanted to share with you the roles they played.
We benefitted from spiritual direction along with us on this retreat and pilgrimage. My Spiritual Director was always present for me, asking thoughtful and often probing responses to my thoughts. He did not tell me what to think and how to feel. Instead, he listened to me and was, at times, quiet. There were many occasions he encouraged me to sit with certain thoughts and emotions and to listen to what came to me. I was grateful I had such a guide with me.
I mentioned in an earlier reflection how I had (strangely) twisted my knee and was walking through the Camino in pain. While it was largely a silent retreat, I had my fellow pilgrims come to me and tell me they were praying for me. What wonderful encouragement to have others pray for me! These encouragers surrounded me with a spirit of love and support.
I struggled on many portions of the Camino and had helpers along the way. My companions would stop and wait with me, offering to hold my poles as I laced my shoes, drank water or as I took a few minutes to rest in the hope that the pain in my knee would abate. By nature, I find it challenging to be vulnerable. Interestingly, my helpers did nothing to make me feel so. On the last (long) walk, I found it difficult to climb up a steep slope… I was grateful for a (literal) helping hand that pulled me up.
On that same walk, a wonderful couple slowed down to walk with me, seeing how I was struggling. Along the way, the wife (let’s call her LC) sang out loud. I’m sure she did it to encourage me, although she does not recall having done so. She even whipped out her phone to play one of her favourite songs to cheer me on. I was moved by this act of compassion and remember holding back tears of gratitude.
The Camino, to me, is a microcosm of life, and I am blessed to have met all these wonderful folks whom I now call my friends. As we return to our daily lives, we will continue to journey together.
The question is: who do we choose to be in our lives to those around us? Do we choose to be enablers or disablers?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Paul Wee)
Prayer: Help us, Father, to be mindful of who we are to others around us. Help us to live our identities of Your children and help us be open to Your Spirit to guide us.
Thanksgiving: Thank You for showing us the way to live, Jesus.
OXYGEN 
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