Today the Universal Church celebrates the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, or to give it its full name, the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist at the Lateran. I have heard several homilies about why we as a Church celebrate this building and I believe I have a good understanding of it, but I'm not sure that I could explain it well. You might want to ask a member of the ordained clergy as they are taught how to preach about such things. Instead, I am going into history to tell you a bit about St. Sylvester I, who as pope presided over the dedication of the Basilica in 324.
Pope St. Sylvester I was born in Rome about 284 or 285. All that is known of his life before he was elected Pope is that his father's name was Rufinus.
He was elected to the Papacy in January 314. During his reign, he convened the Council of Arles in 314, which condemned the Donatist sect, and the first council of Nicaea in 325, which aimed to resolve the Arian controversy. His papacy also coincided with the conversion and baptism of Emperor Constantine. Some legends (histories?) say that Pope Sylvester was the one who baptized Constantine.
The Lateran Palace was gifted to the pope by Constantine in the reign of Sylvester's predecessor, Pope Miltiades. The palace basilica was converted and extended, becoming the residence of Pope Sylvester I, and eventually the Cathedral of Rome.
Sylvester was pope for 24 years and 11 months. He died in the year 335 at about 50 years of age. His feast day is December 31.
Pope St. Sylvester I, pray for us.
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