Every November 18, the Catholic Church celebrates the dedication of the Basilicas of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, historic temples located in the city of Rome, where the remains of these two great apostles and saints rest, symbols of the unity of Christianity. , authentic pillars of the Church.
The temple is truly the house of God
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Saint Leo the Great, Pope, said in one of his sermons dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul: “… We must always rejoice when we celebrate the commemoration of any of the saints, but our joy must be greater when it comes to commemorating to these fathers, who stand out above the rest, since the grace of God elevated them, among the members of the Church, to such a high place that he made them like the two eyes of that body whose head is Christ.”
It is clear, then, that the dignity of these two apostles being so high, the basilicas that bear their names in the Eternal City – the heart of the Church – receive the honors that are proper to their dedication. Both St. Peter’s Basilica, located in the central square of the Vatican, and St. Paul’s Basilica Outside the Walls, ‘outside the walls’ of the ancient city, are loaded with symbolism and spiritual density for the enrichment and greatness of the Church of all. the times.
What a beautiful invitation to respect those basilicas and honor them as they deserve! And always remember that in every sacred place, here and there in the world, everyone must behave with respect, reverence and attention.
St. Peter’s Basilica
The first Saint Peter’s Basilica (Vatican City) was built over the tomb of said apostle by order of Emperor Constantine, in the year 323. The current building dates back to 1454 and its construction took 170 years. It was begun during the pontificate of Pope Nicholas V and was completed by Pope Urban VIII, who consecrated it on November 18, 1626.
Raphael, Bramante, Michelangelo and Bernini, distinguished masters of Western expressiveness, worked on it, capturing the best of their art. St. Peter’s Basilica measures 212 meters long, 140 meters wide and 133 meters high (considering the highest point of the dome). No other temple in the Christian world matches it in proportions.
Saint Paul Outside the Walls
For its part, the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, after ‘Saint Peter’, is the largest temple in Rome. Its construction was also Constantine’s will. Unfortunately, in 1823, it was almost completely destroyed due to a terrible fire.
Pope Leo XIII began its reconstruction and, once completed, it was reconsecrated on December 10, 1854 by Pope Pius IX. One of the most beautiful and striking details inside is the presence of the images of each and every one of the pontiffs who have governed the Church throughout history. The Popes – from Saint Peter to Francis – are represented in independent circular mosaics, one next to the other, arranged along the upper contour of the interior of the building, running along both the central nave and the side aisles of the Basilica.
Ecclesiastical epilogue
In 2009, on the occasion of this celebration, Pope Benedict XVI recalled that “this feast (the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles Saints Peter and Saints Paul) gives us the opportunity to highlight the meaning and value of the Church” . Then he concluded with this invocation: “Dear young people, love the Church and cooperate enthusiastically in its construction.”
These buildings, in the words of the remembered Benedict XVI, have, like every temple, a gigantic symbolism: they express and refer to the spiritual reality of the Church founded by Christ. The beauty and grandeur of the Basilicas that we honor today should remind us of the “solidity” of that “Church” of which we speak. And, of course, that should confirm us in hope and confidence: “I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Mt 16, 18).
Paraphrasing Benedict: Let us cooperate enthusiastically in the building of the Church!
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If you want to know more about this festival and the history of both basilicas, we suggest these two articles from the Catholic Encyclopedia:
1. Saint Peter https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/Bas%C3%ADlica_de_San_Pedro;
2. Saint Paul https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Pablo_Extramuros.
Central Editorial
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