Category: Religion

Basilica of St John Lateran (Cathedral)

Religious Building

Basilica of St John Lateran (Cathedral)


Most Holy Lateran Church, Mother and Head of all the Churches in the City and of the World.”

In Profile

  • Feast Date: 9 November
  • Building: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
  • Location:  Rome

  • In 313, the Edict of Milan granted religious freedom, including the Christians, within the Roman Empire. Before 313, religious followers were persecuted.
  • Emperor Constantine became the first Christian emperor.  He donated the Lateran Palace to become the seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.  It houses the cathedra (chair) of the Pope.
  • The Church was founded in honour of St John The Baptist and St John The Evangelist.
  • It is considered the most important among the most major and prominent churches in Rome; it is called Arch Basilica.  The other three Churches are St Peter’s, St Paul’s and St Mary Major.

St Mary Magdalene (Apostle to the Apostles)

Saints
Christianity

St Mary Magdalene (Apostle to the Apostles)


Mary Magdalen by Andrea Solario (1460-1524)

In Profile

  • AKA: Mary of Magdala
  • PoB: Magdala, Israel
  • Died: Ephesus, Turkey (?!!!)
  • Feast Day; 22 July 
  • Protector: Gardeners, Penitents, Glove-makers, and Perfume-makers
  • Character:

Legacy:

  • The first witness to Jesus’ Ressurection
  • First to preach the ‘Good News’ of the Ressurection.

Fake News:

  • A repentant prostitution.  Unsubstantiated!

Facts & Factoids

  • 2016: Pope Francis issued a decree to elevate St Mary Magdalen’s liturgical memorial to a feast which places Mary Magdalene on par with the other apostles.  The decree was called “de apostolorum apostola” which means Apostle to the Apostles.
  • It was Pope Gregory the Great who started the fake news of Mary Magdalene being a repentant prostitute in one of his homilies in the year 591.
  • Mary Magdalene was present in the Crucifixion, Death & Ressurection of Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

16 December

 

The poorest way to face life is to face it with a sneer.
– Theodore Roosevelt

 

Christmas Month

16 December

Christmas Rooster, photo by JMorton


Happy Birthday to: –

 

 


Notable Events:

 

 

 

 


Maligayang Pasko

 

 

5 December

Christmas Month

 


5 December

Wintry weather, Photo by PH Morton

 

“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?”
– Bob Hope

 


Happy Birthday:-

 

 


Commemorating:

  • The birth of Christina Rossetti on this day in 1830.

 

 

 

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