Feast of Dedication of Saint John Lateran The most important temple is the temple of a person’s soul because God dwells within each one of us. In the most secret centre of our being is that sacred sanctuary where we meet God. Saint Teresa of Ávila called it the Presence Chamber, the most central and interior dwelling place within us. In addition to the temple of the soul, there are many sacred places throughout the world. There are shrines, churches, basilicas, grottos, cathedrals, and other holy places that are set aside for the sole purpose of worship of God. They are to be a Heaven on earth, a place where we join with the saints and angels in their praises of the Most  Holy Trinity Today’s feast of the Dedication of Saint John Lateran commemorates one such place, the most important church on earth. It is the official cathedral of Rome. That means Saint John Lateran is not only the mother church of the  Archdiocese of Rome but also the mother church of the entire world. As we honour the dedication of that church in 324, pray for the Church today. Pray for our local parish. Our churches and sacred places exist to be places where we come to encounter God. Pray for the Pope in a particular way today, that Saint John Lateran will always be a place where he, and every Pope after him, will encounter God in a profound way