In the present day the mention of a cathedral brings to mind the central church of a local diocese. Ss. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Providence, the happily restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City are easily recalled examples of the fine church buildings from which local bishops conduct their business. But the word “cathedral” did not originally refer to a building; the Latin roots of “cathedral” rather denote an article of furniture within that building, specifically the central chair from which a bishop proclaims solemn Church teachings. The phrase “ex cathedra,” meaning “from the chair” still denotes a formal instruction [from the Pope] binding on all members of the Church.
This Sunday the Catholic Church will celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome which, in spite of the greater popularity of St. Peter’s Basilica, is the actual cathedral church for the Roman archdiocese. Central to this fine building is the authentic “cathedra” or chair from which his Holiness makes authoritative teachings. The present chair, centrally and properly located in the basilica’s sanctuary, dates back to Pope Nicholas IV (1227-1292) who restored the papal chair or cathedra to its correct place in the center of the basilica’s sanctuary. Today the praedella or platform on which that papal chair rested is still preserved. On this platform are symbols of Christ’s victory over evil, represented by four demoniac figures at his feet: the asp, the viper, the lion and the dragon, referring to Psalm 91:13: “You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.” The installation of a new pope still officially concludes with his enthronement on this cathedral chair. Pope Leo XIV traveled from Saint Peter’s basilica in procession and was seated on this cathedral chair, while surrounded by the Roman clergy who applaud him as the Church’s high priest, supreme teacher, and solemn law-giver.
The Scripture passages wisely chosen for the observance of this feast celebrate the spiritual resources that flow from cathedral churches everywhere enriching the hearts and minds of the faithful: “Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” (Ez 47:12) The psalm response promotes the same image: “The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!” (Ps. 46:5) Cathedrals physically embody the font of spiritual nourishment which fortifies the people of God in every season.
St. Paul in the second reading graphically insists to his Corinthian readers, “You are God’s building!” (Cor.3:9) So the respect and deference that today’s Roman Catholic people show toward their diocesan cathedrals and the several basilicas throughout the Christian world should be even more worthily directed toward the living body of believers, the confessing Church. The Apostle tells the Corinthians that the whole Church is a temple enshrining the Presence of God and making the power of God available to the whole of creation: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.” (Cor. 3:16-17)
The old Jewish temple was the meeting place between God and man, respectfully built on what was thought to be Mount Ararat where Abraham first encountered the living God. Jesus, early in St John’s Gospel account, is greatly distressed that the significance of the Jerusalem Temple had been greatly compromised by commercial occupations allowed there: “He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.” (Jn. 2:13)
Jesus wants the temple to be restored as the dwelling place of God: “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” (Jn 2:16) Jesus knew however that an even greater temple, the new dwelling place of God, his Father’s new house, would be constructed out of his own Risen Body: “But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.” (Jn. 2:21)
Today God continues to be present to his people through the living Church, through the believing community of the faithful, through the Mystical Body of Christ, whose leadership is vividly and majestically signified through the cathedral buildings and cathedral thrones throughout the Catholic world. Jacob’s words after his physical encounter with God were well spoken: “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God and the gate of heaven!” (Gn. 28:17) Our cathedrals should elicit the same spirit!
