Speaker: Fr. Glenn Paul Gomez, SVD, Spiritual Director, The Lord's Flcok Catholic Charismatic Community

“ UNITY”

The Pope and the Bishop of Rome

The Pope is the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. As the successor of St. Peter, he is the leader of all Catholics with the Basilica of St. Peter at Vatican City in Rome as his seat of papacy.

The Pope is also the Bishop of Rome . He sits as head of this diocese of Rome at the Saint John Lateran Basilica. [November 9 is the feast day of the dedication of the Saint John Lateran Basilica – now 1,681 years old.]

BRIEF HISTORY of Saint John Lateran Basilica

During the time of Jesus and until the year 311 AD, Christians were persecuted. Being a Christian during this period was being ready to suffer and even to die. After the conversion to Christianity of Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity was declared in 311 AD as the affiant religion of the Roman Empire . The emperor built The Saint John Lateran Basilica thirteen years later in 324 AD. It was become same than the cathedral-church of depose. The elected pope are installed as bishop of Rome in this cathedral.

The cathedral's name was derived from the Laterani family that originally occupied the rite and from St. John the Baptist to whom it was dedicated in 1565.

In the 17 th century, The Saint John Lateran Basilica became known as the Basilica of the Most Holy Savior. Above its majest--- entr--- is enscribed the words in Latin “urbis et or bis” signifying that it is the “Mother and Head of all Churches of the City and the World.”

UNITY – The Vision of Pope Benedict XVI

After the election of Pope Benedict XVI, he was installed as Bishop of Rome at the Saint John Lateran Basilica

The vision of Pope Benedict XVI is unity of the family of Christian:

a) Unity within the Catholic Church (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church),

b) Unity among Catholics and the Protestants (our separated brothers).

Our mother Church reminds us that we are just one family – the Christian family. We belong to one Church – the Holy Roman Catholic Church.

The Pope aims to bring unity among Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestants. Let us all pray for the realization of our Pope's vision.

Importance of Saint John Lateran Basilica

This Basilica is the seat of the Bishop of Rome – our Pope. As masters of the local church, we all belong to our mother church, the Roman Catholic Chruch – a universal and apostolic church. We should all relate to our mother church in Rome . Like all Catholics in the world, we should pledge an experience, our communion, and unity with the Holy Pope, the Bishop of Rome.

UNITY IN RELIGION

To word religion came from “religa----“ which means “to bring back to God” or “to tie back to God”. The different religions in the world should bring men back to God. The signs, rituals, symbols, do-----, and article of faith of the different religions are externals only. What is important is the personal relationship and between man and God as his creator and the supreme being to whom worship must be re-------. It is this personal experience with God that will bring about UNITY. Without God, there cannot be unity. Without God, there cannot be love, peace, joy, forgiveness.

UNITY for Our Filipino People

What is the solution for the problems besetting our country? It is not a change in our system of government, nor a change of our leaders. It is also not a change of economic system. The solution is UNITY through a change of heart by everyone. Every Filipino must change hearts. Every Filipino must pray and return to God. Only then, can we bring love, peace, joy and unity in our family, our society and our entire nation.

Stages of Spiritual Development

Unity can be attained through spiritual development. Its three stages are:

1) Purification – This process involves our personal repentance. We should realize our own faults and sins and recognize the need to change. We pray for God's grace for us to eally change our heart.

2) Illumination – After purification of our heart, we have illumination. Our mind is enlightened about what is true, honorable, just, peace, lonely and excellent (Philippians 4:8). We no longer conform to the standards of this world but are transform by the renewal of our mind (Hebrews 12:2).

3) Verification – Our personal purification and illumination eventually results is unification. We are united as individual parts of Christ's body; we do our work as apostles, prophets, teachers and with our other God-given spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:27 -31).

As we are all Christ's body, we are blessed as charismatic with spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit.

We remain not only as charismatic, but a pneumatics – i.e. connected with God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Let us keep our connection and focus on Jesus. If ever we loose our focus on Jesus, like Peter who tried to walk on water but started to sink after being distrusted by strong wind, that let us cry “Lord, save me” (Matthew 14:29-31).