The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Sts. John the Baptist and the Evangelist, better known as St. John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome – making it the official seat of its bishop, Pope Francis. It is the oldest of the four papal basilicas and stands over the ruins of a Roman cavalry fort. From the 4th to the 14th century, St. John Lateran was the seat of the papacy, thus becoming the symbol and the heart of the Church’s life. It was also the site of the original Holy Door. Today, online visitors can take a virtual reality tour of the world’s only archbasilica on the Vatican’s website or see it in one of countless online video tours.
Advent is a season about so much more than a wreath decorated with four candles and a calendar filled with sweet treats. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the goal of Advent is to make present for ourselves and our families the “ancient expectancy of the Messiah ... by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming.” Although Christ has already come into the world, the Church invites us to use this time to renew our desires for the Lord to be present more deeply in our lives and for Christ’s triumphant second coming into the world. Here are a few ways we can use this season to prepare ourselves spiritually for Christmas.