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“Let us also pray for the governors, the faculty and staff, the students and families of Thomas Aquinas College, so they continue to grow in knowledge and grace — may the Lord guide their important mission, so that they always give witness to the light which Jesus Christ brought to humanity — with the humbleness and courage of the first Roman martyrs, of Peter and the Apostles, remembering the courageous witness they have left for us.”

— His Eminence Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo

“We are Standing on Sacred Ground

Homily given by Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo
President Emeritus of Vatican City State
Clementine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica
Vatican City

Note: While visiting with members of the Church hierarchy in Rome, President Michael F. McLean and Governor Lloyd Noble recently had the privilege of attending a Mass offered by His Eminence Giovanni Cardinal Lajolo, President Emeritus of the Vatican City State. A friend of the College, Cardinal Lajolo visited the campus and presented a lecture in 2008. His Tuesday homily is published in its entirety below.

 

Dear Dr. McLean, Mr. Lloyd Noble, dear brothers and sisters.

We are standing on sacred ground. It is sacred because it has been consecrated with the blood of the first Roman martyrs and of the Apostle Peter.

Of the first Roman martyrs we have a moving testimony handed down to us through the writings of Tacitus, the great Roman historian from the 2nd century, who was personally hostile to Christians. In Book Fifteen of his work, the Annals, he describes how the Emperor Nero, in his megalomania, secretly set fire to the city of Rome so he could build a new one which would be more worthy of his name. Yet the citizens of Rome perceive immediately that responsibility for the devastating fire was Nero’s. The Emperor had to deflect suspicion. Tacitus writes:

“Such indeed were the precautions of human wisdom. The next thing was to seek means of propitiating the gods, and recourse was had to the Sibylline books, by the direction of which prayers were offered to Vulcanus, Ceres, and Proserpina. [Juno, too, was entreated by the matrons, first, in the Capitol, then on the nearest part of the coast, whence water was procured to sprinkle the fane and image of the goddess.] And there were sacred banquets and nightly vigils celebrated by married women.

“But all human efforts, all the lavish gifts of the emperor, and the propitiations of the gods, did not banish the sinister belief that the conflagration was the result of an order. Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judæa, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who confessed; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired.

“Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed” (15. 44).

This display of such inhuman cruelty is horrifying to us. Nero’s gardens, mentioned by Tacitus as the location where these first martyrs of the Church of Rome were killed, is where we are standing today. Here beneath us, in the 4th century, the first basilica in honor of St. Peter was built by Emperor Constantine. And in the 16th century, the magnificent building we are in today was built.

The basilica was erected in honor of St. Peter because he too — the first of the Apostles —gave witness of his faith here, with his life. The first great Church historian, Eusebius of Caesarea, writes that Peter came to Rome where he “was crucified with his head downward, having requested of himself to suffer in this way” (Ecclesiastical History 3:1,2). Peter did not deem himself worthy to be crucified in the same position as Our Lord.

On the location of his crucifixion, the faithful erected a small shrine, of which the remnants can be seen in the excavations under the basilica. On its wall, an inscription is visible which reads ENI PETROS: Here is Peter. Therefore, this was the great legacy left to us by Simon, son of John, who — during the Last Supper — had declared to the Lord that he would lay his life down for him. The Lord then predicts not only Simon Peter’s denial but his martyrdom as well (John 13, 37; 21, 18).

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus giving Simon, son of John, the name Peter and place him as the foundation of His church (Matt. 16, 18). These words in Greek, the language of the gospels, and in Latin, the language of the Church of Rome, can be read on the frieze above the arches of the basilica. This was the promise. After His resurrection Jesus fulfilled the promise by solemnly charging Peter with tending his flock (Jn. 21, 15). Peter, who lives in his successors through the Petrine Office, therefore was given the task of the Good Shepherd — which is Jesus Himself — with all the authority given him by the Lord to fulfill this service.

We wish to thank the Lord today, who in our times has given His church shepherds that well serve Peter’s Office. Pope Francis carries out his service with the merciful heart of a good shepherd, with great humanity and understanding for all people, especially for those most in need of mercy. Today, we wish to demonstrate our closeness by praying for him.

At the same time we want to pray for all those who are being distressed by so much hatred, by so much war, by so much spilling of blood, who need to be comforted, who need mercy, love, and peace.

Let us also pray for the governors, the faculty and staff, the students and families of Thomas Aquinas College, so they continue to grow in knowledge and grace — may the Lord guide their important mission, so that they always give witness to the light which Jesus Christ brought to humanity — with the humbleness and courage of the first Roman martyrs, of Peter and the Apostles, remembering the courageous witness they have left for us.

A special prayer for Mr. Scott Turicchi and his wife, Lannette. He could not be in Rome with us today to be with his wife. They are both present in our prayers.

In closing, tomorrow is the anniversary of the passing of Dr. Thomas Dillon, we pray for him and remember him with affection; he left an indelible mark in the College’s mission. May the Lord reward his faithful servant.

Amen.