Homily for the 33rd Thursday in Ordinary Time

The Feast of the Basilica celebrates the dedications of two of the four major basilicas of Rome, named for Saints Peter and Paul, the Vatican’s patron saints and symbols of the Church’s unity and its universality. Built-in 323 by emperor Constantine, the basilica was constructed over the tomb of Peter the Apostle, the first pope. After standing for more than 1,000 years, Pope Julius II ordered the building to be torn down due to structural concerns. The construction of the new church spanned more than 200 years before its completion. It was dedicated on Nov. 18, 1626.