We celebrate the consecration of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, the most ancient church of Mary, on the memory of Our Lady of the Snows, August 5.
The Roman church of Santa Maria Maggiore was built in III. Sixtus built it after the Council of Ephesus (431) in honor of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of God against heresies; consecrated on August 5. The Latin name of the significant day is: Dedicatio Beatae Mariae Virginis ad nives - in our country it is known as Our Lady of the Snows and Our Lady of the Month. The Munich codex refers to her as Havi Bódogany, and the Batthyány codex calendar refers to her as Havi Boldog Asszony.
According to legend, the location of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was determined by the Virgin herself. In the 4th century, during the reign of Pope Liberius, a wealthy Roman patrician named Giovanni and his wife decided to offer their wealth to Mary. The Holy Virgin appeared to them in their dream and invited them to build a church in her honor in the place that would be covered with snow the next day, August 5.
The Virgin also appeared to Pope Liberius in a dream, indicating where he should build a church worthy of her in Rome. Mary confirmed her request by saying that it snowed on the Esquilinus hill during the hot Roman night. In the morning, looking out of the windows of his palace, the pope saw snow on one of the seven hills of Rome; then he drew the outline of the church in front of the Roman residents gathered for the wonderful snowfall.
Every year on August 5th, the day of Our Lady of the Snows, flower petals are thrown to commemorate the miraculous snowfall in 358 in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
the full article in Magyar Kurír .
Featured image: Coronation of the Virgin Mary (Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome)
