During the pontificate of Liberius (352–366), the Roman patrician John and his wife, who were without an heir, made a vow to donate their possessions to Our Lady. They prayed to her that she might make known to them in what manner they were to dispose of their property in her honour.

Snow in August

In August 05, 352 a rectangle of snow was discovered on Mount Esquiline (in Rome), one of the famous Seven Hills. Snowfall of any sort was unheard of in Rome at that time of year, but that it had fallen only in one place and in such a specific pattern was regarded as a phenomenon. People crowded to see the patch of snow, which persisted despite the heat. John was convinced that its shape and size indicated that a church should be built on the spot. In fact both John and the Pontiff had dreamt that Our Lady desired a church to be built on Mount Esquiline.

The Holy Father was so moved by his dream that he visited the mysterious snowfall. When he arrived with his retinue, John and his wife were already there kneeling in prayer to the Virgin. As soon as the plot for the building had been staked out the snow melted. John met the cost of the building, which was completed in year 354. The church was originally built by Pope Liberius and was called after him "Basilica Liberii" or "Liberiana".

Seventy years later the church was rebuilt on a grander scale by Pope Sixtus III (432–440), who added decorations and ornaments of silver. From that time on it was known as "Basilica S. Mariæ" or "Mariæ Majoris", “Santa Maria Maggiore”; since the seventh century it was known also as "Maria ad Præsepe" and then a few centuries later "Maria ad Nives" or "Our Lady of the Snows".

The Moral of the Story

Whatever we give to God, we received it first from Him through His mother’s hands (she is the Mediatrix of all Grace) and we return it back to Him through His mother’s hands (she is our perfect intercessor, our Mother by grace).

A Beautiful Prayer

There is a beautiful prayer in the breviary that expresses the two way mediation of Mary as Mother of God.

This prayer honours the greatest gift that came from the hands of Mary and the greatest gift we can make to God through her hands:

O Mary, Virgin and Most Holy Mother, behold I have received thy most beloved Son, whom thou conceived in thy womb, nourished and most tenderly embraced.

Behold, may thou be rejoiced and filled with every delight by this aspect:

Him, the same, I humbly and lovingly return and offer to thine outstretched arms, to thy loving heart, and to the Most Holy Trinity in a supreme act of adoration, for thine honour and glory, and for my necessities and those of the whole world.

I beseech thee, most sweet Mother, fill me with a sorrow for all my sins, and grant me the grace of serving thee more faithfully henceforth, and then finally the grace of final perseverance, so that I may praise Him with thee forever and ever. Amen

Especially during this month of May, just as John the Patrician returned his wealth through Mary to God, let us return all that we have received from Mary’s hands back to her so that she can offer it to our loving God, Who livest and reignest, forever and ever. Amen!

The prodigy of the snow is true

The new basilica housed a celebrated painting provided by the Pope. It had belonged to St. Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine — the same Helen who, according to tradition, had made a pilgrimage to Palestine and discovered the original Cross of Christ. The picture, painted on a slab of cedar wood, is of a Madonna and Child. The infant Jesus is holding a book and both figures are haloed and crowned — the crowns presented by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 as a thank-offering for deliverance from cholera.

The so-called 'new' Lady Chapel was built by Pope Paul V in 1613 to house the miraculous painting. He declared, "This image should have a magnificent place of its own, befitting its eminence. For it has always been regarded by all faithful people and through it many miracles and wonders have been wrought."

Salus Populi Romana [Salvation of the Roman People] is the title of this famous painting and it is rightly named because for centuries the people of Rome have prayed before it in times of famine, war and national crisis.

Many popes have held the basilica on Mount Esquiline in particular regard. When Gregory I was Pope [590–604] Rome was ravaged by a plague. Gregory carried the image of the Holy Mother in procession from the chapel as far as Hadrian's Mausoleum. When the procession arrived they heard an invisible heavenly choir singing Regina Caeli. When the Pope asked the Virgin to pray for the city he saw an apparition of St. Michael replacing the sword of vengeance in its scabbard. The plague abated.

Pope Benedict XIV had a special affection for the legend. In 1427 he declared, "It must be acknowledged that nothing is wanting to enable us to affirm with moral certainty that the prodigy of the Snow is true". The night before he died, Paul V asked to be taken to the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin in order to pray before her image. St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, said his first Mass here at Christmas 1538.

Angels sing the responses

The Chapel of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani [Protectress of the Roman People] is very close to the historic heart of the Catholic Church, so it is not surprising that many stories have enriched its tradition over the centuries. It is said that once when Pope Gregory the Great was celebrating Mass in the chapel and intoning the words "Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum," he heard a choir of Angels sing the response "Et cum spiritu tuo." From that day the custom in the chapel was to omit that section of the Mass in the belief that it was being offered and sung by the Angels.

The Basilica today

The present-day church is one of the largest basilicas in the world and its Patronal Festival is held on August 5 in remembrance of the miracle of the snow. During this celebration hundreds of white blossoms are showered from the dome of the chapel. Not to be missed are the thirteenth-century mosaics on biblical themes and the frescoes by Reni and Della Porta. There is an imposing Romanesque belltower erected in 1377.

Santa Maria Maggiore has a further claim to fame. In the seventh century a relic was brought from Bethlehem and traditionally venerated as the manger in which the Christ Child was laid at the first Christmas. And so another name for the great basilica is St. Mary of the Crib.

One of the most spectacular sights which meets today's pilgrim is the triumphal arch which extends to almost 66 feet. It is decorated in four horizontal sections. In the middle at the top God's throne is set in a circle, with St. Peter and St. Paul on either side. Above this mosaic are the symbols of the four Gospel writers.

On August 5 the anniversary of the miraculous snow fall, the Feast of Our Lady of Snows is celebrated at the basilica of her name. White petals are scattered throughout the place.

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Salvation of the Roman People is the title of this famous painting

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore inside

Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore inside

The skulptur Pius IX in Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore