Homily: August 5 - Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Typically the Church’s Liturgical Calendar calls for the celebration of a holy person, but today we celebrate the dedication of a holy place, St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s four principle basilicas.  The others are St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul outside the Walls.  The present church of St. Mary Major was built in the fifth century, not long after the Council of Ephesus affirmed Mary’s title as “Mother of God.”  The basilica is the largest and oldest church in the world honoring God through Mary.  It stands atop one of Rome’s seven hills, and despite many restorations, still has the character of an early Roman basilica.  

For four hundred years today’s feast was called “Our Lady of the Snows”.  According to legend, the basilica was constructed on the site where the Mother of God produced a miraculous mid-summer snow fall and left her footprints as a sign.  The legend was long celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the dome of the basilica every August 5.  

Below the Basilica’s main altar are relics from the manger of Bethlehem, in which Mary laid the newborn Savior of the World.  

The morning after his Papal election, Pope Francis went to pray at Saint Mary Major, and after returning safely from World Youth Day, he went again to Mary Major, to offer thanksgiving to Mary for that her protection and care for all of those pilgrims.  

At another visit to Mary Major, Pope Francis, after praying the rosary, said the following: “A mother helps her children to grow and wants them to grow well; for this she educates them not to fall into laziness – which derives from a certain well-being – not to settle into a comfortable life that contents itself only with having things. The mother cares for the children so that they grow more, they grow strong, able to take responsibility, to commit themselves in life, to pursue grand ideals. In the Gospel St. Luke tells us that, in the family of Nazareth, Jesus “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Our Lady does the same thing in us, she helps us to grow as human beings and in the faith, to be strong and not to give in to the temptation to be human and Christian in a superficial way, but to live with responsibility, to aim ever higher.”

We thank God for the motherhood of Mary, and ask her prayers that we may continue to become worthy of the promises of Christ through striving to grow strong in holiness, filled with wisdom, and divine favor, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.