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<center>			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 			 <img height='275' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/VPS/images/296/130.jpg'> 
Basilica of Saint Mary Major 
Roman Basilicas Issue 
Scott 130 (1949)</center>
 
August 5th is the celebration of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, often referred to the Feast of Our Lady of Snows. It is one of the oldest Marian traditional worship days of the Roman Catholic Church. In researching this, there is an interesting article found on the Catholic Culture website which stated:
<blockquote>
"This feast commemorates the miracle of the snowfall that occurred during the night of August 4-5 in the year 358 on the site where the basilica now stands. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to two faithful Roman Christians, the patrician John and his wife, as well as to Pope Liberius (352-366), asking that a church be built in her honor on the site where snow would fall on the night of August 4-5. Pope Liberius traced the outlines of the church in the snow and the first basilica was built on that site. It was completed about a century later by Pope Sixtus III (432-440), after the Council of Ephesus in 431 during which Mary was declared to be the Mother of God.
 
In Rome the Basilica of St. Mary Major holds its traditional triduum from August 1 to 3 and two days of celebration on August 4 and 5. During the pontifical Mass and the second vespers, the traditional shower of flower petals will descend from the ceiling of the basilica to commemorate the August snowfall in 358."
</blockquote>
However, the "snow" we found at St. Mary Major on our latest trip to Rome was somewhat different. Looking outside the St. Mary Major bookstore, there was something very interesting. Do you see the "snow" we found? It was very cold which was really refreshing on a warm spring afternoon in Rome. How many times can you visit a church and find snow?
 
<center><img height='300' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/cms/images/Roma/IMG_1558.jpg'></center>
 
It seems that Pope Francis also did some research outside the Saint Mary Major bookstore!
 
<center><img height='600' src='http://vaticanstamps.org/cms/images/Roma/IMG_1557.jpg'></center>
 
If you ever travel to Rome, I encourage you to visit Saint Mary Major, as there are many wonderful things to see. You might want to visit the bookstore and do a little research of your own, just outside the side door. You might find that it is still snowing!!
 
Reference: 
<li>CatholicCulture.org, <a href='https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2024-08-05'>Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major</a>
 
Photos are from the collection of Marvin Lanahan and are used with permission.

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