Our Lady of the Snow - August 5th
In the city of Rome there lived a holy nobleman named John. He and his good wife Mary were very devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since they had no children, they asked Our Lady in fervent prayer to let them know what good deeds they should perform with their great fortune. The Blessed Mother answered their prayer in a marvelous way.
On August 5th, when it is very hot in Rome, they both dreamed that she told them to build a church in her honor on the spot they would find covered with snow! John told Pope Liberius about this dream, and to his surprise, he learned that the Holy Father had had the very same dream! Pope Liberius went to the spot on the Esquiline Hill where the snow lay, and traced out a plan for the new church, which became the most famous church of Mary in all the world.
This church has been called the Liberian Basilica (after the Pope), and St. Mary of the Snow, because of the miracle. After a relic of the crib in which Jesus was born was brought to this church, it was called St. Mary of the Crib, too. Today, we call it St. Mary Major, to show that it is the major church of Our Lady.
Many great Saints, such as St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. Aloysius, loved to pray in the Church of St. Mary Major. One of the oldest pictures of Our Lady is venerated there. This picture, which people say was painted by St. Luke, was carried from the church in procession by the Pope when a terrible sickness was killing the people of Rome. Everyone begged Mary to stop this plague and their prayers were answered.
Another time, with this picture from the Church of St. Mary Major, the Pope blessed homes that were on fire, and the fire stopped by a miracle. These are just a few of the many wonderful graces the Blessed Mother had granted to those who turn to her with faith and love.
Let us purify our souls well with the Sacrament of Confession. Only in this way can we hope to receive all the graces from our Blessed Mother.