August 5 - Homily for Today

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Major / Our Lady of the Snow. The origin of the Basilica on the Esquiline Hill in Rome comes from this legend. In the fourth century, a patrician named John and his wife, who were without heirs vowed to donate their possessions to Our Lady. They prayed that she might make known to them how they were to dispose of their property in her honor. During the hot summer night of August 5^th snow fell on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. In obedience to a vision which they had the same night, the couple built a basilica in honor of Our Lady on the spot which was covered with snow. Further legend has it that Mary then as a sign of her favor left her footprints in the snow!

Legend or fact, the Basilica of St. Mary Major, as it was later renamed, came to be  as a result of Mary’s intervention somehow, and is now one of the four major Basilicas of Rome – (along with St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, and St. Paul’s Outside the Walls). It is the first Church dedicated to the honor of Mary in the West, and is said to house the relics of the manger!

The important fact to remember is that Mary is given her due honor and devotion in the City of Rome – the locus of the heart of the Catholic Church on earth. Both the Church and Mary have one common goal: the sanctification of the human race: Mary is truly co-redemptrix along with her Son Jesus. He is the cause of sanctification and salvation, but Mary leads and guides everyone to him to be sanctified and saved. They are a real formidable team who pursues the hearts of all, so that none will be lost in the final analysis.

Hail Mary! Mother of God! Mother of Mercy! Mother of Grace! We are your children too, and we rededicate ourselves to you this day! Pray for us always! Amen!

You are the highest honor of our race!