A person’s home reveals something about the person’s heart. Just so, a church can reveal something about its particular patron. In some cases, it can be an invitation into that patron’s heart.
Not far from the Termini train station in Rome, in the middle of a busy and noisy intersection, stands an impressive basilica. A favorite of Pope Francis, who is now buried there, Saints throughout history have stepped through its doors. It even has a feast day that we celebrate throughout the world—one of only a couple for the dedication of an inanimate place.
Why do we remember the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome on August 5?
As you walk through the doors, your eyes feast on a majesty of gold mosaics that date back to the building of the basilica in the 400s. It is the largest church in the West dedicated to our Lady. The sheer immensity of it can catch you off guard at first.
Our Lady’s Presence
Here you meet our Blessed Mother in every direction. It really is her church. As you approach the main altar, a particular mosaic covering the apse may catch your eye. It is a mosaic of our Lady being crowned by Jesus. It is both solemn and tender; one could sit and ponder the relationship of Christ the King with the Queen of Heaven, who, in the words of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, is more mother than queen.
Turning to your left, you see a side chapel that is as large as many small churches. The famous icon, Salus Populi Romani, translated to mean “health of the Roman people,” is here. In this icon, our Lady looks at you, as Jesus looks at her. Her gaze is piercing, and one can ponder again this relationship, of which she, in her gaze, is inviting you to take part. This icon is what Pope Francis had with him in the empty square of St. Peter’s during the powerful Urbi et Orbi address and blessing he gave the world at the beginning of the Covid pandemic. Tradition tells us this icon was written by Saint Luke, and it has been at St. Mary Major since the sixth century, after Saint Helen found it in the Holy Land. Popes through the centuries have begged Mary’s intercession to protect Rome from plagues, and Pius XII sought her help when Rome was in danger of bombing in World War II. She is a special intercessor for the people of Rome, and her chapel is often very crowded.
Underneath the main altar, there is the relic of the true crib. Yes, that crib. As humble as it was in the stable, it remains humble today. It is easily overlooked by the vast beauty that surrounds it. There are no signs or lights that tell you that in the glass reliquary is the wood of the crib in which our Lady used to lay Jesus.
As you head down the side aisle, there is a magnificent statue of Regina Pacis—Our Lady, Queen of Peace. She looks fierce in this image, holding up her hand that calls you to stop and pause. It was commissioned by Pope Benedict XV to thank our Lady for the end of World War I. It serves as a powerful reminder of our Lady as our mother and queen, who will fight for peace for her children.
Mary’s Request
This church is the oldest church dedicated to our Lady. Tradition holds that a wealthy, childless couple were looking for a way to honor our Lady with the riches they had accumulated. The husband, Giovanni, had a dream in which our Lady herself requested a church built in her honor, asking for it to be built in a place indicated by a miracle. Rome rarely sees snow, and never in August. But on August 5, 358, snow outlined where the Basilica of St. Mary Major would eventually be built. This is where the title Our Lady of the Snows originated.
It is the largest church to our Lady in Rome and the oldest in the West dedicated to our Lady, but certainly not the only one. There are dozens in Rome dedicated to her. Perhaps your own parish is named after her. St. Mary Major is certainly not the only church our Lady requested to be built in her honor; there are others in Guadalupe, Zaragoza, Lourdes, and Fatima, for example. Why? It certainly wasn’t for her own gratification or glorification. It was not to bring notoriety or admiration for herself. Homes reveal the heart.
Our Lady asked for churches to be built so people could meet her Son.
She asked for churches to be built so people could pray.
The Heart of our Lady in Your Home
Not all of us will have the opportunity to go to Guadalupe or Fatima. Not all of us will be able to stand in awe after crossing the threshold into St. Mary Major. But all of us can meet our Lady in our own parishes and in our own homes.
Just as you can meet our Lady in St. Mary Major through the incredible artwork, mosaics, and statues, we can make our houses homes to meet our Lady as well. What sacred art do you have to remind yourself that our Lady is with you? Perhaps you need a reminder to reach out to Mary each day.
Why do we pray to Mary each day? So she can pray with us to her Son. She invites us into her home, her heart, to reveal something of her Son to us. Looking for a way to get started? Blessed is She has created two studies to help you go deeper in relationship with our Lady: Dive into her virtues here and the mysteries of the Rosary here.
In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, you can meet our Lady under several different titles, which all show us Mary’s faithful protection and motherly love. Thankfully, we can encounter her in other places than just a basilica in Rome. Today’s feast is about more than a building. It’s about a Mother who loves her children fiercely, and leads them to her Son.
Sr. Mary Claire of the Holy Family is a member of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) and currently serves in Corpus Christi, TX. She loves Jesus and Mary, and her students would say every Saint is her favorite. She graduated with a degree in elementary education and is currently working on a Masters in Theology from her Alma Mater, Franciscan University. A Tennessee girl who could live off Dr. Pepper and popcorn, she loves road trips, especially this one we are on to Heaven.
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