Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint of the day for August 5

The history of the dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
First raised by order of Pope Liberius in the mid-431th century, the Liberian basilica was rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III shortly after the Council of Ephesus affirmed the title of Mary as Mother of God in XNUMX. Residing at that time to the Mother of God, Santa Maria Maggiore is the largest church in the world honoring God through Mary. Standing on one of the seven hills of Rome, the Esquiline, it has survived numerous restorations without losing its character as an ancient Roman basilica. Its interior retains three naves divided by colonnades in the style of the Constantine era. The XNUMXth century mosaics on the walls testify to its antiquity.

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four Roman basilicas known as patriarchal cathedrals in memory of the first centers of the Church. San Giovanni in Laterano represents Rome, the See of Peter; San Paolo fuori le mura, the seat of Alexandria, presumably the seat presided over by Marco; San Pietro, seat of Constantinople; and St. Mary's, the seat of Antioch, where Mary was to spend most of her later life.

A legend, not reported before the year 1000, gives another name to this festival: Our Lady of the Snows. According to that story, a wealthy Roman couple promised their fortune to the Mother of God. In claim, it produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site. The legend has long been celebrated by releasing a shower of white rose petals from the basilica's dome every 5th August.

Reflection
The theological debate on the nature of Christ as God and man reached fever pitch in Constantinople in the early XNUMXth century. Bishop Nestorius' chaplain began preaching against the title Theotokos, "Mother of God", insisting that the Virgin was only the mother of the human Jesus. Nestorius accepted, decreeing that from now on Mary would be named "Mother of Christ" in her see. The people of Constantinople virtually rebelled against their bishop's refutation of a cherished belief. When the Council of Ephesus refuted Nestorius, the believers took to the streets, enthusiastically chanting: “Theotokos! Theotokos! "