Snow in August!?
Marking the snowfall and the future site of the Basilica (Masolino da Panicale, 1423) No, not quite snow though the weather has changed from the heatwave we had two weeks ago! On August the 5th we celebrate the liturgical memorial (optional in many countries) of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The feastday is also known as the feast of our Lady of the Snow or Santa Maria ad Nives, or 'at the snow', from a popular tradition that the Mother of God chose this place for a church under her invocation by a miraculous snow that fell upon this spot in summer. A wealthy Roman couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God. In affirmation, she produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site. The Basilica of St. Mary Major is a basilica that I know very well. During novitiate I had my apostolic experience in our community there which serves among other things the Liturgical Apostolate Centre which used to be on Via Liberiana, r...