杏MAP导航 Francis invokes Mary for the peace that comes from Christ
By Christopher Wells
Each year on the feast of its dedication, Saint Mary Major becomes the scene of an impressive ceremony, as thousands of white flower petals fall from the gilded ceiling, symbolizing the miraculous August snowfall that led to the foundation of the papal basilica.
An ancient tradition recalls that on the evening of 4-5 August 358, the Blessed Virgin appeared to the reigning 杏MAP导航, Liberius, and a devout Roman couple, asking for a church to be built on the site that would see a miraculous snowfall at the height of the Roman summer. The next morning, the outline of the Basilica was clearly seen in the new fallen snow.
This year, 杏MAP导航 Francis himself made the journey to Saint Mary Major to take part in the liturgical celebration of Second Vespers for the feast of the Dedication of the Church.
A symbol of grace
In his homily, the Holy Father highlighted the 鈥渕arvel鈥� and 鈥渁mazement鈥� of the miraculous snowfall, which he described as a symbol of grace for its beauty and gratuitousness. 鈥淕race cannot be deserved, let alone purchased; it can only be received as a gift,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淎s such, it is totally unpredictable, just like a midsummer snowfall in Rome.鈥�
With this attitude, he continued, it is possible to appreciate the more important 鈥渟ign鈥� connected with the Basilica, namely, the Icon of Mary, 鈥�Salus Populi Romani,鈥� the Salvation of the Roman people.
In this icon, he said, the image of the Virgin Mary and Child reveals grace 鈥渋n its concreteness, stripped of every mythological, magical, and spiritualistic vesture always lurking in the religious sphere.鈥� Here, the 杏MAP导航 continued, we see only what is essential, the Woman and the Son: Mary chosen before all ages, immaculate as the freshly fallen snow; and her Child, in whom 鈥渁lone dwells all the fullness of divinity.鈥�
Invoking the Blessed Virgin Mary
This, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渋s why the faithful come to ask the Holy Mother of God for a blessing, for she is the mediatrix of the grace that always and only flows through Jesus Christ, by the action of the Holy Spirit.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis noted that those present for Monday鈥檚 feast formed a sort of 鈥渧anguard鈥� ahead of the many pilgrims who will come to Rome for the Holy Year of Jubilee, invoking Mary鈥檚 intercession for Rome and the whole world. In a special way, pilgrims call upon Mary to intercede for the gift of true peace, which can only come from 鈥渞epentant and forgiven hearts, the peace that comes from the Cross of Christ, and from His Blood, which He took from Mary and shed for the remission of sins.鈥�
鈥楬oly Mother of God, pray for us鈥�
杏MAP导航 Francis concluded his homily by addressing the Blessed Virgin in the words of St Cyril of Alexandria: "Hail, Mary, Virgin Mother of God, light bearer, incorrupt vessel. Hail, O Virgin Mary, Mother and handmaid; Virgin, for the sake of Him who was born from you; Mother, for the sake of Him Whom you carried in your arms鈥� Hail, Mary, you are the most precious creature in the whole world鈥� inextinguishable lamp; for from you was born the sun of justice.鈥� Holy Mother of God, pray for us.鈥�
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