Saint Mary Major!

Today we celebrate the feast of one of the four major basilicas, Saint Mary Major in Rome. The other basilicas being: Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Peter's. I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful basilica in 1996 during my visit to Rome with seminary classmates. The highlight that I remember is the confessio below the main altar where there is a glass casket behind glass that contains pieces of lumber that tradition holds are from the manger. It was during the Council of Ephesus in 431 where the mother of Jesus was proclaimed as Mother of God. Pope Sixtus III erected a basilica dedicated to the honor of the holy Mother of God. It was given the title "Saint Mary Major" and is the oldest church in the West dedicated to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Magnificat, 74). We thank God for the gift of our Blessed Mother. He called her to be the only mother of His son and she accepted by telling the archangel Gabriel, "Be it done to me according to your word." We pray that we will always be open to the will of God in our lives and look to our Blessed Mother for her example and intercession! God Bless!!!