St. Mary Major: Rome’s Ancient Marian Heart – Aug 05 – Homily – Fr Michael

 

Fr. Michael M. Gauvreau, FI gives the homily, on how the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the "Bethlehem of the West," is a profoundly significant Marian pilgrimage site, miraculously founded, housing the Holy Manger, and venerating Mary as Mother of God and our spiritual mother.

Fr. Michael celebrates the dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a site of profound Marian devotion and historical significance. The Franciscans of the Immaculate served there, and St. Francis himself was inspired to create the Greccio creche after visiting, as the basilica houses the ancient relic of Jesus' manger, earning it the title "Bethlehem of the West." It is the oldest church in the West dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, specifically as Mother of God, a title proclaimed at the Council of Ephesus to affirm Christ's dual nature and Mary's spiritual maternity. The basilica's origin is miraculous: in 358, Pope Liberius and a Roman nobleman had a shared dream where Mary indicated that snow would fall in Rome to mark the building site. This miracle led to its foundation. St. Mary Major has been a vital pilgrimage destination for centuries, attracting saints, crusaders, and countless faithful. It preserves ancient mosaics depicting Christ's infancy and Mary as Mother of God, and houses the revered icon of Salus Populi Romani, traditionally attributed to St. Luke. Known as the "Marian Heart of the Catholic Church," it remains a powerful place to honor Mary and seek her intercession on our earthly pilgrimage.

Denzinger – Word's nature unchanged yet united with full human nature in Christ – https://airmaria.com/go/3GxrPe
Pope John Paul II 2004 – Humble Mary conceived the world's Creator as Mother of God – https://airmaria.com/go/BsSkx9
Luke 1:43 – Elizabeth proclaims Mary Mother of Lord – https://airmaria.com/go/zHPX8Z
CCC 495 – Mary truly Mother of God (Theotokos) – https://airmaria.com/go/f5Aedg
Luke 2:7 – Jesus born, laid in a manger – https://airmaria.com/go/RZn9cv
CCC 461 – The Word became flesh, true God – https://airmaria.com/go/8GPcSY
CCC 971 – Mary's intercession brings us to Christ – https://airmaria.com/go/JHBt2e

00:00 - Introduction to St. Mary Major
00:29 - St. Francis, the Nativity, and the Holy Manger
02:15 - Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos)
03:33 - The Miraculous Origin of the Basilica
04:59 - A Place of Pilgrimage and Enduring History
06:35 - Treasures and Icons of St. Mary Major
08:04 - The Marian Heart of the Church
08:38 - Our Call to Honor Our Spiritual Mother

Ave Maria!

Mass: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major - Opt Mem - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_di_Santa_Maria_Maggiore
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/080526.cfm
1st: Revelation 21:1-5 - New Heaven and the New Earth
Resp: Judith 13:1, 8, 19 - Beheading of Holofernes
Gsp: Luke 11:27-28 - True Blessedness

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1124

Also on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbpU1tW_uHU