Our Lady of The Snow

Biography

Our Lady of the Snow, also known as Dedicatio Sanctæ Mariæ ad Nives, Santa Maria Maggiore, Madonna della Neve, and Maria SS. Ausiliatrice, is a Catholic feast that commemorates the dedication of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore on the Esquiline Hill in Rome, Italy. The church was originally constructed by Pope Liberius and was known as the Basilica Liberii or Liberiana. However, it was later restored by Pope Sixtus III, who dedicated it to the Virgin Mary. Since then, the church has been referred to as Basilica S. Mariæ or Mariæ Majoris. The appellation "ad Nives" (of the snow) emerged a few hundred years later, along with a legendary account that associated snowfall with the origin of this name. According to the legend, during Pope Liberius' pontificate, a Roman patrician named John and his wife, who were childless, vowed to donate their possessions to Our Lady. They asked for a sign to guide them on how to dispose of their property in her honor. On the night of August 5th, snow miraculously fell on the Esquiline Hill. In accordance with a vision they had that same night, the couple built a basilica in honor of Our Lady on the snow-covered spot. It is important to note, however, that no contemporary records or sources mention this alleged miracle until several centuries later, indicating that the legend lacks historical basis. Initially, the feast of Our Lady of the Snow was only celebrated at Santa Maria Maggiore. However, in the fourteenth century, it was extended to all the churches in Rome and eventually became a universal feast under Pope Pius V. Pope Clement VIII later elevated it from a feast of double rite to a double major feast. The Mass celebrated on this feast day follows the common liturgy for feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Additionally, the Office, with the exception of the second Nocturn, is the common Office of the Blessed Virgin. The second Nocturn recounts the legend associated with the snowfall miracle. It is worth mentioning that the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, instituted by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741, suggested removing the reading of the legend from the Office. They also proposed restoring the feast to its original name, "Dedicatio Sanctæ Mariæ" (Dedication to Saint Mary). Our Lady of the Snow is considered the patroness of Italy, the diocese of Reno in Nevada, several cities in Italy (Arzachena, Atella, Castiglione in Teverina, Conco, Rovereto, San Marco in Lamis, Susa, and Torre Annunziata), as well as Buenos Aires in Argentina, Almagro in Spain, and Utah in the United States. In summary, Our Lady of the Snow is a feast in the Catholic Church that commemorates the dedication of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Although the legend surrounding the feast and the miraculous snowfall lacks historical evidence, the devotion to Our Lady of the Snow remains an important part of Catholic tradition.