Basilica of Mary Major

Deuteronomy 4:32-40; Psalm 77 I remember the deeds of the Lord; Matthew 16:24-28

Today we commemorate the dedication of Saint Mary Major, one of the four major basilicas in the Eternal City, Rome: St. Peter's, St. Paul outside the walls, St. John Lateran, and St. Mary Major (Maggiore).

This is the oldest church dedicated to the honor Mary's divine motherhood as taught at the council of Ephesus, Mary is the mother of God (Jesus is both God and man).

As the St. Cyril of Alexandria put it, In Mary, the "servant is asked to become his mother." The creature is elevated by the grace of giving birth to open from whom all things were created, Jesus himself, both human and divine.

The servant is asked to become His mother...What a thought for today. How humble is our God who lets his creatures partake in the mystery of salvation. God does not save us with out us.

IS this not what charity is about. It is greater charity to let others participate in charity, to let others also participate in giving.

Even God doesn't do things by himself. He lets his humble creatures participate so that the mystery of redemption can unfold.

How often do we want to do things by ourselves? How often have told people that we do not what someone else's charity?

But in the end , is this not what we celebrate? We have received someone else's charity. We have been allowed to share in the charity of salvation offered in Christ, not as a mere spectator but as a full participant as the Mary becomes the Blessed Mother of our Lord and Savior.

Mary when she says yes, steps in to the batters box and swings away. She fully and actively particpates in salvation history. We too are called to swing away. We cannot be spectators in the life of grace.

What honor we have received from God. Mary is the model of how to live a life of faith. This is why this Basilica is so important.

CLick here for a virtual tour of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. What a beautiful sight to behold!


In the words of Moses from today's reading, "Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of?..."


The gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary as mother of God is truly more amazing then anything that has ever gone before!


Words from Pope Benedict

"Mary's Motherhood, which began with her "fiat" in Nazareth, is fulfilled at the foot of the Cross. ALthough it is true-as St. Anselm says-that 'from the moment of her fiat Mary began to carry all of us in her womb'..."

As the mother of Christ, she is our mother also. Oh! What a beautiful mother she is!