This is how the traditional snow miracle occurred today in the Basilica Santa María la Mayor

Every August 5, thousands of white rose petals cover the interior of the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome to commemorate the “Miracle of the Snow”, an extraordinary event that occurred in that same place more than sixteen hundred years ago.

Snow in August?

On the night of August 4 to 5, 358 in Rome, the Virgin Mary appeared in dreams to Pope Liberius and also to a Roman patrician named John. They both dreamed that the Virgin asked them to build a church in her honor in the place that she would indicate through a miraculous event.

Despite the high summer temperatures of the Eternal City, in the early morning of August 5 of that year it miraculously snowed on the Esquilino Hill. A decade later, a first temple dedicated to the Virgin Mary was erected in that precise place.

Later, in the year 431, Pope Sixtus III built the church that we know today as the Basilica of Santa María Maggiore, dedicated to the Virgin of the Snows. This is the reason why Santa Maria Maggiore It is also called Liberian Basilica or ad Nives.

Rain of white petals

In memory of what happened, every year this miracle is remembered with a beautiful tradition. During the morning mass, at the moment of the Gloria, a trapdoor located on the roof of the temple opens from which white petals rain down.

Pope Francis participates in Vespers for the first time

In addition to the Holy Mass at 10:00 (local time) presided over by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Archpriest of the Basilica, Vespers will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m., which for the first time in his Pontificate will be attended by Pope Francis.

It should be remembered that this basilica has a special meaning for Pope Francis, since he visited it early in the morning of the first day of his pontificate, on March 14, 2013, to entrust his ministry to the Mother of God before the icon. of Mary Salvation of the Roman PeopleProtector of the Roman People.

Since then, every time he undertakes a trip outside of Rome, the Pontiff goes to Her before and after to pray and give thanks for the fruits of it.

Furthermore, the Holy Father stated a few months ago that wants to be buried in this basilica for a promise he made to the Virgin Mary and that, in fact, “the place is already prepared.”

After Vespers this afternoon, at 7:00 p.m., Bishop Emilio Nappa, President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, will close this festivity with the celebration of a last Mass.