The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilicas of Rome, is named to show its superiority over all other churches in the world dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. Its name is linked to the ancient tradition of the Madonna della Neve.
The first basilica was built in the 4th century during the pontificate of Liberius (352-366).. According to an ancient tradition, it was directly inspired by the Virgin. It is said that a Roman patrician named Giovanni, unable to have children with his wife, promised to donate his wealth to build a church dedicated to Mary. On the night between 4 and 5 August, the Madonna appeared to the men in a dream, declaring a miracle to show them the exact place where the church would be built. In the morning, the two men went to Liberia, they saw that the pope had the same dream. Together they went to the Esquiline, which was cleared by a summer snow: the pontiff explored the perimeter of the basilica that would come to the snow, the construction of which was financed with the goods donated by John. Thus arose the so-called Sancta Maria ad Nivesknown as Basilica Liberia.
The memory of this first building is mentioned in two parts of the Liber Pontificalis: the first in Pope Liberius, where it is said fecet basilicam nomini suo iuxta macellum Liviae (that is, close to the «slaughter house of Livia»), and the other on the Pope Sixtus III, where the work of his predecessor is remembered (Hic decisit basilicam sanctae Mariae, quae ab antiquis I let myself go surnamebatur…).
Sixtus III (432-440) He was elected to the papal throne one year after the Council of Ephesus, where the words of Mary’s mother were clearly explained. The basilica was restored and enlarged, with a special dedication to the Virgin and her “new home”, which is shown in a document (Virgo Maria, Xystus nova tecta dictavi). He also has a “grotto of the Nativity” which he recreated in memory of the grave in Bethlehem; In this matter, it should be remembered that the church has preserved in some stories of the animal husbandry, where Jesus was born, and the pieces of wood of the Sacred Bed. Hence the other name of Sancta Maria ad Praesepem.
Other pontiffs and the devotion of the saints He has helped over the centuries to enhance and preserve the beauty of Santa Maria Maggiore. There is also the famous icon named Salus populi romani (“Salvation of the Roman people”), showing the Madonna with the Child Jesus, an image attributed to the hand of Saint Luke. Who can take him to Italy? A clue can be found in the Roman Pontifical: “Pope Liberius chose a venerable image placed on the pontifical counsel. It may have been brought to Rome by Saint Helena, mother of Constantine, in the 4th century.”
On August 5 of each year, in Santa Maria Maggiore, the miracle of the Madonna della Neve is commemorated. with a shower of white roses, which fell from the dome during the liturgical celebration.