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Skriven 2005-07-23 11:04:20 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

ST. MARY MAJOR TO CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE OF THE SNOWFALL

VATICAN CITY, JUL 22, 2005 (VIS) - The Basilica of St. Mary Major will hold its
traditional triduum from August 1 to 3 and two days of celebration on August 4
and 5, in commemoration of the miracle of the snowfall that occurred during the
night of August 4-5 in the year 358 on the site where the basilica now stands.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to two faithful
Roman Christians, the patrician John and his wife, as well as to Pope Liberius
(352-366), asking that a church be built in her honor on the site where snow
would fall on the night of August 4-5. Pope Liberius traced the outlines of the
church in the snow and the first basilica was built on that site. It was
completed about a century later by Pope Sixtus III (432-440), after the Council
of Ephesus in 431 during which Mary was declared to be the Mother of God.

During the triduum, or three days of preparation for the feast, there will be a
daily recitation of the Rosary and meditation on its mysteries. The author of
the meditations is Fr. Gabriele Caranta, rector of the Shrine of St. Mary of
the Gold in Terni, Italy. The Masses, one on each day of the triduum, will be
celebrated by: Cardinal Sergio Sebastiani, president of the Prefecture for
Economic Affairs of the Holy See, Archbishop Paolo Romeo, apostolic nuncio to
Italy, and Cardinal Agostino Cacciavillan, president emeritus of the
Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See.

The feast of August 4 will begin with the recitation of the Rosary, followed by
vespers presided by Cardinal Bernard Law, archpriest of the basilica, and Mass
celebrated by Bishop Domenico Sigalini of Palestrina, Italy.

The morning of August 5 will open with the recitation of the Liturgy of the
Hours, after which Cardinal Law will preside at the pontifical Mass. The
afternoon's celebrations include the recitation of the Rosary, second vespers
presided by Cardinal Law, and Mass celebrated by Bishop Lorenzo Chiarinelli of
Viterbo, Italy.

During the pontifical Mass and the second vespers, the traditional shower of
flower petals will descend from the ceiling of the basilica to commemorate the
August snowfall in 358.
.../FEAST OF SNOWFALL/ST MARY MAJOR VIS 050722 (390)

SUMMARY

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