St. John Cantius Parish

Station - St. Mary Major

Details:

Mar. 4, 2:00 am

WEDNESDAY IN THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT
STATION – ST. MARY MAJOR

On the Esquiline Hill, not far from St. Peter in Chains, towers the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

Grandiose both in its exterior, and in its interior, the Basilica was erected by Pope Sixtus III (432-440), one year after the proclamation by the Council of Ephesus of the dogma of Mary Mother of God. Before being called St. Mary Major, the ancient Romans had called the Basilica Liberii (back to Pope Liberius 352-366). In August 352 Pope Liberius experienced a vision of Our Lady, and it was she who traced out the dimensions of this church. Pope Liberus then saw with his own eyes the area of land covered in snow on which the church was to be built.

This Basilica also contains the revered image of the Madonna of St. Luke, called Salus Populi Romani. How have I kept the first eight days of Lent? Surely, as “the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai” and upon Moses, so the “right hand of His Majesty” was extended over us during the past week.

Let us pray: Graciously look down, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon the devotion of Thy people, that they who are mortified in body by abstinence, may be refreshed in mind through the fruit of good works. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.