Dear Friend,



During the August 5th Pontifical High Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Cardinal Burke gave a glorious homily on the history of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome – Our Lady of the Snow, explaining the miraculous falling of snow sent by Our Lady, that took place in August of 352. 



Cardinal Burke stated:



“A miraculous snow fell upon the Esquiline Hill during the intense heat of August in Rome, and Our Lady appeared to the patrician John and his wife, and to Pope Liberius, indicating that the snow fall marked the place in which she desired the church to be built in honor of the mystery of God’s grace at work in her for the salvation of the world.”



“On account of the miraculous fall of snow, the anniversary of the dedication is celebrated by a yearly solemnity."[2]



“The wonderful legend stirs up in our hearts profound joy and peace at the mystery of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the related mysteries of her Immaculate Conception, her Perpetual Virginity, her Assumption, and her Maternity of Divine Grace. By God’s will and grace, the Blessed Virgin Mary cooperates fully in the saving work of her Divine Son. We are so immeasurably blessed to have her as our Mother, the Mother of Divine Grace, who never fails in doing God’s will and is ever ready to assist us in doing what God asks us, especially in times of trial and temptation.”







Rome recreates a miracle snowfall every August.



His Eminence then explained how the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe are spiritually bonded.



“The celebration in the Shrine Church here is filled with special joy and peace because the Shrine Church, since May of 2011, enjoys a particular public spiritual bond with the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, so that the faithful who come on pilgrimage to the Shrine Church today, the Feast of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows, can obtain a plenary indulgence. From the very construction of the Shrine Church, its affinity with the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major has been beautifully expressed by the high altar with its baldacchino, modelled after the high altar and baldacchino of Saint Mary Major.”



Next, Cardinal Burke spoke about the Gospel and the Mother of God. Here is a beautiful excerpt:



“The Virgin Mother of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, draws us to her Immaculate Heart, so that she may manifest to us the Divine Mercy incarnate in God the Son, her Son, so that she may lead us to place our hearts totally and forever in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The snow associated with the building of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major is a symbol of the purity of her Immaculate Heart and an inspiration for us to seek in the Sacred Heart of Jesus the purification of our hearts from all sin and the fortification of our hearts to follow Christ faithfully in all that we think and say and do. In His Heart, we are one with the Immaculate Heart of Mary in hearing the Word of God and in keeping it in our daily living with all our heart.”



It is well worth reading the entire homily, which can be found here <[link removed]>.



May Mary, the Mother of God, transform our hearts and bestow many graces upon us.



Yours in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,







Thomas McKenna



Founder and President



Catholic Action For Faith And Family

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