Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Snow

A brief explanation of the patronage of 'MARY OF THE SNOW', which is not often encountered: This takes us far back in church history to the fourth or fifth century, and geographically speaking, from Piedmont to Rome. On August 5, 363, at the site where the church of Santa Maria Maggiore stands today, the so-called "Miracle of the Snow" occurred. That is, on that day, in the middle of summer, snow lay on the ground that morning because Our Lady wanted a church dedicated to her to be built on that spot. She expressed this wish in a vision to a wealthy couple – who financed the construction – and to the Bishop of Rome, Pope Liberius. The Roman church has the rank of a patriarchal basilica (papal basilica); it is the origin of all churches and chapels with this patronage. In the liturgical calendar of the Catholic Church, the date 5 August, the day of the consecration of the Church (Anno Domini 432 by Pope Sixtus III), is a “non-obligatory memorial day”.

peace with cobblestones and fountain