Our Lady of the Snows

Our Lady of the Snows refers to the ancient Roman devotion connected with the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome, one of the most important Marian churches in the Catholic world. The title comes from a miraculous event said to have occurred in the 4th century during the pontificate of Pope Liberius, when the Virgin Mary indicated the site where she desired a church to be built in her honour.

According to tradition, Mary appeared in a dream to a wealthy Roman couple and to Pope Liberius, asking that a church be erected on a place that would be marked by snow. On the morning of August 5, an extraordinary snowfall covered the Esquiline Hill—an event unheard of in the heat of a Roman summer. The outline of the future basilica was traced in the snow, and construction soon began, giving rise to the title “Our Lady of the Snows.”

Today, the feast of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated on August 5, commemorating both the miracle and the dedication of Saint Mary Major. The basilica remains a powerful symbol of Mary’s maternal care and her closeness to the Church, reminding the faithful that God can work wonders even in the most unexpected ways.