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Subject: The Interior Life,  Meditation: (3)
From: Rich <richarra@gmail.com>
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The Interior Life,  Meditation: (3)

   When Christ was in the world, He was despised by men; in the hour
of need He was forsaken by acquaintances and left by friends to the
depths of scorn. He was willing to suffer and to be despised; do you
dare to complain of anything? He had enemies and defamers; do you want
everyone to be your friend, your benefactor? How can your patience be
rewarded if no adversity test it? How can you be a friend of Christ if
you are not willing to suffer any hardship? Suffer with Christ and for
Christ if you wish to reign with Him.
--Thomas =C3=A0 Kempis --Imitation of Christ Book 2, Chapter 1

<<>><<>><<>>
August 5th - The Dedication of St. Mary Ad Nives
by Father Francis Xavier Weninger, 1876

The Catholic Church celebrates today the annual feast of the
dedication of a very remarkable church at Rome, called St. Mary Ad
Nives--" St. Mary of the Snow," or " St. Mary Major." The origin of
this church is as follows: In the middle of the fourth century, at the
time of Pope Liberius, there resided at Rome a nobleman named John.
Although rich in temporal goods, he was still wealthier in those which
are not of this world, and his wife was his equal in birth, riches and
virtue. They had been married many years without having been blessed
with children, although they had often prayed to God for them. At
last, they resigned themselves to the will of Providence, and resolved
to employ all their wealth in honor of the Blessed Virgin, and make
her heir to it, as they had always entertained great devotion for her.
They were, as yet, uncertain as to the manner in which they should
carry out their intention. They both sought refuge in prayer and alms,
begging the Blessed Virgin to teach them how they might best
appropriate their possessions to her honor.

Mary, the Divine Mother, deigned to make her wishes known to them.
Appearing to them both in the night, she told them to go, on the
following day, which was the fifth of this month, to the Aesquiline
mount, in Rome, and to build a church in her honor on the spot which
they would find covered with snow. This, she added, would be more
agreeable to her than anything else they could do. When they awoke
next morning and told each other their dream or rather their vision,
they were filled with inexpressible joy, and immediately repaired to
Pope Liberius to hear his opinion on the subject. As the Pope had had
the same vision the same night, there was no longer reason to doubt
the truth of the revelation. Assembling the clergy and people without
delay, the Pontiff formed a procession to go to the appointed spot.

When they arrived there, they saw, in truth, a place large enough for
a church, covered with snow. All were greatly surprised at this, which
they could not but consider a miracle, since it was in the midst of
summer, on the fifth of August, when neither in Rome nor within many
miles of it, any snow could naturally have fallen. The pious couple
drew from this fact the greatest comfort, as it was an indication that
the Almighty and the Blessed Virgin were pleased with their intention.
Therefore, hesitating no longer, they forthwith made all the necessary
preparations for building a magnificent temple. The building was begun
and very soon completed. All that was needed for its erection, as well
as for its maintenance, was joyfully furnished. Pope Liberius most
solemnly consecrated the new temple; and all the faithful went to it
to venerate the Queen of Heaven. At first, this church was called the
Basilica, signifying a palace, or the Liberian Basilica, on account of
its royal magnificence. It was also called St. Mary ad Nives, for the
reason mentioned above. Today it is known as the St. Mary Major, or
the Great, as it is the greatest of all the churches of Rome built in
honor of the Blessed Virgin, on account of its origin, magnificence
and rich endowment. It is also called St. Mary ad Praesepe--St. Mary
of the Manger--because in one of its chapels, the crib or manger, in
which the new-born Saviour was placed by His virgin mother, is kept.

Pope Gregory the Great, in 509, formed and led the great precession,
celebrated in the annals of the church, to implore God, through the
intercession of Mary, to avert the dreadful pestilence which ravaged
Rome. Its fury somewhat abated, but as it was still in the city, the
Pope, in the following year, formed a second precession, headed by the
picture of the Blessed Virgin painted by St. Luke, which is kept in
the church of St. Mary ad Nives. During the procession, the pestilence
left all those houses by which the picture passed, until, at last,
when the faithful dispersed, the whole city was free from the terrible
scourge. Another miraculous event occurred during the procession,
which must not be omitted. Angels were heard singing: "Rejoice, O
Queen of Heaven, Alleluia. He whom thou didst deserve to bear,
Alleluia! is risen as He said, Alleluia!" The holy Pope, prostrating
himself with all the people, finished the angels' hymn of praise with
the words: "Pray for us to God, Alleluia!" When the procession had
reached the Mausoleum, or tomb of the Emperor Adrian, the Pope saw
upon its summit an angel sheathing his sword, as a sign that the wrath
of the Almighty was appeased by the intercession of Mary, and that the
pestilence which had so long ravaged the city, would disappear. The
rejoicing of the people, and the devotion which was from that time
shown to the miraculous picture of the Blessed Virgin, cannot be
worthily described.


PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Those who are not Catholics and who blame us for our veneration of the
Queen of Heaven and for the churches built in her honor, may see by
the origin of the church of St. Mary ad Nives, how ancient this pious
practice is, and how agreeable to God. The building of this celebrated
church took place in the fourth century, at a time when Protestants
themselves say that the Catholic Church was still the true Church of
God. Even at that remote period, Mary was venerated and churches were
built in her honor. The church approved of it, and God confirmed it by
special miracles. Who dares say that the Church of Christ erred, and
that God Himself confirmed that error by a miracle? Even in countries
where the population has ceased to be Catholics, we find ancient
churches which were built in honor of the Blessed Virgin. Surely, if
all Catholics were silent on the subject, the very stones of these
sacred edifices would prove the devotion of the early ages to the
Divine Mother. Would any one dare to accuse the pious Christians, who
built these churches, of having erred? This would be no less foolish
than arrogant. Why then do they oppose the church of ancient date? My
Catholic reader, take my advice. Let no one disconcert you in your
devotion to the Queen of Heaven, and never become cold in her service.

Saint Quote:
It is not in human nature to deceive others for any long time, without
in a measure deceiving ourselves also.
--St. John Henry Cardinal Newman

Bible Quote:
Happy indeed the man whom God corrects! So do not refuse this lesson
from the Omnipotent: for he who wounds is he who soothes the sore, and
the hand that hurts is the hand that heals.  (Job 5:17-18)


<><><><>
O Most Holy God

O most Holy God, I adore Thee, through the Adorable
Sacrament of the Altar, and I offer Thee, through the holy
hands of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, all the consecrated
Hosts on our Altars as a sacrifice of expiation, reparation,
and atonement for all the sacrileges, profanations,
impieties, blasphemies, and crimes committed against
Thee throughout the universe. - Amen.