OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS /THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS ROME 352 AD

Our Lady of the Snows, Immaculate Queen of the Universe, from this privileged sanctuary, Thou has bestowed so many countless graces and pledges of love upon the hearts and souls of millions. O Mother, from this cradle of Christianity, this Mother Church of all churches, deign to shower forth the graces of thine Immaculate Heart upon the remnant Faithful throughout the world, wherever they may be, and grant them the graces of a childlike love and unwavering fidelity to the holy truths of our Faith. Grant, good Mother, to the faithful Bishops of the Church the grace to defend Her Sacred Teachings, and to persevere courageously against all the enemies of the Holy Church. Amen.

Novena to Our Lady of Snows(OLS)

O Holy Mary, Our Lady of Snow, Virgin Mary.. Chosen by god as our holy mother…Mother who comforts the people come with sorrows…

On belief of your son’s holy power, and your prayer to our god, please grant the things we asked daily… if it is acceptable to you. Please pray to god for us and get it for us. If my requisition is against the wish of our god, what ever necessary to me, please get that for me.

(Here you ask the things you wish)

O Holy Mary, Mother of God, you were so humble when St.Gabriel praise you as blessed amongst the women. With the same humbleness I praise you.. Please accept my praising.

(say 9 times hail mary…)

O Mary, helping hand of needy people, I dedicate my good work and prayers to you to accept my prayers and grant me the things I wish. Please pray to your son our god, for me, and grant the things I asked to you.

Amen. 

THE MIRACLE OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS 

The Story of Our Lady of the Snows

Around the year 325A.D., there was an elderly couple living ordinary lives near the city of Rome. They began having a dream which repeated itself several times: a beautiful woman, whom they believed was the Blessed Mother, kept appearing to them.

They decided to seek out the Bishop of Rome to help them discern the meaning of the dream. The Pope recommended that they wait: if it were a genuine appearance of the Mother of God, and unmistakable sign would be given. 

To everyone's surprise, on August 6th, snow began falling on the Esquiline Hill of Rome. The miracle of the snows was interpreted as God Himself affirming the Council of Ephesus which had declared belief in Mary as the "Theotokos", a Greek word wich means "Mother of God". A basilica called "Saint Mary Major" was built by Pope Liberius (352-366) and was dedicated on August 5, 451. It is called "Major" because it is the first church in the West build in honor of Mary. 

Improbable as it is for snow to fall during August, history tells of a snowfall that seemed more impossible, namely in Rome, Italy. August 5, 352, snow fell during the night in Rome.

There lived in the Eternal City a nobleman, John and his childless wife, who had been blessed with much of this world’s goods. They chose the Mother of God as the heir to their fortune, and at the suggestion of Pope Liberius, prayed that she might make known to them how to do this by a particular sign.

In answer, the Virgin Mother during the night of August 5, appeared to John and his wife and also to the Holy Father, Pope Liberius, directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of the Esquiline Hill. And what would be the sign that John and his wife had requested?

“Snow will cover the crest of the hill.”

Snow rarely falls in Rome, but the flakes fell silently during that night, blanketing the peak of the historic hill. In the morning the news quickly spread and crowds gathered to throng up the hill and behold the white splendor. The snow had fallen in a particular pattern, showing the outline of the future church. When it became known that the snow was a sign from Mary, the people spontaneously added another to her long list of titles, Our Lady of the Snows.