According to legend, on the night between 4 and 5 August 358 AD, the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared in a dream to Pope Liberius and the patrician Giovanni, asking them to build a church on the site she would indicate. Upon waking, the Pope and the patrician are said to have found the Esquiline Hill covered in an unexpected white blanket, in the middle of August: Liberius is said to have traced the outline of the new basilica in the snow, which was subsequently built thanks to funding from Giovanni.
In today’s Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the miracle of the prodigious snowfall and the dedication of the church are still commemorated and celebrated every year on 5 August, attracting large numbers of worshippers, local residents and tourists. The festivities will begin with the traditional preparatory Triduum, taking place from 2 to 4 August. The celebrations will culminate on 5 August with a re-enactment of the miracle: during the Pontifical Mass at 10.00 am, at the singing of the Gloria, a suggestive snowfall of white rose petals will fall from a ceiling compartment of the Basilica. The re-enactment will be repeated during the chanting of Second Vespers at 5.30 pm, this time at the singing of the Magnificat.
Further information is available on the official website.
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Da sabato 2 agosto a martedì 5 agosto 2026Durante il Pontificale delle ore 10.00, al canto del Gloria, una suggestiva nevicata di petali di rosa bianchi, che cadranno da un cassettone del soffitto della Basilica, rinnova liturgicamente il ricordo del miracolo della neve. La rievocazione si ripete anche durante il Canto dei Secondi Vespri delle ore 17.30, questa volta al canto del Magnificat.
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