Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena
Contents
Show HideThe Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica is a feast day that commemorates the dedication of an important basilica. St. Mary Major Basilica is in Rome. The feast of its dedication has been celebrated since the 1500s.
The feast of the Dedication of the St. Mary Major Basilica celebrates the dedication of the largest church in the world that honors God through honor of Mary. You can use this novena to honor Mary and ask for her intercession in your life!
About the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica
Around the middle of the fourth century, Pope Liberius had a basilica built. During this time, the basilica was often referred to as Basilica Liberi.
In 431 when Pope Sixtus III was pope, the First Council of Ephesus affirmed that it was fitting and right to refer to Mary as the Mother of God. After this occurred, Pope Sixtus had the basilica rebuilt. He dedicated it to Mary. The Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica celebrates the occasion of Pope Sixtus III renovating the basilica and dedicating it to Mary.
In the centuries since then and despite undergoing many renovations, the St. Mary Major Basilica has retained the character of an early Roman basilica. Three interior naves divided by colonnades show the architectural style of Constantine’s time. Even today, mosaics from the fifth century adorn the walls.
In 1568, Pope Pius V reformed the breviary after the Council of Trent. When he did this, he inserted the Feast of the Dedication of the St. Mary Major Basilica into the General Roman Calendar.
In 1604, Pope Clement VIII’s revision of the missal raised the celebration to a higher feast. In 1960, St. John XXIII revised the calendar and made the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica a Third-Class Feast.
Before 1969, the feast was known as the Dedication of the Church of Our Lady of the Snows because of a legend from before the year 1000. This legend holds that a wealthy couple decided to give their fortune to someone in honor of Our Lady.
A Roman man named John and his wife, who had no heirs, chose to give away all of their possessions in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They prayed, asking that Mary would let them know the best way to dispose of their possessions and money in her honor.
Legend says that Mary responded to their pledge on August 5th by causing a miraculous shower of snow to fall during the night at the top of Esquiline Hill. During this night, the couple also received a vision from Mary in which she told them to build a church where the snow fell.
For many years, this story was celebrated by the faithful at the end of the solemn Mass for the day on August 5th. Each year on August 5th, a shower of white rose petals was dropped from the dome of the basilica to remind people of the miracle of summer snowfall from Mary.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica’s Feast Day: August 5th
Why Pray the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena?
You can pray the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena in order to prepare yourself more deeply for the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica. You can also pray this novena if you are preparing to visit the St. Mary Major Basilica.
Since the St. Mary Major Basilica was dedicated in honor of Our Lady, you can also use this novena to honor Mary in your own life.
Additionally, you can pray the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena for someone you know who is trying to grow in devotion to Mary or who is preparing to visit the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
You can pray the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena for any intention!
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena Prayers
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 1
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, the St. Mary Major Basilica was dedicated in your honor. Your Son wishes us to honor you and to take you as our own mother. When we celebrate the dedication of your basilica, we can honor you and grow closer to your Son.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray for all pilgrims visiting your basilica!
Pray for us, that we may be eager to make use of every help God gives us for our salvation. Pray that we may grow in holiness at every opportunity in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 2
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, your Son has given you to us to be our mother also. He wishes us to honor you and love you as a means of advancing in holiness and love for Him. As our mother, you can bring all of our needs to your Son in a special way.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in devotion to you!
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to grow in holiness and virtue each day. Pray that we may serve God worthily in every circumstance.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 3
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, you can help us grow in holiness through your motherly care. In honoring you and bringing our needs to you, we are able to grow closer to Your Son. Jesus has given you to us as a mother so that we may come to love Him as you do.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in intimacy with Jesus!
Pray for us, that we may make our relationship with God our top priority in life. Pray that we may do whatever is necessary to advance in holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 4
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, your Son’s Church gives us many pious practices and devotions to help us grow in holiness. We can participate in many acts of piety to strengthen our faith and give honor to your Son.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in piety!
Pray for us, that we may devotedly make use of every help for salvation that your Son’s Church gives us. Pray that we may always do all we can to advance in holiness and virtue each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 5
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, the legend about the origins of your basilica tells us that a wealthy couple decided to put all their money into your service. Charitable works are an important part of holy living, and your motherly intercession can help us to advance in holiness through this practice.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in charity!
Pray for us, that we always serve God as He calls us to. Pray that we may truly strive to grow in the virtues that are necessary for holiness.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 6
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, the legend about the holy couple whose wealth built your basilica shows us an example of true detachment from material possessions. All material goods ultimately come from God, but we should always strive to view them with the detachment of holy poverty.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in holy poverty!
Pray for us, that we may always view our material possessions as blessings from God. Pray that we may embrace poverty in whatever forms it comes to us in our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 7
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, legend tells us that the wealthy couple who wished to give their wealth to you did not know how they should put their money to use. Though they did not know what to do, they prayed in faith to be shown how to use their money for your honor.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that all people may grow in faith and generosity!
Pray for us, that we may make growth in virtue and holiness our top priority in life. Pray that we may grow in love for your Son each day of our lives.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 8
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, your basilica was dedicated in your honor by Pope Sixtus III. He chose to do this after the First Council of Ephesus affirmed that it is fitting to refer to you as the Mother of God.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray that our Holy Father may be a holy and strong leader of your Son’s Church!
Pray for us, that we may always do all we can to serve God worthily in our lives. Pray that we may be eager to answer God’s call to serve Him however He might call us to.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica Novena - Day 9
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Lord God, we thank You for the many devotional practices You give us as we journey toward heaven with You. Guide us in making use of all the help You give us!
Dearest Mother, your Son has given you to us to be our mother in a special way. You watch over your Son’s Church with motherly care, and you do all you can to help each member of the Church to grow in holiness.
Please bring all of our petitions before the throne of your Son. And we particularly ask today that you pray for your Son’s Church!
Pray for us, that we may do all we can to serve God and His Church. Pray that we may be eager to put ourselves at the service of God, no matter what He might ask of us.
And we especially ask in this novena for (mention your intentions here).
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for us!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.