Scripture: Jeremiah 26:11-16. Psalm 69:15-16,30-31, 33-34. Matthew 14:1-12 Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Major in Rome The beautiful basilica on the Esquiline Hill in Rome is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of the Lord. In the plaza there is a beautiful statue of Mary upon a high pillar. It gives a feeling of peace for the whole area and leads one into the marvels of the basilica. While studying Scripture in Rome and at other visits during Chapters, I was able to visit this basilica. I especially liked the Mary Chapel to the left of the entrance near the main altar and sanctuary. Besides acting as an Adoration Chapel to the presence of Jesus, it also contains the famous painting from Byzantine times called Salus Populorum Romanorum...The Salvation of the Roman People. In Tradition it is said to have been painted by Luke. Let us say the Byzantine artist who painted it was inspired by the Gospel of Luke in his iconic like depiction of Mary. The tomb of St. Jerome is also found in this basilica as well as a tradition about a relic of the crib where Jesus was born. In such large basilicas we have a little bit of everything for everybody! For this day, only the prayers are characteristic to the feast. They are from the Missal and are general in tone in their remembering Mary. I found them helpful in appreciating the dedication of this first basilica in the West to Mary. Pope Sixtus III is said to have experienced snow on Aug. 5 and though this is the hottest month in the year in Rome, he was able to trace his footsteps in the snow on the Esquiline Hill, one of seven hills in Rome. As I read from Jeremiah and then from the Gospel I was led to think of the martyrdom of John the Baptist and also of the Benedictus or prayerful hymn that is used for Morning Prayer and is attributed by St. Luke to the father of John the Baptist, Zachariah. The narrative of the Gospel made me realize that John was truly a martyr that is a witness to the Messiah; his father's hymn extols the fact that his child will be the precursor to the Messiah. In this hymn the original Greek helped me to see it as soteriological in its content, that is, it points to the salvation of God that will be brought about by a personal Messiah (Jesus). It made me return to Mary for she is the only woman in the history of humankind that has maintained the reputation of being the mother of the Messiah for those who believe in Jesus. She, of course, is the inspiration behind the Feast of the Dedication of St. Mary Maggiore in Rome. I especially recalled one month of living at our school nearby called Collegio Santa Maria...I could easily make it to the basilica of Mary within a half hour of walking. May the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all PLACES through the Immaculate Virgin Mary. Amen.