HISTORY OF OUR NAME,
"OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS"

Rome, Italy- 352 A.D.

A nobleman and his wife were blessed with wealth but were not able to have children. They chose to leave their wealth to the Mother of God. They prayed to the Blessed Mother to make known some method or means to give their wealth to her. They even asked for some sign that they might be certain that she heard their prayers.

In answer, during the night of August 5, Mary appeared to John and his wife and also to Pope Liberius, directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of the Esquiline Hill. Snow would cover the crest of the hill.

The flakes fell silently during the night, blanketing the peak of this historic hill. SNOW IN AUGUST AND IN ROME! When it became known that the snow was a sign from Mary, the people called Mary, "Our Lady of the Snows".

John and his wife built the church and it was chiefly known as the "Basilica of Liberius". It was also called "Our Lady of the Snows".

In order to distinguish it from the many other churches in Rome dedicated to the Mother of God, they finally decided to call the church, "St. Mary Major". This was to be the greatest of the temples of God under patronage of Mary.