Our Lady of the Snows

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. This is, in my opinion, the most beautiful building I've ever been in.

This feast commemorates the miracle of the snowfall that occurred during the night of August 4-5 in the year 358 on the site where the basilica now stands. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to two faithful Roman Christians, the patrician John and his wife, as well as to Pope Liberius (352-366), asking that a church be built in her honor on the site where snow would fall on the night of August 4-5. Pope Liberius traced the outlines of the church in the snow and the first basilica was built on that site. (Source)

There's even a tiny little mosaic on the walls of the Pope with a snow shovel, if you know where to look.

So here's what it looks like if you decorate a church for fifteen hundred years without ceasing:

(click the images for larger pictures)

	Santa Maria Maggiore side chapel This is one of several side chapels at the fantabulous Santa Maria Maggiore
	Santa Maria Maggiore high altar This is the high altar. The canopy is roughly two stories tall. The apse mosaics date to the IVth or Vth century; the ones in front are half a millennium later.
	A closer view of the altar.

Requiem Æternam Dona Eis

At approximately 1:00PM CST, my grandmother Florence Janowski died. My father called to tell me; he couldn't get through three words without sobbing. It's hit me pretty hard as well - far harder than I had anticipated. She had celebrated her 90th birthday just a few months ago, in bright spirits and (apparently) good health.

I go now to try and find a flight to Chicago for tomorrow or Monday.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam; ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.