In Praise of Mary, Mother of God
THE DEDICATION OF SAINT MARY MAJOR
The original church built in Rome in 350 by Pope Liberius was financed by a Roman patrician and his wife who were childless. They decided to leave their fortune to the Blessed Virgin Mary. She appeared to them in a dream and told them to build a church in her honor on a garden site on the summit of the Esquiline Hill in Rome. The precise outline of the church was defined by a miraculous snowfall occurring in the summer heat of August 5, in 358. The miracle of the snow is commemorated every year on August 5th, when white rose petals are dropped from the dome of the Basilica during the festal Mass.
After the Council of Ephesus in 431 in which the mother of Jesus was acclaimed as Mother of God, Pope Sixtus III renovated the church erecting a larger Basilica. It was afterward called Saint Mary Major and it is the oldest church in the West dedicated to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The basilica is a masterpiece of different architectural styles and art. The cosmatesque marble floor is visually stunning with inlaid marble squares and exquisite circle mosaics. Enhancements added over the centuries include the spectacular Renaissance period ceiling, by Antonio da Sangallo (16th century), entirely gilded with gold said to be the first gold brought back from the New World, given by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.
The following homily was delivered at the council of Ephesus in 431.
From a homily delivered in 431 at the Council of Ephesus by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop (376-444)
In praise of Mary, Mother of God
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
I see here a joyful company of Christian men met together in ready response to the call of Mary, the holy and ever-virgin Mother of God. The great grief that weighed upon me is changed into joy by your presence, venerable Fathers. Now the beautiful saying of David the psalmist: How good and pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity, has come true for us.
Therefore, holy and incomprehensible Trinity, we salute you at whose summons we have come together to this church of Mary, the Mother of God.
Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world’s reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him who no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
We salute you, for in your holy womb he, who is beyond all limitation, was confined. Because of you the holy Trinity is glorified and adored; the cross is called precious and is venerated throughout the world; the heavens exult; the angels and archangels make merry; demons are put to flight; the devil, that tempter, is thrust down from heaven; the fallen race of man is taken up on high; all creatures possessed by the madness of idolatry have attained knowledge of the truth; believers receive holy baptism; the oil of gladness is poured out; the Church is established throughout the world; pagans are brought to repentance.
What more is there to say? Because of you the light of the only-begotten Son of God has shone upon those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death; prophets pronounced the word of God; the apostles preached salvation to the Gentiles; the dead are raised to life, and kings rule by the power of the holy Trinity.
Who can put Mary’s high honor into words? She is both mother and virgin. I am overwhelmed by the wonder of this miracle. Of course no one could be prevented from living in the house he had built for himself, yet who would invite mockery by asking his own servant to become his mother?
Behold then the joy of the whole universe. Let the union of God and man in the Son of the Virgin Mary fill us with awe and adoration. Let us fear and worship the undivided Trinity as we sing the praise of the ever-virgin Mary, the holy temple of God, and of God himself, her Son and spotless Bridegroom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop (c.376-444)
St. Cyril of Alexandria was Born at Alexandria, Egypt around the year 376 and was the nephew of the patriarch of Alexandria, Theophilus. He received a classical and theological education at Alexandria and was ordained by his uncle. He accompanied Theophilus to Constantinople in 403 and was present at the Synod of the Oak which deposed John Chrysostom, who was later restored and confirmed as bishop of Constantinople. Cyril succeeded his Uncle as patriarch of Alexandria in 412. Cyril began a series of attacks against the Novatians, whose churches he closed, and against the Jews whom he drove out of the city. In 430 Cyril became embroiled with Nestorius, the patriarch of Constantinople, who was preaching heresies denying Mary as the Mother of God, and opposing the doctrine of the Incarnation. A synod was held in Rome under Pope Celestine I which condemned Nestorius and his teachings. Refusing to recant his positions, Nestorius was excommunicated. In 431 Cyril presided over the third general Council at Ephesus, attended by some two hundred bishops, which condemned all the tenets of Nestorius and his followers. Nestorius was forced into exile.
Cyril wrote treatises that clarified the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation which helped stem the spread of Nestorianism and Pelagianism from taking root in the Christian community. He died in 444 at the age of 68. He was the most brilliant theologian of the Alexandrian tradition. His writings are characterized by accurate thinking, precise exposition, and great reasoning skill. Among his writings are commentaries on John, Luke, and the Pentateuch, treatises on dogmatic theology, an Apologis against Julian the Apostate, and letters and sermons. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1882.