The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome is experiencing an increase in pilgrims during the Jubilee Year of Hope. Visitors now enter the basilica through a side entrance due to security measures. The basilica's prominence has grown in recent years, with Pope Francis's frequent visits contributing to its appeal. The article highlights the renewed devotion to Our Lady and the basilica's role as a pilgrimage site.
4 months ago
The Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has become a prominent pilgrimage destination during the current Jubilee Year of Hope, drawing a constant stream of faithful 1. Its increased visibility is attributed, in part, to the late Pope Francis' frequent visits, which revitalized devotion to this ancient Marian shrine 1. Pilgrims now enter through a side entrance on Via Liberiana, a security measure implemented in the last decade 1.
The basilica's history is deeply intertwined with Marian theology. It was constructed shortly after the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D., which solemnly affirmed Mary as theotokos, meaning "God-bearer" or "Mother of God" 1. This title underscores the Church's belief in Christ as true God and true man, making Mary the mother of God, not merely of Christ as a man 1.
The church's founding story, depicted in 13th-century mosaics, recounts the Blessed Virgin Mary appearing to an aristocrat, John, and Pope Liberius, requesting a church dedicated to her, confirmed by a miraculous August snowfall 1. The artwork throughout the basilica, including these mosaics, consistently emphasizes that devotion to Mary ultimately directs the faithful to Christ 1.
A significant object of veneration is the Byzantine-style icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani ("Salvation" or "Health" of the Roman People), believed by some tradition to be painted by St. Luke 1. This icon has been a focal point of papal devotion for centuries, with Pope St. Gregory the Great petitioning before it for an end to the plague in the 6th century, and more recently, Pius XII crowning it in 1953 1. Pope Leo XIV also offered prayers before this painting in the early weeks of his papacy 1.
The basilica also houses the simple tomb of the late Pope Francis, a testament to his profound Marian devotion 1. Nearby is the statue of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, commissioned by Pope Benedict XV after World War I, depicting Mary blessing a world still afflicted by conflict 1.
The bronze Holy Door, blessed by Pope St. John Paul II in 2001, serves as a symbolic gateway, commemorating both the Council of Ephesus' affirmation of Mary as Mother of God and Pope St. Paul VI’s declaration of Mary as Mother of the Church during the Second Vatican Council 1. The image on the door portrays Mary guiding pilgrims towards her son and into the majestic basilica 1.
The 5th-century interior mosaics vividly illustrate salvation history, showing how Christ fulfilled it with Mary's cooperation 1. The Bethlehem Crypt, beneath the high altar, further highlights Christ's centrality by housing relics believed to be from the manger where Jesus lay 1. The current Jubilee Year, marked by the legacy of Pope Francis and the new papacy of Pope Leo XIV, both deeply devoted to Mary, offers a unique opportunity to reflect on Mary's vital role in the life of the faithful 1. Through Mary's intercession, the faithful are encouraged to find renewed hope and unity within the Church 1.
What is the Church's teaching on pilgrimage?
The Catholic Church views pilgrimage as a significant spiritual practice, deeply rooted in human experience and Christian tradition. It is understood as a journey to sacred places undertaken for various religious purposes, reflecting the human condition as "homo viator" – a traveler on a journey .
The concept of pilgrimage has ancient origins, with some tracing it to the instinctive human desire to seek divine help in specific locations . In the Judeo-Christian tradition, sacred Scripture frequently highlights the importance of journeys to holy sites. The Israelites traditionally made pilgrimages to cities like Jerusalem, Bethel, or Shiloh . Jesus himself, along with Mary and Joseph, journeyed as a pilgrim to Jerusalem, willingly subjecting himself to the Law . The history of the Church is described as an ongoing pilgrimage .
The Church identifies several key dimensions to the spirituality of pilgrimage:
Pilgrimages are considered a great gift from God to the Church and to humanity . They strengthen faith and provide a profound spiritual experience . The religious purpose of pilgrimage gives it a unique impetus, making it courageous and popular . It provides moral and spiritual value, with faith sustaining the traveler, prayer consoling, penance strengthening, and religious fervor making the journey memorable .
Pilgrimages to holy and apostolic places, especially those undertaken with intense faith, can become an authentic path of discipleship, allowing the faithful to walk in the earthly footsteps of Christ and the apostles . They offer a powerful visual experience of biblical history and God's saving plan . Upon returning from a genuine pilgrimage, the pilgrim intends to amend their life, ordering it more closely to God and living in a more transcendent way . The sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist are considered essential for revitalizing faith during a pilgrimage , .