Gospel 8-5-24. Luke 11: 27-28. Dedication of Basilica of St Mary Major.
27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.
Factum est autem, cum haec diceret : extollens vocem quaedam mulier de turba dixit illi : Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae suxisti.
28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
At ille dixit : Quinimmo beati, qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt illud.
This Basilica of our Lady of the Snows, also called St Mary Major, was built on the Esquiline at Rome by St Liberius, Pope from 352 to 366. Popular tradition relates that the site was traced out by a miraculous fall of snow on this date, which is that of the Feast of the Church's dedication.
