The AWESOMENESS of it all!

Today is the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.  In years past, I only took passing interest in these seemingly offbeat feast days of the Church.  But since our recent trip to Rome, this stuff fascinates me!

Lily in prayer before the relics 

This Feast in particular got my attention today because I have a photograph of Lily praying at the high altar upon which the reliquary containing relics of the crib of Jesus’ Nativity is displayed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.  But also because at the urging and insistence of my family (Dad, you may never get the chance again!) I was able to attend a Mass in the basilica. 

 

The reliquary holding pieces of the Holy Crib

The relics of the crib in the reliquary consist of five pieces of board which, as a result of an investigation conducted by Father Lais, sub-director of the Vatican Observatory, during the restorations of the Basilica in 1893 were found to be taken from a sycamore tree of which there are several varieties in the Holy Land.  Two of the pieces, which like the other three, must have been originally much longer than they are at present, stood upright in the form of an X, upon which three other pieces rested, supported by a sixth piece, which, however, is missing, placed across the base of the upper angle of the X. We may conclude from this that these pieces of wood were, properly speaking, merely supports for the manger itself, which was probably made from the soft limestone of which the cave was formed.

The relics were probably brought to Rome from the Holy Land during the pontificate of Pope Theodore (640-649), who was himself a native of Palestine, and who was well aware of the dangers of plunder and pillage to which they were exposed at the hands of several bands of marauders.

The chapel where I attended Mass

We had spent about 45 minutes or so roaming around the Basilica and were making our way out, when we heard men singing what I first took to be a Gregorian chant.  It wasn't though.  It was several priests and a deacon and a couple of acolytes processing towards one of the side chapels where Mass was about to begin.  This is when my family urged me strongly to stay and attend the Mass.  I just couldn't pass it up!  It was obviously in Italian, but there were plenty of hymns with familiar tunes that I knew the English words to also.  I was able to pick up a word or two here and there during the homily that made it clear to me that this Mass was being celebrated to wish a bon voyage to the celebrating priest who was being assigned elsewhere.  My impression was that he was being reassigned to an entirely different country, but I couldn't catch exactly where.  He also spent time thanking each of the other priests and the deacon present for helping him with his studies. I was also left with an almost certain feeling that this was this particular priest's first Mass since being ordained, since he started out a little hesitant, but got stronger as the Mass progressed.  I felt so privileged to have helped him celebrate such an important milestone in his life.  After the Mass, many of the other attendees (his family?) were invited up to wish him well.  It was quite moving.  I cried for about 1/2 an hour after the Mass ended.  

And yet, even thought Lily and I both prayed in this magnificent church, the awesomeness of it escaped me until writing this blog today---there is just so much “THERE” there in Rome, that it is hard to process all at once!

You can expect more entries like this as I continue to get “reminders” from the rich traditions and Traditions of the Church and as I continue to unfold all the wonders we saw!

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners; now and at the hour of our death, AMEN.