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Santa Maria Maggiore

(Redirected fromBasilica di Santa Maria Maggiore)
"Saint Mary Major" redirects here. For other uses, seeSanta Maria Maggiore (disambiguation)andSaint Mary Major (disambiguation).

TheBasilica of Saint Mary Major(Italian:Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore,Italian pronunciation:[ˈsantamaˈriːamadˈdʒoːre];Latin:Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris;Latin:Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives),[a]or church ofSanta Maria Maggiore(also referred to asSanta Maria delle Nevifrom its Latin originSancta Maria ad Nives), is one of the fourmajor papal basilicasas well as one of theSeven Pilgrim Churches of Romeand the largestMarian churchin Rome, Italy. Santa Maria Maggiore is the firstMarian sanctuaryin theWestern worldand the mother of all sanctuaries.[2]

Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major
  • Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore(Italian)
  • Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris(Latin)
  • Basilica Sanctae Mariae ad Nives(Latin)
Façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore facing the Piazza
Map
Interactive map of Santa Maria Maggiore's location in Rome
41°53′51″N12°29′55″E/ 41.89750°N 12.49861°E/41.89750; 12.49861
LocationRome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic Church
TraditionLatin Church
WebsiteSanta Maria Maggiore
History
StatusPapal major basilica
DedicationBlessed Virgin Mary
Cult(s)presentSalus Populi Romani
Relicsheld
Architecture
Architect(s)Ferdinando Fuga
Architectural typeBasilica
StyleRoman architecture
Romanesque architecture(tower)
Baroque architecture
Groundbreaking432(432)
Completed1743(1743)
Specifications
Length92 meters (302 ft)
Width80 meters (260 ft)
Navewidth30 meters (98 ft)
Height75 meters (246 ft)
Administration
DioceseRome
Clergy
ArchpriestStanisław Ryłko
Official nameHistoric Center of Rome, theProperties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rightsand San Paolo Fuori le Mura
TypeCultural
Criteriai, ii, iii, iv, vi
Designated1980[1]
Reference no.91
RegionEurope and North America

The basilica enshrines the venerated image ofSalus Populi Romani,depicting theBlessed Virgin Maryas the health and protector of the Roman people, which was granted aCanonical coronationbyPope Gregory XVIon 15 August 1838 accompanied by hispapal bullCælestis Regina.

Pursuant to theLateran Treatyof 1929 between theHoly Seeand Italy, the Basilica is in Italy and not theVatican City.[3]However, theHoly Seefully owns the basilica, and Italy is legally obligated to recognise its full ownership thereof[4]and to concede to it "the immunity granted by international law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign states."[3]In other words, the complex of buildings has a status somewhat similar to an embassy.

Names

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The Basilica is sometimes referred to asOur Lady of the Snows,a name given to it in theRoman Missalfrom 1568 to 1969 in connection with theliturgical feast of the anniversary of its dedicationon 5 August, a feast that was then denominatedDedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Nives(Dedication of Saint Mary of the Snows). This name for the basilica had become popular in the 14th century[5]in connection with a legend thatc. 352,during "the pontificate ofLiberius,a Roman patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to the Virgin Mary. They prayed that she might make known to them how they were to dispose of their property in her honor. On 5 August, at the height of the Roman summer, snow fell during the night on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. In obedience to a vision of the Virgin Mary which they had the same night, the couple built a basilica in honor of Mary on the very spot which was covered with snow.[6]

The legend is first reported only after the year 1000.[7]It may be implied in what theLiber Pontificalisof the early 13th century says of Pope Liberius: "He built the basilica of his own name near theMacellum of Livia".[8]It is shown in the early 15th-century painting of the Miracle of the Snow byMasolino da Panicale.[9][b]

TheBlessed Virgin MaryoverlookingPope Liberiusscrapes the outline of the foundation of the basilica into the snow. By Italian artistMasolino da Panicale;circa 15th-century,Museo di Capodimonte.

The feast was originally calledDedicatio Sanctae Mariae(Dedication of Saint Mary's),[10]and was celebrated only in Rome until it was inserted into theGeneral Roman Calendar,withad Nivesadded to its name, in 1568.[5]A congregation appointed byPope Benedict XIVin 1741 proposed that the reading of the legend be struck from the Office and that the feast be given its original name.[10]No action was taken on the proposal until 1969, when the reading of the legend was removed and the feast was calledIn dedicatione Basilicae S. Mariae(Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary).[5]The legend is still commemorated by dropping whiterosepetals from the dome during the celebration of theMassand during the SecondVesperson the feast day.

The earliest building on the site was theLiberian BasilicaorSanta Maria Liberiana,afterPope Liberius(352–366). This name may have originated from the same legend, which recounts that, like John and his wife, Pope Liberius was told in a dream of the forthcoming summer snowfall, went in procession to where it occurred and there marked out the area on which the church was to be built.[11]Liberianais still included in some versions of the basilica's name, and "Liberian Basilica" may be used as a contemporary as well as historical name.[c]

On the other hand, the name "Liberian Basilica" may be independent of the legend, since, according toPius Parsch,Pope Liberius transformed a palace of the Sicinini family into a church, which was for that reason called the "Sicinini Basilica". This building was then replaced underPope Sixtus III(432–440) by the present structure dedicated to Mary.[11]However, some sources say that the adaptation as a church of a pre-existing building on the site of the present basilica was done in the 420s underPope Celestine I,the immediate predecessor of Sixtus III.[12]

Long before the earliest traces of the story of the miraculous snow, the church now known as Saint Mary Major was called "Saint Mary of the Crib" ( "Sancta Maria ad Praesepe" ),[13]a name it was given because of itsrelicof the crib or manger of the Nativity of Jesus Christ, four boards of sycamore wood believed to have been brought to the church, together with a fifth, in the time ofPope Theodore I(640–649).[14][15]This name appears in theTridentineeditions of theRoman Missalas the place for the pope's Mass (the station Mass) on Christmas Night,[16]while the name "Mary Major" appears for the church of the station Mass on Christmas Day.[17]

Status as a papal major basilica

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See also:Major basilica
Map by Giacomo Lauro and Antonio Tempesta depicting Saint Mary Major among theSeven Pilgrim Churches of Romein 1599, in view of theHoly Yearof 1600

ACatholicchurch can only be honored with the title ofbasilicabyapostolicgrant or from immemorial custom.[18]St. Mary Major is one of the only four that hold the title of "major basilica".The other three are the basilicas ofSt. John in the Lateran,St. Peter,andSt. Paul outside the Walls.[19]The title of major basilica was once used more widely, being attached, for instance, to theBasilica of St. Mary of the AngelsinAssisi).[20]Along with the other major basilicas, St. Mary Major is also styled a "papal basilica".Before 2006, the four papal major basilicas, together with theBasilica of St. Lawrence outside the Wallswere referred to as the "patriarchal basilicas" of Rome. WhenPope Benedict XVIabandoned the title "Patriarch of the West",the title of St. Mary Major changed from patriarchal to papal basilica, as found on its website,[21]and each was associated with one of thefive ancient patriarchates.St. Mary Major was associated with thePatriarchate of Antioch.[22]

The five papal basilicas along with theBasilica of the Holy Cross in JerusalemandSan Sebastiano fuori le murawere the traditionalSeven Pilgrim Churches of Rome,which were visited by pilgrims during their pilgrimage to Rome following a 20-kilometer (12 mi) itinerary established byPhilip Nerion 25 February 1552.[23][24][25]

History

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The Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, byGiovanni Paolo Panini

It is now agreed that the present church was built on the Cispian spur of Rome'sEsquiline HillunderPope Celestine I(422–432) not underPope Sixtus III(432–440), who consecrated the basilica on 5 August 434 to the Virgin Mary.

The dedicatory inscription on the triumphal arch,Latin:Sixtus Episcopus plebi Dei(Sixtus the bishop to the people of God), is an indication of that Pope's role in the construction.[26]As well as this church on the summit of theEsquiline Hill,Pope Sixtus III is said to have commissioned extensive building projects throughout the city, which were continued by his successorPope Leo I,the Great.[27]

The church retains the core of its original structure, despite several additional construction projects and damage by theearthquake of 1348.

Church building in Rome in this period, as exemplified in Santa Maria Maggiore, was inspired by the idea of Rome being not just the center of the world of theRoman Empire,as it was seen in the classical period, but the center of the Christian world.[28]

Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the first churches built to celebrate the Virgin Mary, was erected immediately after theCouncil of Ephesusof 431, which proclaimed Mary Mother of God.Pope Sixtus IIIbuilt it to commemorate this decision.[29][30]Certainly, the atmosphere that generated the council gave rise also to the mosaics that adorn the interior of the dedication: "whatever the precise connection was between council and church it is clear that the planners of the decoration belong to a period of concentrated debates on nature and status of the Virgin and incarnate Christ."[31]The magnificentmosaicsof the nave and triumphal arch, seen as "milestones in the depiction" of the Virgin,[32]depict scenes of her life and that of Christ, but also scenes from theOld Testament:Moses striking theRed Sea,and Egyptians drowning in the Red Sea.

Richard Krautheimerattributes the magnificence of the work also to the abundant revenue accruing to the papacy at the time from land holdings acquired by the Catholic Church during the 4th and 5th centuries on the Italian peninsula: "Some of these holdings were locally controlled; the majority as early as the end of the 5th century were administered directly from Rome with great efficiency: a central accounting system was involved in the papal chancery; and a budget was apparently prepared, one part of the income going to the papal administration, another to the needs of the clergy, a third to the maintenance of church buildings, a fourth to charity. These fines enabled the papacy to carry out through the 5th century an ambitious building program, including Santa Maria Maggiore."[33]

Miri Rubin believes that the building of the basilica was influenced also by seeing Mary as one who could represent the imperial ideals of classical Rome, bringing together the old Rome and the new Christian Rome: "In Rome, the city ofmartyrs,if no longer of emperors, Mary was a figure that could credibly carry imperial memories and representations. "[34]

Gregory the Greatmay have been inspired by Byzantine devotions to theTheotokos(Mother of God) when after becoming Pope during a plague in 590 that had taken the life of his predecessor, he ordered for seven processions to march through the city of Rome chanting Psalms and Kyrie Eleison, in order to appease the wrath of God. The processions began in different parts of the city, but rather than finally converging on St Peter's, who was always the traditional protector of Rome, he instead ordered the processions to converge on Mary Major instead.[35]

When the popes returned to Rome after the period of theAvignon papacy,the buildings of the basilica became a temporaryPalace of the Popes[citation needed]due to the deteriorated state of theLateran Palace.The papal residence was later moved to thePalace of the Vaticanin what is nowVatican City.

The basilica was restored, redecorated and extended by various popes, includingEugene III(1145–1153),Nicholas IV(1288–1292),Clement X(1670–1676), andBenedict XIV(1740–1758), who in the 1740s commissionedFerdinando Fugato build the present façade and to modify the interior. The interior of the Santa Maria Maggiore underwent a broad renovation encompassing all of its altars between the years 1575 and 1630.

In 1966, archeologists excavating under the basilica found the remains of a Roman building including animperial calendarwithfastiandagricultural annotations and illustrations.[36]On the basis of the calendar, the ruins have been dated toc. 200bySalzman[37]and to the 4th century by Magi.[38]

On 15 December 2015, two homelessArabmen attempted to disarm soldiers outside the basilica while yelling thetakbir"Godis great ". The 30 and 40 year oldPalestinianandTunisiancalled for others to help them as they threatened and assaulted the soldiers and police, but were arrested.[39]

Architecture

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Piazza dell'Esquilinowith the apse area of Santa Maria Maggiore

The original architecture of Santa Maria Maggiore was classical and traditionallyRoman,perhaps to convey the idea that Santa Maria Maggiore represented old imperial Rome as well as its Christian future. As one scholar puts it, "Santa Maria Maggiore so closely resembles a second-century imperialbasilicathat it has sometimes been thought to have been adapted from a basilica for use as a Christian church. Its plan was based onHellenisticprinciples stated byVitruviusat the time ofAugustus."[40]

Even though Santa Maria Maggiore is immense in its area, it was built to plan. The design of the basilica was a typical one during this time in Rome: "a tall and wide nave; an aisle on either side; and a semicircular apse at the end of the nave."[28]The key aspect that made Santa Maria Maggiore such a significant cornerstone in church building during the early 5th century were the beautifulmosaicsfound on the triumphal arch and nave.[citation needed]

Detail of the external façade of the apse on the north-west of the church on Piazza dell'Esquilino
Interior view of the dome

The Athenian marble columns supporting the nave are even older, and either come from the first basilica, or from another antique Roman building; thirty-six are marble and four granite, pared down, or shortened to make them identical by Ferdinando Fuga, who provided them with identical gilt-bronze capitals.[41]The 14th-centurycampanile,or bell tower, is the highest in Rome, at 246 feet, (about 75 m.). The basilica's 16th-century coffered ceiling, to a design byGiuliano da Sangallo,is said to be gilded with gold, initially brought byChristopher Columbus,presented byFerdinand and Isabellato the Spanish pope,Alexander VI.[42]The apse mosaic, theCoronation of the Virgin,is from 1295, signed by theFranciscanfriar,Jacopo Torriti.The Basilica also contains frescoes byGiovanni Baglione,in the Cappella Borghese.[citation needed]

The 12th-century façade has been masked by a reconstruction, with a screeningloggia,that was added byPope Benedict XIVin 1743, to designs byFerdinando Fugathat did not damage the mosaics of the façade. The wing of thecanonica(sacristy) to its left and a matching wing to the right (designed byFlaminio Ponzio) give the basilica's front the aspect of a palace facing thePiazza Santa Maria Maggiore.To the right of the Basilica's façade is a memorial constituting a column in the form of an up-ended cannon barrel topped with a cross: it was erected byPope Clement VIIIto celebrate the end of theFrench Wars of Religion.[43]

In the piazza in front of the facade rises a column with a Corinthian capital, topped with a statue of the Virgin and the child Jesus. ThisMarian columnwas erected in 1614 to the designs ofCarlo Madernoduring thepapacy of Paul V.Maderno's fountain at the base combines the armorial eagles and dragons of Paul V (Borghese). The column itself was the sole intact remainder from theBasilica of Maxentius and Constantinein theRoman Forum.[d]The statue atop the column was made by Domenico Ferri. In apapal bullfrom the year of its installation, the pope decreed three years ofindulgencesto those who uttered a prayer to the Virgin while saluting the column.[44]

Interior

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Fifth-century mosaics

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Interior of the basilica: view down the nave towards the high altar

The mosaics found in Santa Maria Maggiore are one of the oldest representations of the Virgin Mary in Christianlate antiquity.As one scholar puts it, "This is well demonstrated by the decoration of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome,... where the iconographic depiction of the Virgin Mary was chosen at least in part to celebrate the affirmation of Mary asTheotokos(bearer of God) by the third ecumenicalCouncil of Ephesusin 431 CE. "[45]The mosaics of the triumphal arch and the nave in Santa Maria Maggiore gave a model for the future representations of the Virgin Mary. The influences of these mosaics are rooted in late antique impressionism that could be seen infrescoes,manuscript paintings and many pavement mosaics across villas in Africa,SyriaandSicilyduring the 5th century.[26]This being said, the crowning of Mary on the Apse was made much later by Torriti by commission of Pope Nicholas IV. (13th century).[46]

These mosaics gave historians insight into artistic, religious, and social movements during this time. AsMargaret R. Milesexplains the mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore have two goals: one to glorify the Virgin Mary as Theotokos (God-Bearer); and the other to present "a systematic and comprehensive articulation of the relationship of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian scriptures as one in which the Hebrew Bible foreshadows Christianity."[47]This is explained by the dual images ofOld TestamentandNew Testamentevents depicted in the mosaics of the triumphal arch and the nave. The mosaics also show the range of artistic expertise and refute the theory that mosaic technique during the time was based on copying from model books. The mosaics found in Santa Maria Maggiore are combinations of different styles of mosaic art during the time, according to art scholar Robin Cormack: "the range of artistic expertise and the actual complexities of production can hardly be reduced to a mentality of copying. A test case is given by the mosaics of S. Maria Maggiore in Rome".[31]

Triumphal arch

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Detail of the mosaic in the triumphal arch, showing Bethlehem

The triumphal arch at the head of the nave was at first referred to as theapsearch, but later became known as the triumphal arch.[48]The triumphal arch is illustrated with magnificent mosaics depicting different scenes of Christ and the Virgin Mary. There was a difference in the styles used in the triumphal arch mosaics compared to those of the nave; the style of the triumphal arch was much more linear and flat as one scholar describes it, not nearly as much action, emotion and movement in them as there were in the Old Testament mosaics of the nave.[31]One of the first scenes that were visible on the triumphal arch was a panel of Christ's enthronement with a group of angels as his court. As one historian describes it: "On the apse arch Christ is enthroned, a young emperor attended by fourchamberlains,angels of course ",[28]this is a perfect example of mosaic art in the 5th century. Another panel found on the triumphal arch is of the Virgin, she is crowned and dressed in a colorful veil, her wardrobe subtly brings to mind that of a Roman empress and in this panel she has her divine son walking with her and a suite of angels and Joseph ready to greet her; "The Virgin...shows to perfection the impressionistic character of mosaics."[49]Another panel is known as theAdorationof theMagiand this mosaic depicts Infant Christ and The Virgin and the arrival of the three wise men, "mosaics illustrating Christ's first coming and his youth covered the triumphal arch."[49]The other panel depicts the Virgin accompanied by five martyrs.[26]

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A nave mosaic from the story of Moses
The apse of the basilica

The nave of the basilica was covered in mosaics representing Old Testament events ofMosesleading theJewsout ofEgyptacross the Red Sea. "The nave mosaics (which represents stories of Old Testament history and accordingly offered Christians in Rome a new 'past') are illusionistic in a colorful and impressionist manner"[31]as this scholar puts it the scene was filled with movement, emotion, and it was to inspire thinking of Rome's "new" past; the past of the Old Testament. As one scholar describes it: "Moses strikes the waters of the Red Sea in a heroic gesture, his toga in light and dark grays and blues, but lined in black, the folds white lines, the tunic underneath light blue; the man next to him wears a deep blue toga over a gray and white tunic."[26]Another panel shows the demise of theEgyptiansin theRed Sea.An observer describes the mosaic: "The Egyptians, clad in blue armor with gold bands and scarlet cloaks wildly flying, drown in the greenish-blue waters; the horses, white or light brown shaded with darker browns, highlighted in white, the accoutrements a bright red."[49]

Cappella Sistina and Crypt of the Nativity

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Reliquary of the Holy Crib

Under the high altar of the basilica is theCrypt of the NativityorBethlehem Crypt,with a crystal reliquary designed byGiuseppe Valadiersaid to contain wood from the Holy Crib of the nativity ofJesusChrist.[50]Here is the burial place ofJerome,the 4th-centuryDoctor of the Churchwho translated the Bible into theLatin language(theVulgate).[51]

Altar of Sistine Chapel and Oratory of the Nativity

Fragments of the sculpture of the Nativity believed to be by 13th-centuryArnolfo di Cambiowere transferred to beneath the altar of the large Sistine Chapel[50]off the right transept of the church. This chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is named afterPope Sixtus V,and is not to be confused with theSistine Chapelof theVatican,named afterPope Sixtus IV.The architectDomenico Fontanadesigned the chapel, which contains the tombs of Sixtus V himself and of his early patronPope Pius V.The main altar in the chapel has four gilded bronze angels by Sebastiano Torregiani, holding up theciborium,which is a model of the chapel itself.

Beneath this altar is the Oratory or Chapel of the Nativity, on whose altar, at that time situated in the Crypt of the Nativity below the main altar of the church itself,Ignatius of Loyolacelebrated his first Mass as a priest on 25 December 1538.

Just outside the Sistine Chapel is the tomb ofGianlorenzo Berniniand his family.[51]

TheManneristinterior decoration of the Sistine Chapel was completed (1587–1589) by a large team of artists, directed byCesare NebbiaandGiovanni Guerra.While the art biographer,Giovanni Baglioneallocates specific works to individual artists, recent scholarship finds that the hand of Nebbia drew preliminary sketches for many, if not all, of the frescoes. Baglione also concedes the roles of Nebbia and Guerra could be summarized as "Nebbia drew, and Guerra supervised the teams".[citation needed]

Painter Work
Giovanni Battista Pozzo Angelic Glory, Visitation, Annunciation, Joseph's dream, St. Paul & John Evangelist, St. Peter enters Rome,& Massacre of infants
Lattanzio Mainardi Tamar, Fares, Zara, Solomon, & Boaz
Hendrick van den Broeck(Arrigo Fiammingo) Esrom, Aram, Aminabad & Naassom
Paris Nogari Ruth, Jesse, David, Solomon & Roboam; & the Holy Family
Giacomo Stella Jehoshaphat & Jehoram, Jacob, Judah & his brothers, Sacrifice of Isacc
Angiolo Nebbia Ozias & Jonathan, Abiud and Eliacim, Manassah and Amon, Josiah and Jechonia, Salatiele & Zorobabel
Salvatore Fontana Jacob, Eli, Eliezer and Nathan, Herod orders massacre of the innocents, Annunciation
Cesare Nebbia Chaziel & Ezekias, Sadoch, Achim, Amoz
Ercole from Bologna Flight from EgyptandMary visits Elisabeth's house
Andrea Lilio Magi before Herod

Others include Ferdinando Sermei,Giacomo Stella,Paul Bril,andFerraù Fenzoni.[52]

Cappella Paolina (or Borghese Chapel) and Salus Populi Romani

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The Borghese Chapel

The column in the Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore celebrates the famousiconof the Virgin Mary now enshrined in the Borghese Chapel of the basilica. It is known as "Salus Populi Romani",or" Health of the Roman People "or" Salvation of the Roman People ", due to a miracle in which the icon reportedly helped keep plague from the city. The icon is at least a thousand years old, and according to a tradition was painted from life bySt Luke the Evangelistusing the wooden table of theHoly FamilyinNazareth.

Salus Populi Romani,perhaps the oldestMarian imagein Rome

The "Salus Populi Romani"has been praised by several popes and acted as a keyMariologicalsymbol.

Prior to becoming the Pope Pius XII, CardinalEugenio Pacellicelebrated his firstCatholic Massbefore the image inside the Borghese Chapel onEaster Sunday,2 April 1899. In December 1953, the icon was carried through Rome to initiate the firstMarian year.On 1 November 1954, the icon was translated and officially crowned byPope Pius XIIatBasilica of Saint Peteras he gave a personal speech and introduced a new Marian feastQueenship of Mary.

Future pontiffsPope Paul VI,Pope John Paul II,Pope Benedict XVI,andPope Francisall visited the "Salus Populi Romani" and led liturgical celebrations.

Papal basilica

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As a papal basilica, Santa Maria Maggiore is often used by the pope. He presides over the rites for the annualFeast of the Assumption of Maryon 15 August there. Except for a few priests and the basilica's archpriest, thecanopiedhigh altar is reserved for use by the pope alone.Pope Francisvisited the basilica on the day after his election.[53]

The pope gives charge of the basilica to an archpriest, usually acardinal.Formerly, the archpriest was the titularLatin Patriarch of Antioch,a title abolished in 1964. Since 29 December 2016, the archpriest has beenStanisław Ryłko.

In addition to the archpriest and his assistant priests, a chapter ofcanonsis resident.Redemptorist,DominicanandFranciscan Friars of the Immaculatepriests serve the church.

TheKing of Spain,currentlyFelipe VI,isex officioprotocanonof the basilica'schapter.[54]

Pope Francis visits the Basilica often, mainly to visit the Salus Populi Romani. He visits before and after trips outside the Vatican, calling the icon his "great devotion". He has also constructed atombnext to the icon to be his final resting place upon his death. Francis plans to be the first pope to be interred outside the Vatican sincePope Leo XIIIin 1903.[55]

Archpriests of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore since 1127

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List of archpriests since 1127.[56][57][58][59][60][e]

List of major works of art in the basilica

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Pauline Chapel dome frescoes, byGuido Reni

Burials in the church

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Further information:List of extant papal tombs

Artists

Nobility

Clergy and Religious Figures

Popes

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  • Tomb of Clement VIII
  • Baptismal chapel
  • Pope Pius IX - Ignazio Jacometti
  • Pope Pius IX - Ignazio Jacometti
  • Pope Pius IX - Ignazio Jacometti
  • Ave Regina Pacis
  • Statue of King Philip IV of Spain

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^The actual, official name seems to vary: theHoly See's press office uses "Papal Liberian Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome" in Englishin a 2011 noteArchived3 March 2013 at theWayback Machine,while theofficial Vatican site for the Basilicauses various formulas not including "Liberian" orLiberiana,some under a coat of arms that includes "basilica Liberiana" in Italian.
  2. ^This triptych painted around 1423 was commissioned for the basilica by a member of theColonna family;it is now in theMuseo di Capodimonte,Naples (Paul Joannides, "The Colonna Triptych by Masolino and Masaccio,"Arte Cristianano 728 (1988:339-)). The miracle is depicted as witnessed by a crowd of men and women, with Jesus and the Virgin Mary observing from above.
  3. ^See for example theHoly See's press office using "Papal Liberian Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome" in Englishin a 2011 noteArchived3 March 2013 at theWayback Machine,while theofficial Vatican website for the churchuses various formulas, some under a coat of arms that includes "basilica Liberiana" in Italian.
  4. ^Prior authors refer to its derivation from theTempio della PaceorTemple of Peace,which was the name attributed to theBasilica of Maxentius and Constantinebefore the 18th-century.
  5. ^Note that, initially, not all archpriests of the basilica were cardinals.
  6. ^Archpriest Pietro Sasso is commonly identified with contemporary cardinal Pietro Sasso of S. Pudenziana (1206–1218/19). However, this identification remains uncertain because the only document which mentions this archpriest (dated 3 July 1212) makes no reference to his cardinalate, cf. Ferri in ASRSP, vol. 28, p. 24.
  7. ^Cardinal Pietro Capocci (died 1259) is mentioned in the majority of the catalogs of archpriests of Liberian Basilica but the documents from the archive of the Basilica, published by Ferri in ASRSP, vol. 27, p. 34–39 and vol. 30, p. 119, give no support for this affirmation. Document dated 19 March 1244 mentions Astor (or Aston) as archpriest, documents between 13 February 1247 and 1 October 1255 mention archpriest without mentioning his name but also without indicating his cardinalate, and on 28 May 1258 Romano was archpriest of the Basilica; the latest document mentions also cardinal Pietro Capocci but makes no reference to his occupation of that post. If he was really an archpriest under Innocent IV, he must have later resigned, but it seems more likely that this statement resulted from a confusion.

References

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Citations

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  1. ^"Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura".Whc.unesco.org.Archivedfrom the original on 29 June 2011.Retrieved17 June2011.
  2. ^"Un santuario che irradia la presenza di Maria"[A sanctuary that radiates the presence of Mary] (in Italian).L'Osservatore Romano.5 August 2023.
  3. ^abLateran Treaty of 1929, Article 15 ([1])
  4. ^Lateran Treaty of 1929, Article 13 ([2])
  5. ^abcCalendarium Romanum 1969,p. 99
  6. ^As reported in the 1911Catholic Encyclopedia.
  7. ^Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica
  8. ^Loomis 1916,p. 77
  9. ^Miles 1993,p. 157
  10. ^abOtt 1913,Our Lady of the Snow
  11. ^abPius Parsch,The Church's Year of Gracequoted in Catholic Culture: "Ordinary Time, 5 August"
  12. ^Rubin 2009,p. 95
  13. ^EncyclicalSlavorum Apostoli,5
  14. ^Stephen M. Donovan, "Crib"inCatholic Encyclopedia1908Archived17 January 2012 at theWayback Machine
  15. ^Joan Carroll Cruz,Relics[permanent dead link‍](Our Sunday Visitor 1984ISBN978-0-87973-701-6), p. 22
  16. ^Missale RomanumArchived15 February 2020 at theWayback Machine,1962 edition, p. 17
  17. ^Missale Romanum,1962 edition, p. 20
  18. ^Robert F. McNamara,Minor Basilicas in the United States
  19. ^Basilicas
  20. ^John Hardon,Modern Catholic Dictionary1980
  21. ^"Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major".Retrieved14 July2024.
  22. ^Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Patriarch and Patriarchate".Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  23. ^La Visita alle Sette Chiese
  24. ^Panvinio, Onofrio (1570).Le sette chiese romane.Rome.Retrieved12 August2011.
  25. ^Sacchi, Guido."La visita alle Sette Chiese: cenni storici"(in Italian).Retrieved12 August2011.
  26. ^abcdKrautheimer 1980,p. 49
  27. ^Krautheimer 1980,p. 52
  28. ^abcKrautheimer 1980,p. 46
  29. ^Vassilaki 2000,p. 10
  30. ^Pirlo 1997,p. 7
  31. ^abcdCormack 2000,p. 889
  32. ^Vassilaki 2000,p. 132
  33. ^Krautheimer 1980,pp. 69–70
  34. ^Rubin 2009,pp. 95–96
  35. ^Andrew J. Ekonomou. Byzantine Rome and Greek Popes. Lexington Books, 2007
  36. ^Dyson (2010),p.295.
  37. ^Salzman (1990),p.11.
  38. ^Magi (1972).
  39. ^ANSA Italy News Service,accessed 16 December 2015
  40. ^Miles 1993,p. 158
  41. ^Beny & Gunn 1981,p. 106
  42. ^Charles A. Coulombe,Vicars of Christ,p. 330.
  43. ^Basilica memorial to celebrate the end of the French Wars of Religion;accessed 22 March 2014.
  44. ^Il Divoto Pellegrino Guidato, ed Istruito nella Visita delle quattro Basiliche di Roma, per il Giubileo dell'Anno Santo 1750.,Stamperia del Characas, presso San Marco al Corso, Rome, 1749, page 338-339.
  45. ^Gwynn & Bangert 2010,p. 235
  46. ^missing Ref
  47. ^Miles 1993,p. 160
  48. ^Krautheimer 1980,p. 47
  49. ^abcKrautheimer 1980,p. 48
  50. ^abInside the Basilica
  51. ^abSacred Destinations: SantaMariaMaggiore, Rome
  52. ^Eitel-Porter 1997,pp. 452–462
  53. ^Davies, Lizzy (14 March 2013)."Pope Francis eschews trappings of papacy on first day in office".The Guardian.London.Retrieved28 December2016.
  54. ^Liberian Chapter
  55. ^"The pope says he wants to be buried in the Rome basilica, not in the Vatican".Associated Press News.13 December 2023.Retrieved13 December2023.
  56. ^Moroni 1840,pp. 127–135
  57. ^Respective biographical entries onEssay of a General List of Cardinalsby Salvador Miranda
  58. ^Ferri 1904,p. 147–202 and 441–459
  59. ^Ferri 1905,pp. 23–39
  60. ^Ferri 1907,pp. 119–168

Bibliography

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Preceded by
Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran 		Landmarks of Rome
Santa Maria Maggiore 		Succeeded by
Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls
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