8/5/2011 – Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome – Friday – Luke 11:27-28

Photo of St Richard Youth Choir in the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome with Cardinal Bernhard Law. (Photo taken by choir director Carleigh Bidell)

        Today, we celebrate the dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, one of the four major basilicas in that holy city.  It might seem strange to us that we dedicate an important feast day in our Church to a building, especially since the emphasis after the Second Vatican Council has been about how the Church is more than a building, how the people are the Church.  Yet, this basilica is an important center of worship of our faith, & it's dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary tells us a lot about our faith as well.  The basilica of St Mary Major dates back to the 4^th century, with the current building dating from the 5^th century, right after the Council of Ephesus declared Mary to be the “Theotokos,” the God bearer, the Mother of God.  Today, as we celebrate this mass in our beautiful church building here in Yazoo City, built back in 1907, also dedicated to the Virgin Mary, I feel a deep connection to this feast day that we are celebrating. 

         Today’s Gospel may appear a bit puzzling to us at first glance.  Someone shouts out from the crowd, praising Jesus’ mother for having born him, but Jesus states that what is more important than being biologically connected to him is that we truly listening to the Word of God and try to follow it in our lives.  Jesus is not trying to disrespect his mother, but rather he is trying to tell us what is most important in our faith and in the eyes of God.  We must not forget that not only can the Virgin Mary be seen as the first disciple, but that she never points to herself or receives honor on her own behalf, but she always points us toward her Son, she always tries to draw us closer to him.

         Last December, when I had the opportunity to travel to Rome for the international choir congress with the St Richard Youth Choir, we had the honor of having a private mass with Cardinal Bernhard Law at the Basilica of St Mary Major.  That mass was one of the greatest moments of our trip.  When Cardinal Law greeted the youth and their parents personally, I saw their faces light up with great awe and joy.  What a faith-filled experience that mass was, as we celebrated mass in that beautiful church dedicated to the Blessed Mother, as we received Christ in the Eucharist in a basilica dedicated to his mother.  As Catholics, as we honor Mary, as we honor the Mother Church in Rome, may we grow closer to our faith, may we gain in our understanding of Mary as the Mother of God, our Mother, and the Mother of our Church.