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bishop braxton preaches at novena at national shrine of our lady of the snows

Bishop Edward K. Braxton was the celebrant and homilist at the close of the 2010 Novena of Healing and Hope at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010. An overflow congregation from Belleville, St. Louis, Springfield and different dioceses from around the United States joined the Bishop and a large number of concelebrants in the Eucharistic Liturgy which marked the Shrine’s Patronal Feast, the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

The Basilica dating back to the 5th century was built on the Esquiline Hill, according to legend, after an apparition of Mary, the mother of Jesus. She asked for a church on the site to honor her as mother of the Lord in His humanity and in His divinity. As she foretold, snow fell on the hill in the heat of the summer, on Aug. 5th, hence the title, “Our Lady of the Snows.” Each year, to mark the dedication, white rose petals (representing snow) fall from the ceiling of the Basilica during the singing of the Gloria.

In his homily, the Bishop said the “Mass of Thanksgiving” was first and foremost about giving thanks for the gift of existence and the grace of participating in the drama of salvation. He focused his meditation on the words from the second reading, St. Paul’s first letter to the Ephesians v. 3-12, “Blessed be God who before the world was created, chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless. He chose us to live through love in His presence, determined that we should be His adopted sons, through Jesus Christ.” He developed his homily using vs. 19 and 20 from chapter 2 of the Gospel of Luke. “Mary treasured these things and turned them over in her heart. And the shepherds returned to their region giving praise to God for what they had seen and heard.” “With these words,” the Bishop said, “St. Luke provides a summary of the vocation of every Christian. We are called to turn over in our hearts the wonders of salvation that God has accomplished through His Son. We are to go from this Mass and every Mass to our homes and communities and proclaim what we have seen and heard.” Bishop Braxton concluded his reflection by speaking of prayer, reminding his listeners that prayer is not primarily about asking God to fix the world for us. “Prayer is primarily simply about being with God, adoring the One who dwells in ‘unapproachable light.’” After adoration, prayer is gratitude, giving thanks for being called to journey to God. Next, prayer is contrition, expressing profound sorrow for not living in God’s grace. Only in the end is prayer, petition. Even then, however, it is not bargaining with God telling Him what we will do if He does what we want Him to do. Petition is first of all asking God to help others in need. When, finally, we pray for ourselves, we must always remember the words of Jesus Himself, “Not My will but thy will be done!”

The Mass ended with a candle-light Rosary procession in Mary’s honor around the grounds of the Shrine.