Fit for a Queen

As we behold the relic of Jesus' crib and later the Nativity scene on the main altar of Santa Maria Maggiore, we heard a beautiful voice of a man singing a familiar tune. We therefore decided to locate where that voice was coming from.

To the left of the main altar is an awesome chapel which houses a painting of the Blessed Virgin and the Christ Child. Tradition has it that this was painted by St Luke the Evangelist himself. This image is called Salus Populi Romani (Health of the Roman People). The chapel is called Borghese or Paulina Chapel in honour of Pope Paul V (a.k.a. Camillo Cardinal Borghese) who ordered that such a chapel be built.

The chapel has been well decorated by various Italian artists. Everywhere your eye could see has been filled with paintings, statues, decors all in praise of the Virgin Mary. Indeed, it is a chapel fit for a queen!

On top of the altar where the Salus Populi Romani painting is located is a sculpture depicting Pope Liberius tracing on snow the perimeter of what would be the future Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. It has been said that Mary appeared to a dream to this pope and to a prominent man named John as she wished that a church be built in her honour at a place she will tell them. The sign, as would later be realised by these men, was snow on the Esquiline Hill. Snow which appeared on the 5th of August (now known as the feast of Our Lady of Snows). Strange time for snow to appear in summer, but it was our Mother's way of letting known her message.

We knelt at the first row pew to pray the rosary, but we discontinued it as the bell rang and Mass was to start. Like in St Peter's, the Mass was in Italian. I was glad to see a Filipino Franciscan brother serving as an acolyte at Mass. Before the Mass concluded, a special blessing in honour of the Salus Populi Romani was given by the priest since it was a Saturday. We resumed our rosary recitation after the Eucharistic celebration.

Leaving this beautiful chapel, we passed by the adjacent chapel which was also filled with people, all reciting the rosary. We saw the pilgrim image of Our Lady of Fatima placed in a pedestal filled with flowers.

Walking past that, we approached a marble statue of the Regina Pacis (Queen of Peace) and offered prayers to Our Lady. Whoever created this statue gave us that human side of Jesus, depicted as a playful child while the Virgin Mary raises her left hand with downcast eyes.

Mary has been venerated in many churches all over the world, most especially in Santa Maria Maggiore. Beyond the four corners of these edifices, she will find in her children's hearts a very soft spot - fit only a for such a loving Queen.

Up Next: Basilica with Three Patrons