Tesserae as time machine: 5th and 13th century mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome Who was Saint Balbina of Rome and what was the significance of her role in the early Catholic Church? Saint Balbina of Rome was a virgin martyr and saint in the early Catholic Church who lived in the 2nd century during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. However, there is little historical information about her life, and much of what we know comes from Christian tradition and legend. According to this tradition, Saint Balbina was the daughter of a Roman tribune named Quirinus. After converting to Christianity, she was baptized by Pope Alexander I, who was imprisoned with her father for their faith. When her father fell ill, Saint Balbina prayed for his healing, promising that they would both dedicate their lives to the service of God and His Church. Miraculously cured, Quirinus converted, was baptized, and later died as a martyr. Despite living at a time when Christians were heavily persecuted, Saint Balbina remains dedicated to her faith. The significance of her role lies mainly in her demonstration of unwavering commitment to Christianity during its most unstable periods. Her devotion highlights the courage and strength of early Christians in the face of severe opposition. Furthermore, Saint Balbina is closely associated with devotion to the relics of the saints. According to legend, she found the chains of Saint Peter and brought them to Pope Alexander I. This led to the identification of two chains as those that bound Peter during his imprisonment, solidifying her as a key figure in the veneration of relics within Catholic tradition. Today, Saint Balbina is commemorated on March 31st in the Roman Martyrology. She is invoked as the patron saint for those suffering from scrofula, a form of tuberculosis that affects the lymph nodes in the neck. Her life continues to be an inspiration for the faithful, supporting them in their trials and encouraging them to remain steadfast in their commitment to the Lord. What miracles are associated with Saint Balbina of Rome according to Catholic tradition? Saint Balbina of Rome is not directly associated with specific miracles in the same way as some other saints in the Catholic tradition. However, she is tied to a miraculous event through a sacred relic. Saint Balbina was the daughter of a Roman tribune named Quirinus. When he was converted to Christianity by Pope Alexander I, Balbina was cured of a physical ailment, interpreted by some as a form of miracle. The significant miraculous story involving Saint Balbina relates to the discovery of the chains of Saint Peter. According to tradition, when her father Quirinus was converted, he came into possession of the chains that had bound Saint Peter while he was imprisoned in Jerusalem. Balbina, wanting to find the chains from Peter's Roman imprisonment to pair them with the Jerusalem chains, went to pray at the tomb of Saint Peter. She was led by divine guidance to the Mamertine Prison where she found the second set of chains. When the two sets of chains were touched together, they miraculously fused into one as a sign of their authenticity. This relic, known as the Chains of Saint Peter, can still be seen in the Basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. See also The Inspiring Faith Journey of Saint Secunda So, while Saint Balbina herself did not perform miracles of healing or intervention, she is associated with the miraculous discovery and authentication of an important Christian relic. Her feast day is celebrated on March 31st. How is Saint Balbina of Rome honored and celebrated in the Catholic Church today? Saint Balbina is honored in the Catholic Church as a virgin and martyr. Her feast day is celebrated on March 31. Balbina's veneration is particularly strong in Rome, where she spent much of her life. Saint Balbina's memory is preserved in the Church of Saint Balbina in Rome, which was built on the site of her family's home and where she was reportedly buried. This ancient titular church holds significant historical importance and is often visited by Catholics as a way to honor and remember this saint. The Catholic Church celebrates Saint Balbina's feast day with a special Mass and prayers. Some faithful may also choose to make a pilgrimage to the Church of Saint Balbina in Rome. Aside from these recognitions, Saint Balbina is invoked as a powerful intercessor. Her story of faith and courage serves as an inspiration to many Catholics today. Prayers are often dedicated to her for those facing trials and tribulations, particularly those associated with maintaining purity and fidelity to their faith. What traits or virtues are most commonly associated with Saint Balbina of Rome and why? Saint Balbina of Rome is most commonly associated with the virtues of faith, courage, and purity. Her strong faith in God was evident throughout her life. Saint Balbina was the daughter of a Roman tribune, Quirinus, who converted to Christianity after witnessing the courage and faith of Pope Alexander I while he was in prison. He and his daughter Balbina visited the Pope in jail, and it was during this visit that Balbina expressed her faith and her wish to adhere strictly to Christian purity. Courage was another virtue exhibited by Saint Balbina. She remained committed to her religious convictions despite the threats and dangers from the Roman authorities. When her father was martyred, she refused to renounce her faith and suffered persecution. Lastly, Saint Balbina is associated with the virtue of purity. According to stories, Saint Balbina made a vow of virginity and dedicated herself to serve God and help the Christian community in Rome. Her emblem is a chain, which is said to represent her personal chain of purity and the physical chains of martyrdom her father endured. Therefore, the life of Saint Balbina serves as a witness to the Christian values of faith, courage, and purity. Her devotion to these virtues during times of great adversity continues to inspire many people today. Can you share any notable stories or legends from the life of Saint Balbina of Rome that have shaped her sainthood in the Catholic Church? Certainly, I'd be delighted to share about the life of Saint Balbina of Rome, who remains a revered figure in the Catholic Church. Saint Balbina was an early Christian virgin martyr and saint, whose feast day is celebrated on March 31st. She was the daughter of a Roman tribune named Quirinus. After Quirinus was martyred for his Christian faith, Balbina honored her father's heritage by also dedicating herself to Christ. Important moments in the story of Saint Balbina include: Miracle of her father's chains: According to tradition, Saint Balbina visited Saint Peter in prison and noticed he wore chains. She asked him if being touched by a prisoner's chains would help with her throat ailments. St. Peter replied that only faith in Jesus could heal her. However, she touched his chains out of reverence for his sanctity, and she was miraculously healed. The chains of Saint Peter: Saint Balbina is frequently depicted holding chains in sacred iconography due to the significance of this event. These chains became greatly valued relics, which were later enshrined in the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli (Saint Peter in Chains) in Rome. Balbina's Martyrdom: In the face of persecution under Emperor Hadrian, Balbina refused to renounce her faith. As a result, she was beheaded and joined the ranks of early Christian martyrs. Her legendary story and courageous faith have shaped the legacy of Saint Balbina in the Catholic Church. Whether these events occurred or are product of pious tales, they still serve to inspire Catholics today. Furthermore, the chains she is associated with are important relics that continue to remind us of the Church’s early start and the bravery of the first Christians.
Read more here: https://catholicsaints.day/balbina-of-rome/
Un santuario de Bariloche conecta a la Argentina con la última voluntad del Papa
Mientras en Roma se prepara el entierro de Francisco en la Basílica de Santa María la Mayor dedicada a la Virgen de las Nieves, en la Patagonia crece otro santuario consagrado a esta advocación, un escenario de un fenómeno que mezcla fe, misterio y presuntas apariciones marianas
La mujer asegura que la Virgen le transmite mensajes en fechas específicas: cada 9 de diciembre, el 25 de marzo y cada primer sábado del mes.
Respecto al contenido, señala que muchos mensajes están dirigidos “a toda la humanidad”, aunque también hay otros personales. Entre los más llamativos, asegura que la Virgen le anticipó la pandemia y le advirtió sobre futuras “pestes”. También le habría pedido priorizar el cuidado de los enfermos por sobre los indigentes, “porque los primeros están postrados y no pueden buscar ayuda por sí mismos”.
La medalla de la Virgen de Las Nieves
¿Dónde se encuentra el santuario?
Sobre la ruta provincial 82, cerca del cruce al cerro Catedral, se encuentra la histórica gruta de la Virgen de las Nieves, cuya imagen fue entronizada en 1945. La iniciativa fue del jefe de la Escuela Militar de Montaña, quien mandó a instalar la imagen tras sobrevivir milagrosamente a un accidente automovilístico. Desde entonces, el sitio se convirtió en punto de peregrinación para montañistas y fieles. Subiendo el llamado “Camino de los Ángeles” se erige el Santuario, que es a cielo abierto sin paredes con un altar, una imagen gigante del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y la del capuchino San Leopoldo Mandic. Los peregrinos asisten a pedir curaciones milagrosas y muchas mujeres en busca de un embarazo.
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Video: Nuestra Señora de las Nieves en la Patagonia
Presuntas apariciones
Desde hace unos años una multitud se reúne el 9 de diciembre y 25 de marzo para ser testigos de las presuntas apariciones marianas, que según testimonios a los que accedió Infobae, se acompañan con una danza del sol y el olor intenso a rosas.
El rezo del rosario comienza, la guía anuncia por micrófono que en el tercer misterio la “Virgen suele presentarse y dar un mensaje” por lo tanto pide estado de recogimiento. Comienza el primer misterio, con reflexiones sobre los mensajes de San Leopoldo Mandic. Sigue el segundo misterio. Mientras el cielo y las nubes toman un aspecto diferente. El sol de repente se mueve vertiginosamente, algunos lo ven y otros no. Las nubes se colorean de tenue celeste y rosa. Penetrantes rayos dorados iluminan el altar y las imágenes religiosas, de acuerdo a los testigos.“
La virgen ha descendido del sol” dice la intérprete que se encuentra al lado de la mujer, quien con voz tenue susurra lo que la mujer de al lado repite fuerte y claro.
“Han sido invitados ustedes por mí, para que estén cerca de mi corazón. Está mi hijo Jesús a mi lado, que los bendecirá. Yo estoy aquí, soy la madre del amor. En este lugar hay gracias infinitas de sanación, en cada enfermo que viene a este lugar, que Dios así ha querido que este lugar sea parte del cielo. Soy la Virgen de las Nieves”, Así se escucha por micrófono el anunciado mensaje de un 9 de diciembre.
En una pequeña canasta hay escarpines de muchos colores. La señora que repite el mensaje dice: “Los escarpines son para las madres que quieren tener hijos o que se encuentran gestando un embarazo, están bendecidos por Jesús”.
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Patrona de Buenos Aires
Nuestra Señora de las Nieves es la patrona de la Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires y su figura aparece incluso en el antiguo escudo de la ciudad. El patronazgo data al menos del año 1611, cuando las Actas del Cabildo ya mencionaban la celebración litúrgica en su honor cada 5 de agosto. Sin embargo, parece un patronazgo olvidado entre los porteños ya que no se visibiliza ninguna imagen de esta Virgen en la Catedral de Buenos Aires.
La última voluntad del Papa
Santa María la Mayor, el lugar elegido por el Papa para su descanso eterno
El vínculo entre este santuario en Bariloche y Roma adquiere una dimensión simbólica tras conocerse el testamento del papa Francisco, donde expresa su deseo de que sus restos descansen junto a la imagen de la Salus Populi Romani. “Deseo que mi último viaje terrenal termine precisamente en este antiguo santuario mariano, donde siempre me detengo a rezar al inicio y al final de cada viaje apostólico, confiando mis intenciones a la Madre Inmaculada y dando gracias por su dulce y maternal cuidado”, escribió el pontífice.
Así, mientras en Roma se honra a la Virgen que acompañó al papa argentino durante sus años de pontificado, en la Patagonia florece una devoción paralela, con sus propios signos y testimonios. Un santuario en construcción, una fe que se renueva día a día y una historia que, entre la tradición y lo extraordinario, continúa creciendo al pie de la montaña.
Aclaración del Obispado de San Carlos de Bariloche
Una vez publicada esta nota, el Obispo de Bariloche, Monseñor Juan Carlos Ares, aclaró que la construcción del Santuario corresponde a una iniciativa de la Asociación Civil Laica Misionera Santuario Virgen Madre de las Nieves, la cual “no cuenta con ningún tipo de aprobación diocesana”.
“Es una iniciativa privada que ha surgido por las supuestas revelaciones de la Virgen a la señora que aparece en la nota de dicho medio periodístico. Por otro lado la Gruta de la Virgen de las Nieves, declarada Lugar Sagrado con motivo del Año Jubilar de la Esperanza, no tiene nada que ver con el proyecto de esta asociación, ya que es patrimonio del pueblo fiel de esta iglesia diocesana y objeto de peregrinación de miles de pobladores y turistas”, especificó.
On Saturday afternoon Pope Francis went to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray.
In another surprise visit by Pope Francis early Saturday afternoon, Vatican sources confirmed that the Pontiff visited the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and stopped to pray before the icon of the Virgin, Salus Populi Romani, on the eve of Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
The Pope's previous surprise events
On Thursday, Pope Francis visited St. Peter's Basilica to check the progress of the restoration of two funerary monuments, those of Popes Paul III and Urban VIII, whose works will be presented on Sunday.
Before moving on to the tomb of Pius X, where he gathered in prayer, the pope, who was wearing trousers and a poncho instead of his usual white suit, met two restorers who were on site to carry out the final touches. He had them called by the Vatican gendarmerie and thanked them in person.
The Pope is still recovering after a long stay at the Gemelli polyclinic with double pneumonia. Nonetheless, he met the British royals on Wednesday during an unscheduled interview as they visited Rome. Last Sunday, he appeared in St. Peter's Square at the end of the mass for the Jubilee of the sick and healthcare workers.
In this image released by Vatican Media, Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla meet Pope Francis at The Vatican, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Vatican Media via AP
THE MIRACLE OF THE SNOW AT ROME'S SANTA MARIA MAGGIORE
Thu 21 Sep 2023
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Every year on August 5th, right at the height of the fierce Italian summer, Romans descend on the ancient basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to celebrate one of the city’s strangest miracles.
The subject of the festivities is La Madonna Della Neve, or the Madonna of the Snows, and features the recreation of a miraculous summer snowfall that, according to venerable Christian legend, took place at the site of the future church on this day in the year 358 AD.
The annual modern spectacle, which is organised by the Italian Ministry of Culture in conjunction with the Vatican authorities and has been ongoing since 1983, includes the artificial snowfall - snowflakes are represented by foaming suds blown through the stifling summer air - a spectacular light show where a kaleidoscope of coloured lights flicker and illuminate the beautiful church facade, and a musical performance and parade by the Carabinieri police band. Reminding us that this is a religious celebration, two masses of Thanksgiving to the Madonna take place at 10 am and 5 pm. But what is the legend of the miraculous Snow, and why is the story so important for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore?
Santa Maria Maggiore at night
The story takes us all the way back in time to the fourth century. The practising of Christianity had only been legalised by the Emperor Constantine a few short decades earlier, and the Faith still had some way to go before it would finally become the dominant religion of the Empire. Nonetheless, Christianity was attracting plenty of converts in Rome from all classes of society, and amongst the zealous new converts was a wealthy nobleman by the name of Giovanni and his wife.
The childless couple had plenty of cash that they wished to use to aid the Christian community, and so they prayed to the Virgin Mary for advice on how to best use their capital. The Madonna soon obliged, appearing in a dream to the couple in which she instructed them to finance a new church at the side of the miraculous summer snow that would fall that very night on Rome‘s Esquiline Hill.
Setting out in search of the promised site, Giovanni soon ran into pope Liberius, who it turned out had experienced the same vision and was himself searching for the location of the promised snow.
Jacopo Zucchi's Miracle of the Snow, Vatican Pinacoteca
Having found the thick white carpet of snow on the Esquiline slopes, the pontiff proceeded to trace the outline of the church-to-be in the snow. Masons and artisans were soon called to the site, and construction on the basilica began with Giovanni and his wife’s largesse funding the works. A beautiful 16th-century painting now in the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums by the artist Jacopo Zucchi shows an eager crowd gathered around the summer snow as the Pope marks out the perimeter of the basilica walls with a hoe, as a motley cast of bishops, prelates and altar boys watch on. Giovanni and his wife kneel in wonder at the miraculous event.
The Virgin Mary looks down over Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore from the Column of Peace
No trace of the original basilica traced by Liberius on that distant snowy morning remains - the church now standing on the site is still pretty ancient however, dating from the 430s. Within, an original cycle of 5th-century mosaics high on the nave walls beneath the windows are amongst the oldest and most beautiful Christian artworks in Italy. Vibrant scenes from the Old Testament lives of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses are represented in the realistic style of classical art, contrasting with the fabulous, more abstract 13th-century Byzantine mosaics in the apse. In the crypt beneath the high altar meanwhile are supposed remains of Christ’s manger, housed in an elaborate crystal reliquary. Santa Maria Maggiore is a must-visit on any trip to Rome!
The festival of the miraculous snowfall at Santa Maria Maggiore will take place between 9 PM and midnight in the piazza in front of the basilica on Saturday 5th August 2023.
The Basilica 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 of Santa Maria Maggiore (also referred to as Santa Maria delle Nevi from its Latin origin Sancta Maria ad Nives), is one of the four major papal basilicas as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the largest Marian church in Rome, Italy. Santa Maria Maggiore is the first Marian sanctuary in the Western world and the mother of all sanctuaries.[2]
Pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between the Holy See and Italy, the Basilica is in Italy and not the Vatican City.[3] However, the Holy See fully 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.
The Basilica is sometimes referred to as Our Lady of the Snows, a name given to it in the Roman Missal from 1568 to 1969 in connection with the liturgical feast of the anniversary of its dedication on 5 August, a feast that was then denominated Dedicatio 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 that c. 352, during "the pontificate of Liberius, a Roman patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to the Virgin Mary.[6]
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.[7]
The legend is first reported only after the year 1000.[8] It may be implied in what the Liber Pontificalis of the early 13th century says of Pope Liberius: "He built the basilica of his own name near the Macellum of Livia".[9] It is shown in the early 15th-century painting of the Miracle of the Snow by Masolino da Panicale.[10][b]
The feast was originally called Dedicatio Sanctae Mariae (Dedication of Saint Mary's),[11] and was celebrated only in Rome until it was inserted into the General Roman Calendar, with ad Nives added to its name, in 1568.[5] A congregation appointed by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741 proposed that the reading of the legend be struck from the Office and that the feast be given its original name.[11] No action was taken on the proposal until 1969, when the reading of the legend was removed and the feast was called In dedicatione Basilicae S. Mariae (Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary).[5] The legend is still commemorated by dropping white rose petals from the dome during the celebration of the Mass and during the Second Vespers on the feast day.
The earliest building on the site was the Liberian Basilica or Santa Maria Liberiana, after Pope 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.[12]Liberiana is 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 to Pius 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 under Pope Sixtus III (432–440) by the present structure dedicated to Mary.[12] 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 under Pope Celestine I, the immediate predecessor of Sixtus III.[13]
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"),[14] a name it was given because of its relic of 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 of Pope Theodore I (640–649).[15][16] This name appears in the Tridentine editions of the Roman Missal as the place for the pope's Mass (the station Mass) on Christmas Night,[17] while the name "Mary Major" appears for the church of the station Mass on Christmas Day.[18
The term "Santa Maria Maggiore TIME MACHINE TESSERAE AS TIME MACHINE ROME" refers to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, which is sometimes referred to as a "time machine" due to its mosaic art. Specifically, the mosaics, made of small glass or stone cubes (tesserae), depict scenes from the Bible and the lives of saints, providing a glimpse into the past. The basilica itself is a significant historical monument, built in the 5th century, and contains mosaics dating back to the 5th, 13th, and later centuries, thus offering a unique look into the past.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Santa Maria Maggiore:
This is a major basilica in Rome, one of the oldest churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Time Machine:
The mosaics within the basilica are sometimes referred to as a "time machine" because they allow visitors to literally "see" scenes from the past, including figures and events that are no longer present today.
Tesserae:
These are the small cubes of colored glass or stone used to create mosaics. The mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore are made up of thousands of tesserae, which are arranged in intricate patterns to create the images.
Rome:
The basilica is located in Rome, which is known for its rich history and numerous historical monuments.
In essence, the use of tesserae to create the mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore allows visitors to experience a visual journey through time, offering a glimpse into the past.
Tesserae as time machine: 5th and 13th century mosaics in ...
5 ene 2023 — and both Christ and Mary look quite substantial. we can see the folds of the drapery that describe their knees. and thei...
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Watch our update instead, link below - Santa Maria Maggiore
17 mar 2012 — we've just walked into the main nave. and it's this enormous gorgeous space but what is interesting when you walk in he...
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Santa Maria Maggiore - Wikipedia
Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the first churches built to celebrate the Virgin Mary, was erected immediately after the Council of E...
Tesserae as time machine: 5th and 13th century mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome · Who was Saint Balbina of Rome and what was the significance of her role in ...
The Museum of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major preserves a wide and precious variety of ecclesiastical furnishings, furniture, vestments, ornaments, ...
In this chapter, I identify a formula of visual and textual features that is as conspicuous as it is constituent among early medieval apse mosaics in Rome.
9 ene 2024 — The Basilica of San Clemente is often known as the "time machine church" due to the fact that it consists of three churches built above one another.
الفقرة السابقة
أول 
En la foto, el Papa recibe la medalla de la virgen Santa María de las Nieves. Luego, la bendijo y pidió que se la llevaran a los enfermos
La medalla de la Virgen de Las Nieves
Santa María la Mayor, el lugar elegido por el Papa para su descanso eterno
Santa Maria Maggiore at night
Jacopo Zucchi's Miracle of the Snow, Vatican Pinacoteca
The Virgin Mary looks down over Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore from the Column of Peace
