Snow in Alabama January 2014. Our Lady of Snows, Pray for Us!

"Lo, I will spread prosperity over her like a river..." 

Liturgy of the Hours Thursday, January 30th, 2014

January brought a big surprise to our area~a snow storm with freezing temperatures not experienced in many years.  We were all doing our school work when it began to snow.  We could not resist but to go down to our river to capture how the snow blanketed our pathways.

Snow creates a visual world, otherwise not obvious to the passing pilgrim.  The snow gives us the dimension of branches and surfaces, that otherwise blend into nature.  As the snow enhances the branches of a tree, so our Lady enhances and magnifies our Lord in every way if we invite her to accompany us on our journey in life.  She was chosen to bring Jesus to the world and continues to bring us to her son, and show us His ways...

"Our Lady of my pathways, guide me, accompany me and teach me the ways of your Son.  Magnify His presence, always before me." ~Sharon

In 352, AD, a man named John and his wife, dedicated their wealth and providence to our Lady, as an expression of their love and devotion to her.  How they were to give of their wealth was a prayer petition they entrusted to our Lady, suggested by Pope Liberius at the time. 

In answer, the Virgin Mother during the night of August 5, appeared to John and his wife and also to the Holy Father, Pope Liberius, directing them to build a church in her honor on the crown of the Esquiline Hill. And what would be the sign that John and his wife had requested? 

“Snow will cover the crest of the hill.” 

During the night, fresh-fallen blanketed and outlined where the Church was to be built and now stands as one of the four major basilica's in Rome, 

and is now knows as Saint Mary Major.    

We visited this place during our pilgrimage to Rome in Thanksgiving for 25 year anniversary of our marriage in May 2010. 

Then, and Now. 

Our Lady of Snows, rich in unexpected blessings at unexpected times,

Magnify, Surprise, and bless us with the blanket of your graces and love.

Show to us, you Son.

We pray for Pope Francis, guiding us safely through the storms of the day.