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To: bonfire; Petronski; NYer; Kolokotronis; kosta50; Mad Dawg; vladimir998; MarkBsnr; Salvation; ...
Bonfire, this is not addressed to you (but I am leaving you on here as a courtesy since I am quoting part of your post)

“The Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles and savior of the people of Rome, intercede to God for us so that the face of his blessed Son may be shown to our Pope and comfort the Church with the light of the resurrection.”

Interesting story behind that expression "Savior of the people of Rome."

It actually applies to an icon that is located at Santa Maria Maggiore (Salus Populi Romani):

The story behind it (and, as with so many things back then, I can't 100% vouch for what is real and what is legend) is that this icon was written by St. Luke

"The origin of "Luke images" is unknown, but a charming legend has prevailed through the ages. It reveals that after the Crucifixion, when Our Lady moved to the home of St. John, she took with her a few personal belongings--among which was a table built by the Redeemer in the workshop of St. Joseph. When pious virgins of Jerusalem prevailed upon St. Luke to paint a portrait of the Mother of God, it was the top of this table that was used to memorialize her image. While applying his brush and paints, St. Luke listened carefully as the Mother of Jesus spoke of the life of her son, facts which the Evangelist later recorded in his Gospel.

"Legend also tells us that the painting remained in and around Jerusalem until it was discovered by St. Helena in the fourth century. Together with other sacred relics, the painting was transported to Constantinople where her son, Emperor Constantine the Great, erected a church for its enthronement."

(Joan Carroll Cruz, Miraculous Images of Our Lady, 1993, p. 137f.)

Cruz continues recounting of this story with how the relic was named:

During the pontificate of St. Gregory the Great (590-604) a plague viciously attacked the people of Rome, killing entire families. The pontiff fervently prayed to the Blessed Mother. During the Easter festivals he carried her image in solemn procession. Arriving at Hadrian's Mausoleum (now called San Angelo), an angelic choir was heard singing the joyful Resurrection hymn:

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluia;
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluia;
Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia.

Without hesitation, the holy Pontiff added:
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluia.

[Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia; for he whom you did merit to bear, alleluia; has risen as he said, alleluia; pray for us to God, alleluia.]
After the Pontiff spoke these words there appeared above Hadrian's Mausoleum an angel, believed to be St. Michael, who replaced in his scabbard the sword of vengeance which he had held over the city.

Basically, that is how this icon got the name "Salus Populi Romani" and how Hadrian's Mausoleum got the name "Castel Sant'Angelo"

283 posted on 12/08/2009 6:10:58 PM PST by markomalley (Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus)
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To: markomalley

Awesome historical account. Thank you for including me on the ping.


287 posted on 12/08/2009 6:20:59 PM PST by NYer ("One Who Prays Is Not Afraid; One Who Prays Is Never Alone" - Benedict XVI)
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To: markomalley

WHen I lie dying, I want the regina coeli sung. I LOVE the resurrexit/ sicut dixit. I always want to add: So THERE!


290 posted on 12/08/2009 6:23:06 PM PST by Mad Dawg (Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.)
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