Today the Church celebrates the dedication of the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major. Pope Sixtus III built the basilica in honor of the Holy Mother of God which was dedicated in 435. It holds particular significance for Catholics because its name fully recognizes the fact that the Jesus’ mother is the Mother of God. The fact that Mary was both the mother of Jesus and of God was proclaimed after the Council of Ephesus in 431. This meant that when the basilica was constructed it was a very strong physical representation of the newly cemented idea of Mary’s motherhood. In addition, it is know as the oldest western church honoring the Blessed Virgin.