Devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help began to spread in 1870 and spread throughout the world. It is a painting from the 13th century, in the Byzantine style.
History
According to tradition, it was brought from Crete, Greece, by a dealer who stole the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the 15th century. His intention was to sell it in Rome. During the crossing of the Mediterranean Sea, a storm almost caused the ship to sink. Arriving in Rome, he fell ill and, repentant, told a friend his story and asked him to return the icon to a Church.
This friend’s wife did not want to return it, but, after becoming a widow, Our Lady appeared to her six-year-old daughter and told her to place the painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in a Church: in the Church of São João Laterão or in the of Santa Maria Maior.
On March 27, 1499, the icon was enthroned in the Church of Saint Matthew, remaining there for more than 300 years.
Forgotten icon
In an invasion, the Church of São Mateus was destroyed. The Augustinians who guarded the Work took it to a hidden place, where it remained forgotten for 30 years. A very devout monk, before he died, told the story to an altar boy, who, some time later, became a Redemptorist priest and helped to find the icon again.
Reencounter
In 1866, Pope Pius IX handed over custody of the image to the Redemptorists and made this recommendation: “Make the whole world know this devotion”. They then made many copies of the icon and spread it throughout the world.
Currently, the original painting can be found in the Church of Saint Alphonsus, in Rome.
Image
With a serious and melancholic countenance, Our Lady carries, in her left arm, the Baby Jesus, to which the Archangel Gabriel presents four carnations and a cross. She is the mistress of death and the queen of life, the safe and certain help of those who invoke her with filial love. The center of the painting is not Our Lady, but Jesus. Mary is, therefore, “the one who shows the way” or as she is better known: “the way of Christ”.
My prayer
“My Mother of Perpetual Help, be my support, my eternal help, my help always. Be my maternal help in all my needs, Mother! I know you never abandon your children! I surrender myself into Your hands! Amen!”
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!
Other saints and blesseds celebrated on June 27th: