I RECEIVED an invitation from Most Rev. Msgr. Victorino Rivas, rector of the Redemptorist Church, for the Fiesta of their Patroness Our Mother of Perpetual Help tomorrow, June 19.
In addition, the Catholic Church is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the restoration to public devotion of the original icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
What does this mean?
The image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is an icon, painted on wood, and seems to be from around the 13th century. The icon (about 54 x 41.5 centimeters) depicts our Blessed Mother Mary holding the Child Jesus. The Archangels Michael and Gabriel are hovering in the upper corners. St. Michael (in the left corner) holds the spear, the wine-soaked sponge, and the crown of thorns, while St. Gabriel (in the right corner) holds the cross and the nails.
The anguish Jesus feels is shown by the loss of one of His sandals. Nonetheless, the icon also conveys the triumph of Christ over sin and death, symbolized by the golden background (a sign of the glory of the resurrection) and the manner in which the angels hold the instruments, like trophies gathered up from Calvary on Easter morning.
The Child Jesus grasps the hand of the Blessed Mother as if seeking comfort from His mother, as he looks at the instruments of His passion.
The position of Mary’s hands – both holding the Child Jesus (who seems like a small adult) and presenting Him to us – convey the reality of our Lord’s incarnation, that He is true God who became also true man.
In iconography, Mary here is represented as the one who guides us to the Redeemer. She is also our Help, who intercedes on our behalf with her Son. The star painted on Mary’s veil, centered on her forehead, highlights her role in the plan of salvation as both the Mother of God and our Mother.
According to a popular tradition, a merchant acquired the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from the island of Crete and had it shipped to Rome towards the end of the 15th century.
During the voyage, a terrible storm arose, threatening the lives of all on the ship. The passengers and crew prayed to our Blessed Mother, and were saved.
Once in Rome, the dying merchant ordered that the image should be displayed for public veneration. His friend, who retained the image, received further instructions. The Blessed Mother appeared and expressed the desire for the image to be venerated in a Church between the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran in Rome.
The image, consequently, was housed at the Church of St. Matthew, and became known as “The Madonna of Saint Matthew.” Pilgrims flocked to the church for the next 300 years, and great graces were bestowed upon the faithful.
After Napoleon’s troops destroyed the Church of St. Matthew in 1812, the image was transferred to the Church of St. Mary in Posterula, and remained there for nearly 40 years. There, the image was neglected and forgotten.
By divine providence, the forgotten image was rediscovered. In 1866, Blessed Pope Pius IX entrusted the image to the Redemptorists, who had just built the Church of St. Alphonsus, down the street from St. Mary Major.
As a boy, the Holy Father had prayed before the image in the Church of St. Matthew. He ordered the public display and veneration of the image, and fixed the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help as the Sunday before the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. In 1867, when the image was being carried in a solemn procession through the streets, a young child was cured, the first of many recorded miracles attributed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
To this day, the Church of St. Alphonsus displays the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and welcome pilgrims for prayer.
In celebration of the 150 years since the restoration to public devotion of the icon, last May 18, Pope Francis met with 12 Redemptorist priests who presented him 12 specially commissioned jubilee icons of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Pope Francis personally blessed the icons. These icons will go to every Redemptorist Conference. Each Conference will ensure that the icon goes in Visitation to the various communities and shrines so that they have the experience of Mary visiting her pilgrim people. It is the expression and renewal of the Redemptorist’s commitment to the original mandate of Pius IX to “make her known.”
As part of the celebrations for the Jubilee year of the 150th anniversary of the Redemptorists’ receiving the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence.
The indulgence is available to all who make a pilgrimage, between June 27, 2015 and June 27, 2016, to the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome or in any Redemptorist church anywhere in the world to venerate the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
The usual conditions for obtaining a plenary indulgence apply, i.e., the celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
The visit should conclude with the recitation of the Our Father, the Creed and prayers to Our Blessed Mother.
Due to sickness, old age or some other grave reason, those who are not able to make a pilgrimage may also obtain the plenary indulgence. They do this by associating themselves spiritually with the jubilee celebrations and pilgrimages in a spirit of sorrow for their sins and with the intention of fulfilling the usual conditions.
In doing this, they should seek the mercy of God, offering their sufferings before a small icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Pope Francis, the Holy Father, hopes that this significant event will awaken a renewed and authentic devotion to the Holy Virgin, stirring the entire religious family and all who share in its charism
to offer an ever more effective evangelical witness. With these wishes, His Holiness invokes, through the intercession of the Mother of the Redeemer, abundant heavenly graces, and sends the Apostolic Blessing.