Our Lady of Perpetual Help

JUNE 27, 2013 
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP



Click Our Lady to enlarge and read

The image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help has been very popular among Filipinos of all generations.  The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also better known as the Redemptorist fathers, was founded by St. Alphonsus Liquori whose feast day is celebrated on August 1.  Among other ministries, the Redemptorists are most attached to the devotion of the image.

The original icon is believed to have been written by a person of Greek origin, specifically from the island of Crete, because of the style of the face that was given to Mary and the other figures in the image.  The icon was written on a hard nut wood with a gold leaf background.  

In this particular icon, the halos in the image along with the crowns on the heads of the Virgin Mary and Jesus were added later as originally sacred images were not depicted with a halo or anything of that nature.  The Virgin Mary is dressed in dark red which has been a symbol of Christ's passion.  She is covered in a blue mantle representing the Virgin Mary's perpetual virginity.  She has a star on her forehead pointing to her role as the Star of the Sea.  The stylized cross to the left of this star is said to be an indication of the particular school iconography that wrote the icon.  Our Mother of Perpetual Help carries Jesus in her arms with her fingers virtually pointing to him.  Looking closely, the Virgin Mary actually seems disproportionately larger than Jesus who is depicted to be more a young boy of perhaps ten or twelve years old rather than an infant.  It is said that this intentional so people's attention is drawn to what the Virgin Mary is conveying through the image.  As one looks at the icon immediately the eyes are drawn to the face of the Virgin who seems to make a plea to the faithful looking at her.

According to the legend of the icon, the young Jesus ran to his mother after being frightened by a visit by the Archangels Sts. Michael and Gabriel, both depicted in the icon.  On the left is St. Michael who carries with him the lance and sponge associated with Jesus' crucifixion.  On the opposite side is St. Gabriel who presents to Jesus the cross and nails that would become the instrument of his death.  In his haste to find the comfort of his mother, Jesus almost loses a sandal.  Popular religiosity has proposed the loose sandal to be the lost soul struggling to cling to Jesus as the saviour.  

The Redemptorists were not the original custodians of this image.  The original image was said to have been discovered by a merchant in the 15th century who tried to keep it as his collection.  It was stolen and recovered a couple of times.  Then, during the French occupation of Rome in the 18th century, the Augustinian friars rescued the icon from being destroyed.  Later, the Redemptorist fathers eventually purchased land that has been a site of an ancient church and was given the responsibility of guarding the icon along with the devotion attached to it.  The Redemptorists have been entrusted with the care of the icon since 1865 when Pope Pius IX requested that they become the official caretakers of the beloved image.  The original icon has been kept in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liquori in Rome.

The eyes of Our Mother of Perpetual Help seem to say it all -- Mary holds Jesus the Redeemer.  The instruments of Jesus' redeeming death may seem to be frightening and many faithful may also have become overcome by similar fears in life.  However, the eyes of Mary remind  the faithful that even though the Christian life can be scary she points to Jesus as if to tell his disciples "trust in him because he alone is your Redeemer."

The feast day of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is June 27th.

Jesus the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro  Brazil

In time of trouble run to Our Lady for help.  The more you honor Her, the more Her Son will bless you.

========================
Published  4/9/10  ust1611 multiply
Web Page: Our Lady
========================

This powerpoint was e-mailed by Sandy L. of Illinois, a UST Pharmacy-Medical Technology alumni.
The Ave Maria song is so beautiful.

Here's a PRAYER TO MARY ( by the Marist Brothers) before you click:
O blessed Virgin, pray to God for us always, that He may pardon us and give us grace.
O blessed Virgin, pray to God for us always, that He may grant us peace in this life.
O blessed Virgin, pray to God for us always, that He may reward us with paradise.
Amen.

Attachment: OurLadyofAngels.pps

Note: Attachment broken >  link from Multiply (defunct)


Published  6/22/13  ust1611 blogspot
Blog Page:  Our Lady of Perpetual Help



OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP PARISH  GLENVIEW, ILLINOIS
Fake or Real?