Mother of Perpetual Help

What is this Icon all about?

Icons are known as doors or “windows to the divine.” That is, the exaggerated symbolism helps us to look beyond any physical characteristics but allows us to focus on the spiritual realm. Icons are not usually biblically based. They share a story within a story. What spiritual lesson, what understanding of God’s love can we achieve from being in the presence of this icon?

Christ was frightened by the vision of the two angels, showing the instruments of the passion and crucifixion (lance, spear with vinegar, nails and cross), so he ran to his Mother while almost loosing one of his sandals. Although Mary holds Jesus in her arms in a loving and comforting manner she does not focus on Him. Her enlarged eyes looks outward, at us. It is within this very symbolism that the name of the icon comes to life. Mary looks out to us because she is Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

A Brief History of the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help

Some believe the story of Our Mother of Perpetual Help began on the Isle of Crete, where a greedy merchant stole the icon. When the merchant went to Rome, he fell ill and before his death he begged his Roman friend to return the icon to a church.
However, the wife of the Roman placed the icon in her room. But their daughter began having visions from Mary which commanded that the icon should be brought to a church, St. Matthews. Finally, the Roman and his wife brought the icon to St. Matthews, located in Rome in 1499. It was ran by Augustinian priests.

Later, in 1798, Napoleon’s general ordered for the destruction of several churches in Rome, including St. Matthew’s church. After the church was destroyed, no one new what had happened to the icon.

However, years and miles away, an altar server named Michael Marchi was listening to an old sacristan who was telling stories of a picture that was hanging in their chapel. The boy was told how this picture had hung in St. Matthew’s church where many people came to pray. He also listened about how the picture had been rescued before the church was destroyed. The sacristan told Michael to “remember that.”

Michael Marchi later became a Redemptorist priest, coincidentally the same order which had just purchased a plot of land where once stood a church called St. Matthews. The order studied the history of the land and began to wonder what ever happened to the icon.

But Father Michael remembered what the old sacristan had told him when he was only a boy. A few years later, after prayer and discernment, the Redemptorists decided to ask for the picture to be returned to where St. Matthew’s church had once been, especially since it was Mary’s own command to be placed there.

The pope commanded the return of the painting and 75 years later, on April 26,1866 the icon was welcomed back home. Pope Pius IX then gave the Redemptorists a mission and told them to “Make Our Mother of Perpetual Help known throughout the world.”
[Resources: The Mother of Millions, by Terry Matz; Liguori Publications.]

Symbolism
St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel holds the lance and spear with the vessel of vinegar and gall of Christ’s passion. The initial’s above his figure is in Greek and identifies him as St. Michael the Archangel.

St. Gabriel the Archangel
St. Gabriel the Archangel is depicted has holding the cross and nails of Christ’s passion. The initials above his figure is Greek and identifies him as St. Gabriel the Archangel.

Eyes
Mary’s enlarged eyes creates a gaze which demands our attention. Her eyes are “for all our troubles” and are turned toward us perpetually. Her eyes, mouth and ears (ears cannot be seen) create stillness.

Mouth
Mary’s mouth is small for she is silent and speaks little. Her eyes, mouth and ears (ears cannot be seen) create stillness.

Greek Initials for Mary
These initials are found on either side of Mary’s golden crown and are Greek for “Mother of God.”

Greek Initials for Jesus
These initials found to the right of Jesus, are Greek and stand for “Jesus Christ.”

Mary’s Hand
Mary’s hand supports Jesus in a comforting and motherly way. And she will comfort all those who call upon her name.

Falling Sandal
Some say, that perhaps this is the “symbol of a soul clinging by one last thread–devotion to Mary.”

Nimbus / Halo
Found around both Christ and Mary’s head. The nimbus around Jesus’ head has lines forming a cross. Only the Christ would have a cross within his nimbus.

Star
The star on her veil is the “Star of the Sea… who brought the light of Christ to the darkened world…the star that leads us to the safe port of Heaven.”

Golden Crown
The crown was placed on the original picture in 1867, by order of the Holy See. It is not shown on this picture.

Gold Background
The gold background is for divinity and royalty.

Dark Blue Mantle: This was the color worn by mothers in Palestine. Mary is both Virgin and Mother.

Red Tunic: This was the color that was worn by virgins at the time of Christ. Mary is both Virgin and Mother.