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Description
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
© Cecilia Lawrence
June 27th 2013
Watercolor and Ink; GIMP
4.5 by 6 inches

"Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned.
Hail, by angels mistress owned.
Root of Jesse, Gate of Morn
Whence the world's true light was born:
Glorious Virgin, Joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in heaven they see;
Fairest thou, where all are fair,
Plead with Christ our souls to spare."
~ Ave Regina Caelorum (www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAi6T7… )

Hey everyone! Happy Feast of the First Martyrs of Rome! I just got the chance to scan this and upload it, even though I had finished it several days ago. I didn’t like the other image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that I did last year (this one: theophilia.deviantart.com/art/… ), so I decided to do one in a little icon size, and I am much, much happier with how this one turned out. I wanted to try and make a more naturalistic icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, one where she looks like a young girl and Jesus actually looks like a baby.

The Symbolism of the Icon

In this icon, the little Christ Child sees a vision of the instruments of His future Passion, borne by the Archangel Gabriel (on the right, reverently holding the Cross and nails in the folds of his cloak) and the Archangel Michael (on the left, bearing the spear, gall and sponge). The Infant Christ, frightened by this apparition, flees to the comforting refuge of His Mother’s arms so quickly that one of His little sandals has become unfastened and has almost fallen off. Mary’s head inclines gently over His’, while He nestles against her heart while staring up with both apprehension and resolution at the Cross. His hands’ are placed in Mary’s, indicating that He has entrusted Himself completely to her. Mary’s hand, however, does not grip His’ tightly. Her hand is open, as if as an invitation for us to place our hands in hers’ as well. This particular icon is known in the East as the "Theotokos of the Passion." It is in the Hodegetria iconic style, meaning "She who shows the Way", which is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin holding the Christ Child in one arm and pointing to Him with the other. In this posture Mary holds the viewer's attention and points beyond herself to the Child in her arms to show that He is "the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). Mary holds our gaze with hers’, which is loving, compassionate, and deeply sad, as she ponders in her heart the prophetic words of Simeon. Nevertheless, her eyes reassure us of her sure protection and most kind help.

The History of the Icon

Carbon-14 tests have dated the creation of this icon to somewhere between 1332 and 1480. The iconographer is unknown, but the icon is clearly from a school of later icons influenced by both Byzantine and Western schools (i.e. the Cretan school). The earliest account of the icon comes from a parchment found attached to it that related a story about a shipwrecked merchant from Crete. This merchant was sailing to Rome with the icon when a severe storm threatened to send them to the bottom of the Mediterranean. The passengers all prayed to God to save them through the intercession of the Mother of God. They were saved and eventually made it to Rome where the merchant fell ill. On his deathbed, he asked a friend of his to make sure the icon was placed in a church in Rome for public veneration. His friend did not fulfill his request, and instead kept it at his house. The Mother of God was said to have come in many visions to various family members imploring them to have the icon put into a church. Finally, the icon was placed in the Church of Saint Matthew, between the Bascilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran on March 27th 1499. It remained there for some three hundred years in the keeping of the Augustinian friars, where it was called “the Madonna of St. Matthew.”

When Rome was invaded by the French armies of Napoleon in 1798, they took the Pope prisoner and destroyed many churches, including St. Matthews. Fortunately, the friars were able to save the icon and they hid it in the church of St. Eusebius. In 1855, the Redemptorists (founded by St. Alphonsus Ligouri) purchased the land where St. Matthews had been, and later they built the church of St. Alphonsus Ligouri and placed the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help there. Ever after, the icon has enjoyed a close association with the Redemptorist Order which in turn has helped to spread and foster devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help among Roman Catholics.

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Mary, my Mother, your love for us could not be greater or more powerful. You are rich in love and your power brings us relief. You want everyone to be saved. I beg you therefore, protect me in temptation and strengthen me when I weaken. I struggle daily to be faithful to Jesus your son. Help me my Mother at every moment. But above all take me by the hand when you see that I am weakening and about to fall. I will have to battle with temptation till the day I die. My Lady, you are my hope, my refuge, my strength; never let me lose the grace of God. In every temptation I resolve to turn to you at once and pray: Mary help me. - St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and God's mercy is from age to age on those who love God. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Dear Mother of Perpetual Help from the cross Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. You are the kindest the most loving of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children as we now ask you to help us in all our needs. While you were on earth, dear Mother you willingly shared in the sufferings of your Son. Strengthened by your faith and confidence in the fatherly love of God you accepted the mysterious designs of His will.

The Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is June 27th.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
What shall I ask of thee?
I do not sigh for the wealth of earth
For the joys that fade and flee.
But, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
This do I long to see:
The bliss untold which your arms enfold
The treasure upon your knee.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
I toss on a stormy sea,
Oh, lift your Child as a beacon light
To the port where I fain would be.
And, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
This do I ask of thee,
When the voyage is o’er,
O stand on the shore
And show Him at last to me.

Description
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
© Cecilia Lawrence
June 27th 2013
Watercolor and Ink; GIMP
4.5 by 6 inches

"Hail, O Queen of Heaven enthroned.
Hail, by angels mistress owned.
Root of Jesse, Gate of Morn
Whence the world's true light was born:
Glorious Virgin, Joy to thee,
Loveliest whom in heaven they see;
Fairest thou, where all are fair,
Plead with Christ our souls to spare."
~ Ave Regina Caelorum (www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAi6T7… )

Hey everyone! Happy Feast of the First Martyrs of Rome! I just got the chance to scan this and upload it, even though I had finished it several days ago. I didn’t like the other image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that I did last year (this one: theophilia.deviantart.com/art/… ), so I decided to do one in a little icon size, and I am much, much happier with how this one turned out. I wanted to try and make a more naturalistic icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, one where she looks like a young girl and Jesus actually looks like a baby.

The Symbolism of the Icon

In this icon, the little Christ Child sees a vision of the instruments of His future Passion, borne by the Archangel Gabriel (on the right, reverently holding the Cross and nails in the folds of his cloak) and the Archangel Michael (on the left, bearing the spear, gall and sponge). The Infant Christ, frightened by this apparition, flees to the comforting refuge of His Mother’s arms so quickly that one of His little sandals has become unfastened and has almost fallen off. Mary’s head inclines gently over His’, while He nestles against her heart while staring up with both apprehension and resolution at the Cross. His hands’ are placed in Mary’s, indicating that He has entrusted Himself completely to her. Mary’s hand, however, does not grip His’ tightly. Her hand is open, as if as an invitation for us to place our hands in hers’ as well. This particular icon is known in the East as the "Theotokos of the Passion." It is in the Hodegetria iconic style, meaning "She who shows the Way", which is a depiction of the Blessed Virgin holding the Christ Child in one arm and pointing to Him with the other. In this posture Mary holds the viewer's attention and points beyond herself to the Child in her arms to show that He is "the Way and the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6). Mary holds our gaze with hers’, which is loving, compassionate, and deeply sad, as she ponders in her heart the prophetic words of Simeon. Nevertheless, her eyes reassure us of her sure protection and most kind help.

The History of the Icon

Carbon-14 tests have dated the creation of this icon to somewhere between 1332 and 1480. The iconographer is unknown, but the icon is clearly from a school of later icons influenced by both Byzantine and Western schools (i.e. the Cretan school). The earliest account of the icon comes from a parchment found attached to it that related a story about a shipwrecked merchant from Crete. This merchant was sailing to Rome with the icon when a severe storm threatened to send them to the bottom of the Mediterranean. The passengers all prayed to God to save them through the intercession of the Mother of God. They were saved and eventually made it to Rome where the merchant fell ill. On his deathbed, he asked a friend of his to make sure the icon was placed in a church in Rome for public veneration. His friend did not fulfill his request, and instead kept it at his house. The Mother of God was said to have come in many visions to various family members imploring them to have the icon put into a church. Finally, the icon was placed in the Church of Saint Matthew, between the Bascilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran on March 27th 1499. It remained there for some three hundred years in the keeping of the Augustinian friars, where it was called “the Madonna of St. Matthew.”

When Rome was invaded by the French armies of Napoleon in 1798, they took the Pope prisoner and destroyed many churches, including St. Matthews. Fortunately, the friars were able to save the icon and they hid it in the church of St. Eusebius. In 1855, the Redemptorists (founded by St. Alphonsus Ligouri) purchased the land where St. Matthews had been, and later they built the church of St. Alphonsus Ligouri and placed the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help there. Ever after, the icon has enjoyed a close association with the Redemptorist Order which in turn has helped to spread and foster devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help among Roman Catholics.

Prayer to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Mary, my Mother, your love for us could not be greater or more powerful. You are rich in love and your power brings us relief. You want everyone to be saved. I beg you therefore, protect me in temptation and strengthen me when I weaken. I struggle daily to be faithful to Jesus your son. Help me my Mother at every moment. But above all take me by the hand when you see that I am weakening and about to fall. I will have to battle with temptation till the day I die. My Lady, you are my hope, my refuge, my strength; never let me lose the grace of God. In every temptation I resolve to turn to you at once and pray: Mary help me. - St. Alphonsus Ligouri

Mother of Perpetual Help, you have been blessed and favored by God. You became not only the Mother of the Redeemer, but Mother of the redeemed as well. We come to you today as your loving children. Watch over us and take care of us. As you held the child Jesus in your loving arms, so take us in your arms. Be a mother ready at every moment to help us. For God who is mighty has done great things for you, and God's mercy is from age to age on those who love God. Intercede for us, dear Mother, in obtaining pardon for our sins, love for Jesus, final perseverance, and the grace always to call upon you, Mother of Perpetual Help.

Dear Mother of Perpetual Help from the cross Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. You are the kindest the most loving of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children as we now ask you to help us in all our needs. While you were on earth, dear Mother you willingly shared in the sufferings of your Son. Strengthened by your faith and confidence in the fatherly love of God you accepted the mysterious designs of His will.

The Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is June 27th.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us!

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
What shall I ask of thee?
I do not sigh for the wealth of earth
For the joys that fade and flee.
But, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
This do I long to see:
The bliss untold which your arms enfold
The treasure upon your knee.
Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
I toss on a stormy sea,
Oh, lift your Child as a beacon light
To the port where I fain would be.
And, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ
This do I ask of thee,
When the voyage is o’er,
O stand on the shore
And show Him at last to me.