Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Saturday, June 27th Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
Today is the traditional Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a title of Our Lady that reminds us of her role as our heavenly Mother who is eager to assist us in our every need. This Marian title stems from an ancient icon, which—according to some traditions—was painted by St. Luke, who himself knew Our Lady during her earthly life. Other traditions hold that the icon has a Greek origin that traces to the thirteenth century.
We know for certain that, by the fifteenth century, the icon was known to be very old, and the Christians of Crete hid it from the invading Turks. During that turbulent time, many Christians fled for safer lands, and one brought with him the ancient icon of Our Lady. During his voyage to Italy, his ship encountered a storm so severe that all aboard feared shipwreck. The Christian brought out the icon and held it high above the deck, imploring Our Lady for help. The fifteenth-century document that recounts the incident tells us that “[w]ithin a few minutes the skies were cleared and the ocean calmed” (catholicism.org). This is the first recorded miracle associated with the icon, as well as the first recorded instance of Our Lady’s being invoked as “Our Perpetual Help” (catholicism.org).
The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help contains beautiful artistic symbolism, which can draw us closer to our Blessed Mother under this important title. On the right side of the icon is St. Gabriel bearing a cross and nails. On the left side of the icon, St. Michael holds a lance, wine-soaked sponge, and Crown of Thorns. Interestingly, both archangels are presenting these instruments of Our Lord’s Passion to the Child Jesus as trophies, holding them reverently and triumphantly rather than mournfully. The Christ Child gazes upward at the angels while clutching His Mother’s hand, a reminder to us that Our Lady is always near to help us bear our own crosses.
Today’s Epistle, taken from the Book of Lamentations, tells us to “[p]our out [our] heart[s] like water in the presence of the Lord.” Since Our Lord gave us His Mother from the Cross, we should likewise pour out our hearts like water to her, for never has any mother loved her children as much as Our Lady loves each one of us. We know that crosses and sufferings are inevitable in this life. However, like the Child Jesus held safe in His Mother’s arms, we can turn to Our Lady in our distress, for she is perpetually near to help us.
On this Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, may we entrust ourselves once again to our Blessed Mother, confident in her unfailing help for all our needs.
Most Holy Theotokos save us!
Grace has a strange habit of arriving where pride runs out of breath. That is why the humble always seem to know more than the clever.