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Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Icon
Christian Art At Its Best
Click Image to Enlarge
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Item Number: R-15P
Price:
$45.00
Quantity:
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Our Mother of Perpetual
Help is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary after
a 15th century Byzantine icon painted in gold. Enjoy this exquisitly detailed
work of art right in your very own home for hours of enjoyment!
The earliest
written account about the image is from a Latin and Italian plaque that was
placed in the church of Saint Matthew where it was first venerated by the
public in 1499. The painter of the icon is unknown, but according to legend,
the icon was stolen by a merchant from Crete who was sailing to Rome. The
merchant supposedly sailed and hid the icon and while traveling on sea, and a
storm hit hard and the sailors prayed to the icon for help. When the merchant
arrived in Rome, he fell ill and asked for another merchant friend to find a
church where the icon would be venerated as his dying wish. The merchant then
confided to his wife about the icon. Upon seeing the beautiful icon, the
merchant's wife refused to give it to the church but instead hung it in her
home.Later on, the Virgin Mary appeared to the merchant's daughter who asked
that the icon be turned into a parish for veneration. The Virgin Mary
indicated to the little girl that she be placed between the basilicas of St.
Mary Major and St. John Lateran. The wife then went to the Augustinian Friars
to whom she gave up the icon.
On March 27, 1499,
the icon was transferred to the church and the icon was venerated there for
300 years. In 1798, the governor of Rome, General Massena ordered several
churches in Rome closed and destroyed. St. Matthew was one of these churches.
The perpetual help icon was taken by the Augustinian fathers, who moved to a
nearby church, St. Eusebius. Later on they moved to Santa Maria Posterula
where the icon was moved to a side altar. Pope Pius IX had invited a group of
priests called the Redemptorists to set up a Marian house of veneration in
Rome. They stationed in Via Merulana, not knowing that it was once the church
of San Mateo and shrine of the once-famous icon. One day, a Redemptorist
father heard stories of the icon and the church that it was once enshrined in.
The Redemptorist built a small church next to the building called St. Alphonse
of Ligouri.
The Father General
of the Redemptorists, Most Rev. Nicholas Mauron, decided to bring the whole
matter to the attention of Pope Pius IX. The Pope decided that the icon be
exposed to public veneration and the logical site was their church of St.
Alphonse of Ligouri, standing as it did between the Basilicas of St. Mary
Major and St. John Lateran. Pope Pius IX wrote a short memorandum ordering the
Augustinian Fathers of St. Mary in Posterula to surrender the picture to the
Redemptorists, on condition that the Redemptorist supply the Augustinians with
another picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help or a good copy of the icon of
Perpetual Help in exchange. Upon the return of the icon, Pope Pius IX gave the
icon the title Our Mother of Perpetual Help. Today, the icon is under the care
of the Redemptorist fathers of St. Alphonse of Ligouri church where the icon
is now enshrined.
The icon depicts
the Blessed Virgin Mary wearing a dress of dark red with blue mantle and veil. On
the left is the archangel Michael, carrying the lance and sponge as
instruments of Jesus Christ's crucifixion. On the right is the archangel
Gabriel carrying the a 3-bar cross and nails. This type of icon is classified
as hodegetria, where Mary is pointing to her son. The facial expression of the
Virgin Mary is solemn and is looking directly at the person instead of her
son. The Greek initials on top read Mother of God, Michael Archangel, Gabriel
Archangel, and the Jesus Christ, respectively. Jesus is portrayed as if
clinging to his mother with a falling sandal, indicating for help through the
grace of his mother. The icon is painted with a golden background. Since then,
the icon has been venerated all around the world. The icon has been
popularized among many cultures and has had several titles in different
languages such as Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Soccoro, Perpetuo Succursu,
Beata Virgo de Perpetuo Succursu and Mother of Perpetual Soccour.
Have this wonder
for your own decor or as part of an art collection!
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Features
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- Chrisitan wall art to inspire meditation
- Has exceptional details
- Makes a unique religious gift
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Specifications
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Size |
10.25 x 7.5 x 1 |
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Materials |
Cultured Marble |
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Finish |
Colored Details |
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See Also
Other Images
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All Prices in US Dollars
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