The Miraculous Icon

It is popularly believed that this miraculous icon (Which is of Oriental Origin) was first brought to Rome from the Mediterranean island of Crete towards the end of the 15^th Century, by a merchant who miraculously survived a terrible storm in the sea on his way to the eternal city. Extraordinary events were attributed top this icon ever since its arrival in Rome where it was given the title of “Mother of Perpetual Help”. The Church of St. Mathew which was at that time between the two well-known Major Roman Basilicasm St. Mary Majors and St. John Lateran, was the first location where it was venerated by Christians in Rome. Records tell us that it was in this Church that from 27^th June 1499 it was venerated for some 300 years. Unfortunately, in 1798, this Church was destroyed by the French Army led by Napoleon.

It so happened that later a new Church was built by the redemptorists almost on the very site where the iold Church of St. Mathew was situated. The icon was discovered amidst the rubble which had miraculously survived the destruction. Having learnt its miraculous history, Pope Pius XI Instruted that the icon should be restored to its original place on which now there was the new;y – built Redemptorist Church. Thus , in 1866 , the same Pope entrusted this imahe to the Redemptorists and solemnly commissioned them as guardians of this miraculous icon, to propagate the devotion it it, saying “ Male her known throughout the world” !

Ever since, the Redemptorists have tirelessly endeavoured to be faithful to this commission of the Pope, and these efforts have been visibly blessed by God, for now the devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help is almost a universal Catholic Phenomenon. The Asian continent has been one of the major locations where this devotion is very popular. The massive Redemptorist Church of Baclaran in Manila, the Philippines, has the record of having never closed its doors ever since it was built, for day in and day out , hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock there to pray to this icon. Every Wednesday, well over 100,000 pilgrims attend the many sessions of the Novena devotions to this icon in Baclaran. In Singapore, thousand of both Chritian and non - Christian devotees flock to the Redemptorist novena devotions to this icon in Baclaran. In Singapore, thousand of both Christian and non Christian devotees flock to the Redemptorist novena church every Saturday.This Singaporean Shrine is so popular in that country there is a separate underground station named after this devotion as “novena”. Other renowned shrines dedicated to the Mother of Perpetual Help are the Basilica of Perpetual Help in Boston, USA , the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Santiago, Chile, the Shrine of Curtiba, Brazail,the Redemptorist Church. Belfast, Ireland,the Shrine of Perpetual Help Krakow (which the late Pope John Paul II Used to often go to, as a young man.) Moreover , the nation of Haiti is consecrated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.