OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

The origin of the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Mater Perpetuo de Succursu) were unknown, . The original icon now lies on the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori on Via Merulana, Rome, Italy. It is said that the icon was stolen by a wealthy merchant from the island of Crete (the largest and populated area in Greece) and brought it to Rome. He became very ill. Feeling he would not live any longer, he asked a friend to place it on a church. His friend brought it home. The wife of this man, upon seeing the icon, hung it on their bedroom. The Virgin appeared a couple of times through dreams to the man, asking him to place her icon to a church, He told her wife about the dream and told her that they should obey the Virgin's wish. She disagree. The Blessed Virgin once again appeared, this time to the couple's daughter. The Virgin ask her to tell her mother and grandfather to enshrined her image in a church between two large churches, the Church of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran  The woman relented and followed what the Blessed Virgin had told to her daughter. It was finally enshrined at St. Matthews church in 1499. St. Matthew's church was the home of the icon for 300 years. In 1798, when the French troops occupied Rome, Governor Andre Massena ordered the destruction of 30 churches including St. Matthews. People search the ruins for the icons but could not locate it unaware that the Agustinian Priests brought the miraculous icon  with them to the nearby St. Eusebius Church. After a few decades, Pope Pious IX ordered the Redemptorist fathers to build a house for the veneration of Mary which exactly what they did. They build St. Alphonsus Ligouri Church which is between the church of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. Later they were surprised when they discovered that the very place they choose to be the home of the icon was the very same place where St. Matthews lies a couple of decades ago. The Redemptorist were ordered to spread devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help.

SYMBOLS ON THE ICON OF MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

THE LETTERS - MP OY means mother of God
                            OAPM - The archangel Michael
                            OAPG -  The archangel Gabriel
                            ICXC - Jesus Christ

The ANGEL  on the left  side is Archangel Michael carrying the lance and the sponge used during the crucifixcion of Jesus and on the right side of the image is Archangel Gabriel who carries the nails and the three bar cross which used by the popes. Both angels were wearing veils on the hands which a sign of reverence for holding sacred objects such as the lance and the nails used during the passion of Jesus Christ.

 THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY whose face was full of sorrow on the image The dark red she was wearing means royalty. This was also said to be the color of virgins during the time of Christ. Her blue mantle were the color worn by mothers during that time. 

THE HALOS were symbol of their divinity.



PRAYERS TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP

Behold, O Mother of Perpetual Help, at thy feet a wretched sinner, who has recourse to thee and trusts in thee. O Mother of mercy, have pity on me; I hear all men call thee the refuge and hope of sinners: be therefore my refuge and my hope. Help me for the love of Jesus Christ: hold out thy hand to a fallen wretch, who commends himself to thee and dedicates himself to be thy servant forever. I praise and thank God, who of His great mercy hath given me this confidence in thee, a sure pledge of my eternal salvation. Alas, it is only too true that in the past I have fallen miserably, because I did not come to thee. I know that with thy help I shall conquer; I know that thou wilt help me, if I commend myself to thee; but I am fearful lest in the occasions of sin I shall forget to call upon thee and so I shall be lost. This grace, then, do I ask of thee; for this I implore thee, as much as I can and know how to do; namely, that in the assaults of hell I may ever run to thy protection and may say to thee: Mary, help me; Mother of Perpetual Help, permit me not to lose my God.

NOVENA PRAYER
Dear Mother of Perpetual Help from the cross Jesus gave you to us for our Mother. You are the kindness, the most loving of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children as we now ask you to help us in all our needs especially this one…
(Pause to recall your petitions)
While you were on earth, dear Mother you willing 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. We too have our crosses and trials. Sometimes they almost crush us to the ground. Dearest Mother, share with us your abundant faith and confidence in God. Make us aware that God never ceases to love us; that He answers all our prayers in the way that is best for us. Strengthen our hearts to carry the cross in the footsteps of your Divine Son. Help us to realize that he who shares the cross of Christ will certainly share His resurrection. Dearest Mother, as we worry about our own problems let us not forget the needs of others. You always love others so much; help us to do the same. While praying for our own intentions and for all the intentions of all here present at this Novena we earnestly ask you, our Mother, to help us comfort the sick and the dying give hope to the poor and unemployed, heal the broken-hearted lighten the burden of the oppressed, teach justice to their oppressors and bring back to God all those who have offended Him. Dearest Mother, help us to avoid sin which separates us from our heavenly Father and from one another. Full of trust in you, we place ourselves under the mantle of your maternal protection and confidently hope for your powerful help.
Amen.

Prayer for the Home

Mother of Perpetual Help, we choose you as Queen of our homes. We ask you to bless all our families with your tender motherly love. May the Sacrament of Marriage bind husbands and wives so closely together that they will always be faithful to each other and love one another as Christ love His Church. We ask you to bless all parents, may they love and cherish their children whom God has entrusted to them. May they always give them the example of a truly Christian life. Help them to bring up their children in the love and fear of God. Bless all children that they may love, honor, and obey their fathers and mothers. To your loving care we especially entrust the youth of today. Give us all a sense of responsibility that we may do our part in making our home, a haven of peace like your own home at Nazareth. We take you as our model. Help us to grow daily in genuine love of God and neighbor so that justice and peace may happily reign in the entire family of mankind.
Amen.

Prayer for the Sick

Lord Jesus Christ, you bore our sufferings and carried our sorrows in order to show us clearly the value of human weakness and patience; graciously hear our prayers for the sick. Grant that those who are weighed down with pain and other affliction
of illness, may realize that they are among the chosen ones whom you call Blessed. Help them to understand that they are united with You in your sufferings. For the salvation of the world.
Amen

Thanksgiving Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Blessed Eucharist we adore You. It has please the Father that in you all his fullness should dwell. And that through You He should reconcile all things to Himself. Grant us the grace to be truly grateful for all that our Father has done for us. Grant that we may be truly sorry for our sins and do penance for them. Through you, we thank the Eternal Father for the gift of life. He has created all the wonderful things of this world for us. May we learn to use them well so that through them we may grow in love for Him. Above all, we thank our Father for sending You to us as the greatest expression of His love to save us and all creation by Your death and resurrection. We thank you Lord, for giving us your own Mother, to be our Mother of Perpetual Help.May the countless favors we have received through her intercession, and especially through the Novena inspire us to greater confidence in God’s loving mercy and her perpetual help. Grant us that we may always do the holy Will of God and persevere in His love. To the most Holy Trinity Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be honor, glory and thanksgiving forever and ever.
Amen.


SONGS TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

Immaculate Mother

Immaculate Mother to you do we plead to ask God our Father; for help in our need.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
We pray for our country the land of our birth we pray for all nations, that peace on earth.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
Amen

Mary Immaculate Star of the Morning

Mary Immaculate, star of the morning. Chosen before the creation began, Destined to bring through the light of your dawning, conquest of Satan and rescue to man. Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying. Look to this earth, where your footsteps have trod. Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying. Mary Immaculate, Mother of God. Grant us the shield of your mighty protection. Measure your aid by the depth of our need. Bend from your throne at the voice of our crying. Look to this earth, where your footsteps have trod. Stretch out your arms to us, living and dying. Mary Immaculate, Mother of God.

Mother of Christ

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 over O stand on the shore and show Him at last to me.

O Saving Victim

O saving Victim opening wide the gate of heaven to men below!
Our foes press on from every side, Your aid supply, Your strength bestow.
To your great name be endless praise. Immortal God-head, one in three;
Oh, grant us endless length of days in our true native land with thee. Amen…

Let us Raise our Voice

Let us raise our voice to proclaim our faith Christ the Lord for us has died. Dying, He destroyed our death, Rising, He restored our life. O Lord Jesus, we await Your last return in glory, When we eat the bread and we drink the cup in the blessed Eucharist, We meet You, our Risen Savior giving life to us anew. Through life’s journey, be with us, to strengthen us forever.
Amen.

O Sacrament Most Holy

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving, Be every moment thine, Be every moment thine.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.