Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
June 27
Saint of the day:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Patron Saint of the Republic of Haiti and Almoradi, Spain.
The Story of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Succour) is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary as represented in a celebrated 15th-century Byzantine icon also associated with the same Marian apparition.
The icon has been in Rome since 1499, and is permanently enshrined in the church of Sant' Alfonso di Liguori, where the official Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help text is prayed weekly. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, this artistic iconography is known as the Virgin of the Passion or Theotokos of the Passion due to the instruments of the Passion present on the image.
Due to the Redemptorist Priests, who had been appointed as both custodians and missionaries of this icon by Pope Pius IX in 1865, the image has become very popular among Roman Catholics in particular, and has been very much copied and reproduced. Modern reproductions are sometimes displayed in homes, business establishments, and public transportation.
On 23 June 1867, the image was granted a Canonical Coronation and its official recognition of the Marian icon under its present title. The Redemptorist priests are the only religious order currently entrusted by the Holy See to protect and propagate a Marian religious work of art.
The feast day of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is celebrated on June 27, with novena devotions held every Wednesday. Under Pope Pius XII's Pontificate, our Mother of Perpetual Help was designated as the national Patroness of the Republic of Haiti and Almoradi, Spain.
I love this artist, she is amazing.
https://theophilia.deviantart.com/
Art:
A brief explanation of the symbolism
in the icon of our Lady of Perpetual Help
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Pope Pius IX, associated with a celebrated Byzantine icon of the same name dating from the 15th century. This icon has been in Rome since 1499, and is currently in the church of Sant’Alfonso di Liguori all’Esquilino. The image has become very popular among Roman Catholics in particular, and has been very much copied and reproduced.
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Meaning of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Icon1) Greek initial for Mother of God.
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Greek initial for St. Michael, the archangel.
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Greek initial for St. Gabriel, the archangel.
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Mary’s mouth is small for silent recollection. She speaks little.
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Mary’s eyes are larger, for in all our troubles, they are turned towards us always.
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Star on our Lady’s veil means she is the star of the sea who brought the light Jesus into this world.
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Red tunic is the color worn by virgins at the time of Christ (AD33).
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Christ’s hands turned palms down into his mother’s indicate that the grace of redemption is in her keeping.
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Mary’s left hand supports Christ possessively. That means she is his mother. It’s a comforting hand for everyone who calls on her.
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Dark blue mantle – the color worn by mothers in Palestine. means Mary is both virgin and mother of Christ.
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The entire background is gold representing the heaven.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help -
Golden crown placed on the original picture as a token of many miracles wrought by our lady invoked under the title of perpetual help.
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Greek initials for Jesus Christ.
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Foot with falling sandal represents Christ’s divine nature, barely clinging to earth. The human nature is symbolized in the other foot to which the sandal is more firmly bound. This simply means that Christ has two natures, Human and Divine. http://devotiontoourlady.com/our-lady-of-perpetual-help.html
Prayer:
The Story:
The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help represents the Christian mystery of Redemption.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Byzantine icon that is believed to have its origin sometime during the 13th -15th century. The image is also known as “Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.” The icon is known for being miraculous; over the centuries countless healings and special graces have been attributed to it, so much so that the image has been honored and venerated by many Popes.
The miraculous icon is painted on wood and measures about 20" in height (54 x 41.5 centimeters) and depicts the Virgin Mary, under the title “Mother of God,” holding the Child Jesus.
The Archangels Michael and Gabriel, hovering in the upper corners, hold the instruments of the Passion. St. Michael (in the left corner) holds the spear, the wine-soaked sponge, and the crown of thorns. St. Gabriel (in the right corner) holds the cross and the nails.
The intent of the artist was to portray the Child Jesus contemplating the vision of His future Passion. Frightened by the vision, he runs to his mother for consolation. The anguish He feels is shown by the loss of one of His sandals as he quickly flees into the arms of his Mother.
Despite a forboding vision of suffering, the icon also conveys the triumph of Christ over sin and death, symbolized by the golden background as a sign of the glory of the resurrection. The royal crowns on the heads of Jesus and Mary also symbolize their triumph as the King of Kings with his Queen Mother.
In a very beautiful way, the Child Jesus grasps the hand of the Blessed Mother. He seeks comfort from His mother as He sees the instruments of His passion. The position of Mary’s hands – both holding the Child Jesus (who seems like a small adult) and at the same time presenting Him to us – convey the reality of our Lord’s incarnation, that He is true God who became also true man. https://www.catholiccompany.com/the-meaning-behind-the-our-lady-of-perpetual-help-icon/
Tradition
Celebrating and the Procession
All around the world celebrating and the processions of today's feast are being enjoyed...from Scottsdale, to Nigeria, to the Philippines, and more!
Any Catholic can be consecrated to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and ask her intercession, by following these simple steps:
1) Be enrolled by name at a church or shrine where a confraternity is canonically erected.
The Confraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a spiritual organization whose members are united for the express purpose of honoring and serving the Mother of God under the special title of “Our Mother of Perpetual Help.” The Archconfraternity is canonically established at the church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, where the original image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is venerated.
2) Recite the Act of Consecration to Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Members are urged (but not obligated) to:
a. Renew this Act of Consecration once a month;
b. Have recourse to our Mother of Perpetual Help in every need;
c. Have a Perpetual Help picture in their homes;
d. Wear an Our Mother of Perpetual Help medal;
f. Spread this devotion to others.
Do you have a devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, or any personal stories to share about this icon? Please share in the comments below.
Visit:
Zaragoza, Spain
Recipe:
Something nice to go with morning prayers
Poppy Seed Sour Cherry Blossom Bread
Ingredients / 4 Servings
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4 cups cake flour
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10 oz milk
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3 oz sugar
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1 oz yeast
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1 tablespoon vanilla
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3 drops orange oil (opt)
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3 oz butter
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3 oz oil
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3 egg, beaten
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salt to taste
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zest from 1 lemon (finely grated)
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7 oz poppy seeds
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16 oz sour cherry (seeded and dried)
Directions:
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Mix yeast, sugar, & warm milk flour.
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Let bloom
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Mix remaining Ingredients except for the poppy seeds & cherries.
Mix flour, salt, oil, butter, lemon zest, and egg.
Blend the dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook. -
Form into a ball and let the dough rest covered in a warm place for an hour.
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Once rested roll the dough out and cut out small circle, about an inch thick.
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Place into a spring form pan that has been lined with spray oil and paper.
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Cover the pan with dough circles, then layer with cherries and half of the poppy seeds.
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Repeat and form a double layer for the bread. But just topping with the bread circles and melted butter.
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Let the dough rest again covered until it has doubled in size.
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Bake it in a 350 'F preheated oven until it has brown nicely (about 60 minutes).
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Once baked, sprinkle with remaining poppy seeds and cherries.
