Description
Our Lady of Perpetual Help: a Marian icon of the Passion and trust
Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Byzantine-style Marian image associated with a late medieval Cretan icon and venerated in Rome. In 1866 Pope Pius IX entrusted the shrine and the promotion of this devotion to the Redemptorists. The image is cherished because it joins tenderness with the mystery of Christ’s Passion: Mary holds the Child close while directing the faithful toward him as the true source of salvation.
Iconography and theological meaning
The Greek inscriptions identify Mary as Mother of God and the accompanying figures as the Archangels Michael and Gabriel. They present the instruments of the Passion. The Child turns toward them and clasps Mary’s hand; one sandal hangs loosely from his foot, a detail traditionally read as expressing the urgency of his movement. Mary’s gaze meets the viewer, inviting trust while pointing beyond herself to Christ.
For prayer and Christian devotion
This icon supports prayer in anxiety, illness, family difficulty, or any situation that calls for patient confidence in God. It is suitable for a home prayer corner, Marian chapel, parish office, hospital ministry room, or as a substantial Catholic gift for someone seeking Mary’s intercession.
Crafted on linden wood in Poland
Art Christiana makes the icon to order in Poland on a double-primed linden-wood board. The image is applied directly to the prepared surface, enriched with decorative gold-tone schlagmetal, and protected with varnish. A certificate marked with the year of production and a hanging fixture are fitted on the reverse.
