Mary Help Of Christians

Feast of Mary Help of Christians




Today, May 24th is the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, let's take a closer look at how this came to be.


Throughout history, Christians have sought and experienced the motherly love of the Virgin Mary. The title 'Auxilium Christianorum or Help of Christians', acknowledges her role as helper against enemies of the Church and as a most powerful intercessor to her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.


In the Gospel of John 19:26–27, Jesus says: “Woman, behold your son. Son, behold your mother”. Even when he was suffering a painful death, Jesus asked his Mother Mary to look after his favourite disciple and by extension the whole Church. Mary continues to intercede just like she did at the wedding of Cana, asking her son Jesus Christ entirely on her own intuition to help solve the wine problem.


The tradition of the Marian title, Auxilium Christianorum or Help of Christians, dates back to 1571, when the whole of Christendom was saved by Mary as the faithful throughout Europe at the behest of Pope St. Pius V  stormed heaven praying the Holy Rosary. The decisive battle of Lepanto occurred on October 7th 1571, resulting in the victory of the inferior Christian fleet over the superior Muslim Turkish Navy. For this reason, October 7th was been chosen as the feast of the Holy Rosary. In 1573 Pope St. Pius V instituted the Feast of Mary Help of Christians in thanksgiving for the decisive victory that saved Christianity. He also inserted the title of Help of Christians in the litany of Loreto in 1571.


Near the end of the 17th century, Emperor Leopold I of Austria took refuge in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Pasau, when 200,000 Ottoman Turks besieged the capital city of Vienna, but a great victory occurred thanks to Mary Help of Christians: on September 8th, Feast of Our Lady's Birthday, plans were drawn for the battle. On September 12, Feast of the Holy Name of Mary, Vienna was finally freed through the intercession of 'Mary Help of Christians'. All of Europe had joined with the Emperor crying out "Mary, Help!" and praying the Holy Rosary.


In 1809, Napoleon's army stormed the Vatican, arrested Pius VII and brought him in chains, first to Grenoble, and eventually to Fontainebleau where he was imprisoned for over five years. The Holy Father vowed to God that, if he were restored to the Roman See, he would institute a special feast in honour of Mary. 
Military reverses forced Napoleon to release the Pope, and on May 24th  1814, Pius VII returned triumphantly to Rome. Twelve months later, the Pope decreed that the Mary Help of Christians feast be kept on the 24th of May.


In the latter half of the 19th century, St. John Bosco had a particular reverence for this title and made Mary, Help of Christians the patroness of his religious order, the Salesians, about whom he wrote, "The principal objective is to promote veneration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary Help of Christians. This title seems to please the august Queen of Heaven very much."


Prayer to Mary, Help of Christian - by St John Bosco


Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children, 
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you, 
your perpetual help in all my necessities, 
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life. 
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.


References

  1. Mary Help of Christians. (n.d.). Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 23, 2024, from https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55428/mary-help-of-christians
  2. Moyer, G. K. (2023, May 24). What does the title ‘Mary, Help of Christians’ mean, and where does it come from? Busted Halo. Retrieved May 23, 2024, from https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/what-does-the-title-mary-help-of-christians-mean-and-where-does-it-come-from
  3. History of the Devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians. (n.d.). catholicnewsagency.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024, from https://www.piercedhearts.org/hearts_jesus_mary/apparitions/help_of_christians.html
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