Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Today, June 27, is the Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a deep tradition in the Catholic faith throughout the world. Intercessory prayers are often made to the Blessed Succursu, Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, and Mother of Perpetual Sucorro.
This icon shows the Blessed Mother protecting our Lord Jesus with her around him. Her solemn face isn’t looking directly at him, but at us. The two archangels, Michael and Gabriel, carry instruments of Christ’s crucifixion, a lance and sponge and a 3-bar cross and nails. The letters beside each figure identifies their names using the Greek alphabet.
Since 1866, the Redemptorists have spread the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the icon and title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help).
In the Philippines, the Holy See authorized to remain open 24/7 all year the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (commonly known as Baclaran Church), one of the largest known Maria shrines in the Philippines. The Lady of Perpetual Help is informally known in the country as the Holy Virgin of Baclaran, and is widely venerated by Filipino. A German copy of the icon is venerated in the Shrine located in Baclaran.
In February, 1982, Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul II, said Mass at the shrine as cardinal, and later prayed before the icon during his pastoral visit to the Philippines. Almost all of the Catholic churches and chapels in the Philippines enshrine a replica of the icon, often on a side altar, with many congregations holding recitations of the holy rosary, and the associated novenas, benedictions, and Holy Mass every Wednesday in its honor. The faithful still use the same Novena booklet first published by Irish Redemptorist priests, who introduced the icon and is devotion to the Philippines in 1900s.
The National Shrine of our Mother of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church), as the main church honoring this icon of the Blessed Lady has organized activities in celebration of its Feast Day. Novena Masses started last June 18.