History
How it got there is a long story.
Briefly, at the close of the 15th century, a merchant stole the picture
from its shrine on the island of Crete, miraculously weathered a
tumultuous sea voyage and finally brought it to Rome. There, before he
died, he gave it to a Roman friend, begging him to have it placed in a
worthy church. This the friend neglected to do.
Our Lady then appeared, urging the Roman to comply
with the request, threatening him with even death. At his wife's
bidding, however, the man paid little heed to the apparition. Shortly
after, he died.
Next Our Lady appeared to the little daughter of
the family. "Go to your mother and grandfather", she commanded, "and say
to them: "Holy Mary of Perpetual Help warns you to take Her from your
house; else all of you will soon die." The girl relayed the message to
her mother. Panic-stricken, the woman promised to obey.
Our Lady then told the little girl just where the
picture should be placed: in the church "between the basilica of St.
Mary Major and that of St. John Lateran." In solemn procession, on March
27, 1499, it was carried to that church, the church of St. Matthew the
Apostle. The same day a miracle occurred, a man's arm, crippled beyond
use, was completely restored.
So for 300 years, the picture hung over the main
altar in the church of St. Matthew the Apostle, loved by all, renowned
far and wide for miracles.
Then came June, 1798. Napoleon entered Rome. The
church of St. Matthew was leveled to the ground. The picture
disappeared.
For 64 years it remained hidden, almost forgotten,
until... one day at recreation, in the Redemptorist home in Rome, one of
the Fathers mentioned having read, in an old tome, that their present
church, San Alfonso was built on the ruins of St. Matthew's, where once
was enshrined a miraculous picture; Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The name
startled Father Michael Marchi. He recalled, as a boy, having served
Mass in the oratory of the Irish Augustinians at Santa Maria in
Posterula. There he had seen the picture. An old Brother had pointed it
out to him.
Some months later, in February, Father Francis
Blosi, S.J., preaching in the Gesu on "the lost Madonna of Perpetual
Help, told how it was Our Lady's wish that the picture be enshrined in
the church, "between the basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John
Lateran." Word got back to the Redemptorists. The Superior General was
informed. But he waited three more years. He wanted to be certain.
Finally, on December 11, 1865, the whole matter
was presented to Pope Pius IX. On January 19, 1866, the miraculous
picture was brought once more to the site of its former glory, the
church between the two basilicas, now that of San Alfonso. Three months
later, it was solemnly enshrined. And on June 23, 1867 it was crowned.
The original picture of Our Lady, reputedly
painted by St. Luke, was venerated for centuries in Constantinople as a
miraculous icon. It was destroyed by the Turks in the year 1453. |
