Our Lady Help of Christians

Biography

Our Lady Help of Christians, also known as Auxilium Christianorum, is a Marian title that holds great significance in Catholic tradition. The feast of Our Lady Help of Christians was instituted by Pope Pius VII as a way to express gratitude for the protection and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary during his time of persecution and exile. Pope Pius VII faced imprisonment and hardship at the hands of Napoleon, who ordered his arrest on 5 July 1808. The Pope was imprisoned in Savona, Italy, and later transferred to Fontainebleau, France. It was during this time of captivity that he invoked the aid of Our Lady, Help of Christians, and vowed to establish a feast in her honor. In January 1814, after the Battle of Leipzig, Pope Pius VII was released and returned to Savona. He attributed the triumph of the Church and his own liberation to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Along his journey back to Rome, he visited various Marian sanctuaries, honoring Mary by crowning her images. The pontiff entered Rome on 24 May 1814, greeted by enthusiastic crowds. To commemorate his own sufferings and those of the Church during his exile, Pope Pius VII extended the feast of the Seven Dolours of Mary to the universal Church on 18 September 1814. This feast, dedicated to the sorrows endured by the Virgin Mary, became an integral part of the liturgical calendar. The events surrounding the reign of Napoleon continued to impact Pope Pius VII. When Napoleon returned from Elba and marched through the Papal States, the Pope sought refuge in Savona once again on 22 March 1815. It was there that he crowned the image of Our Lady of Mercy on 10 May 1815. After the Congress of Vienna and the Battle of Waterloo, the Pope finally returned to Rome on 7 July 1815. To express his gratitude towards God and Our Lady for their protection and assistance, Pope Pius VII instituted the feast of Our Lady Help of Christians for the Papal States on 15 September 1815. This feast, which initially commemorated Pope Pius VII's first return to Rome, was celebrated on 24 May, coinciding with the anniversary of his triumphant entrance. The devotion to Our Lady Help of Christians quickly spread throughout the Catholic Church. The dioceses in the Tuscany region adopted the feast on 12 February 1816, and it gradually gained popularity throughout the Latin Church. The hymns of the Office for the feast were composed by Brandimarte. Our Lady Help of Christians became the patronal feast of Australasia, and it is celebrated with great splendor in the churches of the Fathers of the Foreign Missions of Paris. One significant association with Our Lady Help of Christians is the connection with Saint John Bosco. He dedicated the mother church of his congregation in Turin to Our Lady Help of Christians and fostered a deep devotion to her within the Salesian order. The Salesian Fathers have carried this devotion to their numerous establishments, spreading the love and reliance on the intercession of Our Lady. The feast day of Our Lady Help of Christians is celebrated on 24 May. This title of the Virgin Mary holds special patronage over Australia, New Zealand, Andorran security forces, Australian military chaplains, New York, the Diocese of Shrewsbury in England, the Diocese of Townsville in Australia, Cabras in Italy, and Caselle di Selvazzano in Italy. Throughout the centuries, Our Lady Help of Christians has been venerated and invoked as a powerful intercessor and advocate for the faithful. Her role as the helper of Christians has inspired countless believers to seek her assistance in times of trial and tribulation.