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By Bill Quick
Guest Columnist
The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is one of my favorite icons. It is also one of the most popular in the Catholic Church. Further, it was a favorite of St. John Paul II.
“I remember that during World War II, during the time of the Nazi occupation of Poland, I was a factory worker in Krakow. On my way home, after work, since it was on my way, I always stopped at the Redemptorist Church. In the church, there was the picture of Perpetual Help. I used to stop there, not only because it was on my way, but because that picture just seemed so beautiful. And, I kept visiting that church even after I was named bishop and cardinal,” St. John Paul II stated.
I personally was privileged to see Pope John Paul’s private chapel at the Vatican in 1999, and sure enough, he had an icon there of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Icons are beautiful works of art, but more importantly they are an aid to be used in prayer. The saying that “the icon is made in prayer so it can be used in prayer” is certainly true. A prayer process similar to Lectio Divina can be used when praying with icons. One gazes on the icon in order to observe the image and read the symbols. Then one meditates on what is seen and this is addressed prayerfully. Finally, one gazes upon the icon in contemplation and allows God to speak to him through the icon.
Let’s take a moment to look at some of the symbolism in this icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help that I painted. There are two angels, Michael, on the viewer’s left, and Gabriel, on the viewer’s right. These angels are displaying the implements of Christ’s passion and crucifixion in the form of a cross and nails, held by Gabriel, and Michael is holding the lance that pierced Christ’s side and the sponge on a reed pole, along with a thurible. The Christ child is frightened by this revelation, and quickly runs to the comforting arms of his mother. In his haste, one of his sandals has fallen from his foot.
The Blessed Mother holds Jesus and comforts him. Mary is not only the mother of the Redeemer, but the mother of the redeemed and she is here to comfort and guide us in our times of difficulty. There are three eight-pointed stars on Mary’s blue outer garment, which represent her special relationship with the Holy Trinity. The star on her left shoulder is supplanted by one member of the Trinity, Christ himself. This just a start for there is a great deal more symbolic language in this icon.
It is my hope that readers will have the opportunity to pray before this icon and will be blessed as a result. Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for us.