For more than 150 years, Redemptorist Missionaries all over the world have been entrusted with the responsibility of guiding and encouraging this wonderful devotion. In the Philippines, where this Devotion is especially strong, Mary is known, with great affection, simply as ‘Mama Mary.’

We always begin with the famous image of Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help. Look at this mother’s face. See her quiet and sad expression.Long ago, she gave her ‘yes’ to God to be the mother of God’s Son and now she is experiencing the cost of her ‘yes’, much as we sometimes have to count the cost in our daily lives of staying true to Jesus’ teachings.

Look how firmly Mary holds the child Jesus in her arms. Wrapped in her veil of sacred blue, she gazes out at us, a message of graceful acceptance of both joy and difficulty.

Let’s look at the angels Michael and Gabriel presenting to Mary the cross, the sword, the sponge; all symbols of her son’s passion, death and resurrection. They are there in this to remind us that no tragedy or loss in our life is ever without a redeeming grace.

Look at the Child’s sandal, hanging loose, yet still attached. Aware of his coming passion, he has run to his mother for safety. Our life here on earth is fragile and precarious, but, like Jesus here, we trust that we are always held firmly in the grasp of the One who loves us.

And let us recall in our own time the powerful words about Mary from Vatican II:

“By her motherly love, she cares for her Son’s sisters and brothers who will journey on earth, surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home.”

Mary, our mother, is our star leading us always to Jesus and keeping us safely in his presence as we go on our way through life. That is the meaning of Perpetual Help. Please join us as we pray and sing and give thanks to our Blessed Mother and to her son, Jesus.

By Fr. Alfredo Medina, CSsR