Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chaplet

Meaning of Icon:

Explanation:

The Jerusalem Cross represents spreading the Gospel to all four corners of the earth.

The center piece represents the Divine Mercy of Jesus on one side and Our Blessed Mother on the reverse side.

The colors of the chaplet represent the colors of Our Lady in her icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The color of her gown is red. The color of her cloak is blue. Her crown, parts of the cloak and the background are gold. These colors represent royalty.

The icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a Byzantine icon that has its origin sometime during the 13th-15th century. The icon is known for being miraculous; over the centuries countless healings special graces have been attributed to it, so much so that the image has been honored and venerated by many popes.

The icon depicts the Virgin Mary, under the title "Mother of God" holding the Child Jesus. The Archangels Michael and Gabriel, hovering in the upper corners, hold the instruments of the Passion. St. Michael (in the left corner) holds the spear, the wine-soaked sponge, and the crown of thorns. St. Gabriel (in the right corner) holds the cross and nails.

The intent of the artist was to portray the Child Jesus contemplating the vision of His future Passion. Frightened by the vision, He runs to his mother for consolation. The anguish He feels is shown by the loss of one of His sandals as He quickly flees into the arms of His Mother.

The icon also conveys the triumph of Christ over sin and death, symbolized by the golden background as a sign of the glory of the Resurrection. The royal crowns on the heads of Jesus and Mary also symbolize their triumph as the King of Kings and his Queen Mother.

The Child Jesus seeks comfort from His Mother as He sees the instruments of His Passion. The position of Mary's hands - both holding the Child Jesus and at the same time presenting Him to us - convey the reality of our Lord's Incarnation, that He is true God who also became true Man.

Just as the Child Jesus fled into the arms of His Mother when He was frightened, so too do we flee into the arms of Our Blessed Mother with child-like confidence whenever fear envelopes our hearts. Just as the Virgin Mother consoled and comforted her Divine Child, so too does she console and comfort us, her spiritual children, in our afflictions. We can always come to her in our time of need and receive her help.

 

On May 17, 2012, the Board of Directors signed a resolution making Our Lady of Perpetual Help the official patroness of Divine Mercy Radio, Inc.