Our Lady Help of Christians

But one of the most memorable features of Mary's assistance, and which must be ranked among the most verified miracles, is what happened to the Sovereign Pontiff P ius VII Pie VII Pope who authorized the cult of Blessed Rainier. . This successor of Saint Peter, driven from the Apostolic See by the machinations and arms of the impious, kept in a narrow prison, particularly during the five years and more that he spent detained in Savon a, red Savone Place of detention of Pius VII and sanctuary of the Mother of Mercy. uced to having no communication with the outside, and to the powerlessness to govern the Church of God, an unheard-of example in the annals of persecution, was suddenly restored to the Pontifical See when it was least expected, to universal applause, and, so to speak, by the hands of the whole universe.

This prodigy was renewed the following year, after a new storm had forced the Pope and the Sacred College to leave Rome to withdraw to Genoa. The Rome Birthplace of Maximian. clearly visible assi stanc Gênes Place of the saint's death and burial. e of God having suddenly calmed this storm, the consequences of which could have been terrible, the Pontiff returned to the capital of the Christian world amidst the congratulations that this new subject of joy provoked among the populations.

But P ius VII Pie VII Pope who authorized the cult of Blessed Rainier. had not wished to return to Rome without having fulfilled a pious desire that his captivity had previously prevented him from satisfying, and without having placed with his own hands a golden crown upon the head of the distinguished image of the Virgin Mother of God, who is sol emnly Savone Place of detention of Pius VII and sanctuary of the Mother of Mercy. honored at Savona under the name of Mother of Mercy.

The same Sovereign Pontiff, yielding to his most intimate convictions, rightly attributed this admirable succession of events to the powerful intercession of the holy Mother of God, whom he himself had continually invoked, and whom he had caused to be prayed to by all the faithful of Jesus Christ: he instituted in perpetuity a solemn feast, in honor of this Virgin Mother, under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians, for the 24th of the month of May, the anniversary of his happy ret Rome Birthplace of Maximian. urn to the city of Rome. He gave this feast a proper office, approved, wishing thereby to preserve the particular memory of such a great benefit, and to eternalize the gratitude for it.

Proper of Rome.