For many centuries throughout the world, this picture has been revered as an icon of hope and inspiration.
The original picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help is a product of Byzantine art. It is known to be at least 500 years old in its present form. Painted in tempura on hard nutwood and only 17" X 21", the picture may date back another 1000 years to the ancient Madonnas of Constantinople. Some church legends even date the picture to the first century and the hand and brush of St. Luke the Evangelist.
It is only in the past 125 years that devotion to our Mother of Perpetual Help has increased dramatically. In 1866, Pope Pius IX entrusted the miraculous icon to the Redemptorists and told them to "Make her Known Throughout the World." Countless miracles, healings and conversions are attributed to Mary's intercession to Her Son by those who pray to her as Our Mother of Perpetual Help. In fact, it is somewhat miraculous how the Redemptorists received the picture in the first place.
Historical records indicate that around the year 1490, the picture was located in St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Rome. For 300 years, the picture hung over the main altar. In 1798, the picture was taken into hiding by the monks who fled the city of Rome to avoid being captured by Napoleon's invading armies. The picture resurfaced some years later in an Augustinian monastery chapel.
Meanwhile, the Redemptorists had built the new church of San Alfonso near the site of St. Matthew the Apostle, which had been destroyed by Napoleon's invasion force. In time, Redemptorists learned about the miraculous picture of Our Mother of Perpetual Help that had been enshrined on that site for several centuries. They requested that the picture be placed there once again. The Holy Father Pope Pius IX agreed and on April 26, 1866, the original icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help was placed above the high altar in the Church of San Alfonso. To this day, the miraculous picture is still there for all to see.
This Byzantine icon is replete with numerous symbols.
Look at the picture. Frightened by the vision of two angels showing him the instruments of Passion, the Christ Child has run to His Mother, almost losing, in His haste, one of the tiny sandals. Mary holds Him in her arms reassuringly, lovingly. But notice her eyes. They look not at Jesus but at us. How better could the artist express Our Lady's interest in our lives and spiritual growth?
Christ's little hands are pressed into Mary's as a reminder to us that just as on earth He placed Himself entirely in her hands for protection, so now in heaven He places each of us in her tender loving care.
There are also the following Greek initials: for "Jesus Christ", for "Mother of God", for "St. Gabriel the Arch Angel" who is depicted holding the cross and nails, and for "St. Michael the Arch Angel" who is depicted holding the lance and gall-sop of Christ's Passion.
There is a star on Our Lady's veil symbolizing that she is the Star of the Sea who leads us to the safe port of heaven. Mary's left hand is supporting Christ possessively. She is His Mother. It is a comforting hand for everyone who asks for her intercession. Her mouth is small for silent recollection. She speaks little. She wears a red tunic, the color worn by virgins at the time of Christ, and a dark blue mantle, the colors worn by mothers in Palestine.
The entire background is golden, symbolic of heaven. Christ's Hands, palms turned down into His Mother's, indicate that He has chosen for the graces of redemption to be in her keeping.