Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Praying with the Icon
This was part of the opening spiritual at the 2024 Pre-Convention Meeting of the Calgary Diocesan Convention.
Please gaze upon the Our Lady of Perpetual Help prayer card. Much of what will be heard today is attributed to the book, “Embracing the Icon of Love” by Br. Daniel Kron, CSsR.
“Icon” means to describe an image. Iconography means the process of painting (or “writing”) icon. It involves symbols that reveal messages hidden within a particular image. By gazing upon (or “reading”) an icon, we move into a contemplative state of prayer. Most icons are painted in a style that engages the viewer and so when we pray and gaze on icons, we are invited to go inward. This causes us to experience Christ in a very different way that we may be accustomed to.
This particular icon, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, almost like no other truly represents the Gospel in image form. Greeks have a term, Hodegetria, which means, “One who shows the Way”. This perfectly describes Our Lady; her sole mission is to bring us closer to her Son. In this icon she stands before us looking intently out to those in front of her with her right hand pointing to Christ. In this image, she is both teacher & evangelist. There are no words; only signs and symbols and we are invited to read the icon just like we would read a passage of Scripture.
Within this Icon, there are 5 “chapters” that we will focus on and contemplate.The first chapter is the face of the Blessed Mother. Next, her hands. The third chapter is the Christ Child. The fourth, the angels and the final chapter is the Golden Background.
So let us first take a few minutes to sit in quiet contemplation and ask the Holy Spirit to come into this exercise, to help to settle our hearts and minds and be open to this form of prayer. What are you thinking going into this exercise? What are you hoping to get out of it. Tell Jesus and let Him guide you for the next few minutes.
Our First Chapter: the Face of the Blessed Mother.
Notice the eight-pointed star on Mary’s veil. The star is an image identifying Mary going back to ancient times. One of her many titles is Star of the Sea; Stella Maris. Is this one of her titles that appeals to you? Focus on her eyes… they are looking out with great tenderness but also great intensity. She is not looking at Jesus or the angels, but instead her gaze is fixed on us. Within Marion iconography, it is generally understood that Jesus is blessing anyone at whom his Mother is gazing upon. Finally contemplate her ears and mouth. Notice how small her mouth is and yet her right ear is visible. This signifies that need to speak less and listen more in order to hear
the Word of God. In order to hear, we must be silent. A lesson from reading this icon is to create space in our daily lives for Christ.
- Contemplation: We are invited to ponder Christ and create space for him each day, just like Mary demonstrates. We’ll take a couple of minutes now to do so. Focus on her face.. what draws you in the most? Her eyes? Here mouth? Other?
Our next Chapter: The Hands of Mary.
As mentioned earlier, her right hand is pointing to Christ, to His Sacred Heart. She is not grasping the infant’s hand the way you would expect a mother to. Instead he is holding onto her. The Blessed Mother is presenting the Child to us; notice she is not holding Jesus to her but is offering Him to us. We are invited to respond to this presentation by welcoming Him and receiving His Word.
- Contemplation: How have I responded to Christ being presented to me? Have I welcomed Him in? How can I lean on Our Lady to help me grow ever closer to Jesus?
The Third Chapter: The Child Jesus.
Jesus’ tender and intense gaze is like His Mother’s but instead of contemplating us, He is looking at the angel with the cross. Not fearfully but with pondering, He is focused on the cross. In doing so, He is teaching us to reflect on His Passion. Notice his garments. The green tunic signifies His humanity; his fully human nature. The red belt indicates all of creation wrapped in His redemptive love. Finally the golden-brown overlay is filled with the “Golden Light” of His Resurrection. Now look at his feet. His left foot is contorted as if in pain. This symbolizes His crucified body but it being turned up exposing his sole & heel emphasizes that He is the one who will crush the serpent. The iconographer has imprinted another element of the Passion in the shape of the Child’s body through the way his legs are crossed under his garments. The manner that one foot is longer than the other is another statement of the crucifixion; on images and statues of the crucifixion one leg is often pulled longer and placed over the other and nailed to the cross. Finally, the falling sandal signifies Jesus’ humility in entering into our messy and ugly humanity.
- Contemplation: We are invited into a dialogue about the mystery of redemption; the Incarnation, Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ. How can we embrace the Passion of Jesus within our own hearts.
Next Chapter: The Angels.
Both angels present the instruments of Christ’s Passion which proclaims the redemptive love of God for us in Christ. If we suffer with Jesus & Mary, we shall also be glorified with them. On the right is the Archangel Gabriel; we know this because of the Greek letters OAP and Greek tradition tells us that Gabriel was Mary’s Guardian Angel. He holds the cross but with veiled hands as a sign of respect. To the left is the Archangel Michael, the Defender of the Church. The Greek letters OAPM tell us so. He holds the lance, sponge and jar of gall & vinegar. Again with veiled hands. As the
Defender of the Church, he is slightly behind the Mother & Child as their defender as well. Mary is among the angels with Jesus. She is in the midst of the Church as the Mother of the Church. She is in the midst of us now.
- Contemplation: Angels are messengers of God. In this icon they seem to present to us the mystery of salvation. Reflect on how you are living the mystery of Christ in your daily life. With Mary in the midst of the Church and in the midst of us now, how we lean on her for help.
Final Chapter: The Golden Background.
The same Golden Light found on Jesus’ outer garment is the same Golden Light of the background. It radiates throughout the icon, highlighting the divine light of God. The gold highlights are not just for accent, it represents the healing, compassionate light of the Godhead, the same light that infused the body of Jesus at the Resurrection.
- Contemplation: As you gaze upon the entire icon, take in the golden colour and allow it to surround you in reverent silence.
Sharing:
Sharing as much or as little as you are comfortable, talk amongst your table. Please keep any conversation in confidence.
- Have you ever prayed with Icons before? What did you think of this experience? Could you see you incorporating this prayer practice?
- Of the 5 chapters, was there one in particular that pulled you in?
- Were there any insights you’d like to share?
