Mary, Help of Christians
Help of Christians | |
|---|---|
The venerated image at the Turin Basilica. | |
| Venerated in | Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church (as Boetheia or Gorgoypikoos) |
| Feast | 24 May |
| Attributes | Mary holding the Child Jesus, both wearing crowns; Mary holding a sceptre |
| Patronage | Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, Salesians of Don Bosco |
| Pontificial Approbations | |
| Canonical Coronations | |
| Turin, Italy | Pope Leo XIII 13 February 1903 |
| Brezje, Slovenia | Pope Pius X 24 June 1907 |
| San Fabian, PH | Pope Francis 23 March 2018 |
| Parañaque City, PH | Pope Francis 16 November 2021 |
| Historical Milestones | |
| Feast Instituted | Pope Pius VII 1815 |
| First Mention | John Chrysostom 345 AD |
| Major Promoter | St. John Bosco |
| Latin Title | Auxilium Christianorum |
Mary Help of Christians (Latin: Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum) is a Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, based on a devotion now associated with a feast day of the General Roman Calendar on 24 May. John Chrysostom was the first to describe this title, in 345 AD. Don Bosco also propagated the devotion. It is associated with the defense of Christian Europe, North Africa and the Middle East from non-Christians during the Middle Ages.
As the Ottoman Empire intended to invade Christian Europe in 1571, Pope Pius V called on Christian armies for help and their victory was consequently attributed to the intercession of Mary under this devotional title. Pope Leo XIII granted a decree of canonical coronation for a Turin image of the devotion in 1903. The coronation was executed by Cardinal Agostino Richelmy and the image is now permanently enshrined at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians.