“Hear, then, our Mother who calls us and says to us: "Let whoever
is simple turn in here" (Proverbs 9:4). Little children are always saying
the word "Mother", and in all the dangers which they encounter and in
all their fears they cry, ‘Mother! Mother!’’’ (St. Alphonsus: Glories of Mary)
One
of the most common titles of Mary in the world and particularly here in the
Philippine archipelago is that of Our Mother of Perpetual help. In the Tagalog
region, she is called as Ina ng Laging
Saklolo. Among the Ilonggos she is the Iloy
Sang sa Gihapon nga Panabang. The Warays would also call her Iroy han Kanunay nga Panabang while the
Cebuano speaking regions, Mary is their Inahan
sa Kanunay’ng Panabang. The devotion of many Filipinos is very much
expressive in the Wednesday novenas throughout the country especially in
Baclaran, Cebu, Iloilo, the growing devotees in Davao and in many parishes
across the country. A copy of the icon can easily be seen as it is displayed
not just in churches and chapels or homes but even in public transportation
such us buses, taxis, jeepnies and even tricycles and motorcycles.
This
is indeed an expression of the countless people who come to Mary especially
among the most needy and afflicted and those who feel the need of being loved
and protected by our Mother. This need of being loved is true to all classes in
the society. Both the rich and the poor, young and old, healthy and the sickly,
and righteous and sinners look up to Mary’s icon seeking her intercession for
their every petition.
An excerpt of
the Perpetual Novena captures this hope of every devotees that prays, “As we look at your picture, we remember your
life on earth. You had many crosses and trials but you knew how to face them.
You had faith and trust in God. You relied on his loving, fatherly goodness.” This
makes us, then, devotees of Our Mother to utter, “Help us to be like you. We too have our trials and troubles. We are
often worried and confused. Gives us courage. Strengthen our faith.”
As
one gazes upon the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual help the encounter becomes
real and alive. This is, in fact, the intent of the icon to have a real
encounter with the divine. It is more than the representation of a person or a
historical event. Our former Superior General of the Redemptorists, Fr. Juan
Manuel Lasso de la Vega, says “This icon
(OMPH) reminds us of Mary and Jesus facing the reality of the Passion; but
rather in a special way it purports to raise our consciousness of the mysteries
of Redemption in Christ and of the intercession of Mary in favour of the
followers of Jesus.” Hence, as this icon shows to us Mary, our Mother but
more so, it invites us to gaze upon the image of her son, Jesus, the Redeemer
in the arms of Mary. It is manifested as the right hand of Our Mother points us
to her Son, who is the true Perpetual Help.
With
an attitude of faith and contemplative prayer one could really admire how this
particular icon, in its truest sense, articulates an Icon of Love. It is most depicted in the icon’s face of Our Mother.
It is a face that, indeed, knows pain and suffering yet calls us to come to her
to find refuge. The child Jesus himself was the first to take refuge to her
Mother. Jesus’s hands are clinging to her Mothers open hand. This open hand
gives us then the invitation to come to her too and at the same time to come
nearer to Jesus. The serene eyes of Mary looks upon us tenderly assuring all of
us her daughters and sons that she is not blind and indifferent from all our
difficulties and struggles. This is also an assurance to us that as a Mother,
she will always be accompanying us in our journey of faith.
Above
all, this true Icon of Love speaks to
us that life may not be easy. Like the child Jesus, we might find ourselves too
trembling in fear yet the hands of our Mother are always ready to help, comfort
and accompany us. The presence of her son, Jesus, reminds us that our God is
loving and is full of mercy. This is depicted in the symbols of the passion of
our Lord carried by the two angels. Moreover, this Icon of Love calls us not to forget our brothers and sisters
especially the sick and the dying, the
lonely and the broken-hearted, the poor and the oppressed (excerpt from the
perpetual novena) for they too are our co-pilgrims. Certainly, this Icon of Love invites us too to accept
the Will of God and to offer of lives in the service of others, and as
Redemptorists – to offer our lives for plentiful redemption.
