St. Francis Youth Group

Today is the Feast day of Mary, Help of Christians! And she is! She is constantly offering prayers to her Son, Jesus. What a gift that we are able to go to her with our prayers, who then brings them to Jesus. What a loving Mother! She leads us straight to her Son, never to herself, always willing to help.  Here is the image most commonly associated with this beautiful title of Mary...with a close-up as well :)

        

According to Catholic Encyclopedia, the title Mary, Help of Christians began to be used way back in the sixteenth century, around the 1570s or so. It wasn't until around 1815 that Pope Pius VII declared it a feast of the Church, however, to be celebrated on May 24th, which was the anniversary of when he first returned to Rome after being arrested by Napoleon. 

St. John Bosco, one of the patron Saints of youth, had a great devotion to Mary, Help of Christians.  This really helped to spread the popularity of this title to all parts of the world! The congregation that St. John Bosco started, the Salesians, is dedicated to Mary under this name. St. John Bosco was an amazing man! Basically taking the rough-edged street orphans of Turin, Italy, and turning them into priests, educated men, and respectable gentlemen! He was a self-taught juggler and acrobat, and loved showing the JOY of Christ and the Catholic Church to the Youth!

This is him!! St. John Bosco

And with that....

May 24th: Mary: Help of Christians
"Yes, we are still pilgrims, but our Mother has gone on ahead, where she points to the reward for our efforts. She tells us that we can make it. If we are faithful, we will reach home. Not only is the Blessed Virgin our model, but she is also the Help of Christians. And as we besiege her with our petitions - 'Show that you are our Mother' - she cannot help but watch over her children with motherly care."

Let us offer our Mother today: Two sets of mysteries of the Holy Rosary (I would suggest Luminous for Thursday, and Glorious for Easter)

Be Holy! Mary, Help of Christians...pray for us!