Early in his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV visited the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel near Rome. The shrine is home to a famous image of the Virgin Mary that, according to Catholic tradition, appeared there under miraculous circumstances.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel sits in Genazzano, Italy.
The basilica’s website sheds light on the origin of this miraculous image, saying,
“Prince Pietro Giordan Colonna, whose family had acquired lordship of the city, entrusted the church to the Augustinians in 1356. The notarial deed drawn up states that the church was a parish and was already called Santa Maria del Buon Consiglio. Over the years, the church fell into disrepair and the friars set about rebuilding the church. A wealthy widow named Petruccia di Nocera came to their support. To restore the church was the ambition of her life, and so strongly was she drawn to the undertaking that she felt inspired to sacrifice her home and moderate income to further this cause. The work ran into difficulty and the villagers mocked the efforts of Petruccia and the friars. While others might have felt daunted, Petruccia never once faltered in her hopes. She constantly reiterated her assurance that the work would be completed because Almighty God, through the intercession of Saint Augustine and the Blessed Virgin, would see fit to crown her feeble efforts with unforeseen success.”
“On April 25, 1467, at the hour of Vespers, the residents of Genazzano heard a beautiful melody coming from heaven. They saw a white, shining cloud that descended on the church of the Mother of Good Counsel amidst the mysterious ringing of the church bells. The cloud vanished, revealing a beautiful painting of Our Lady tenderly holding her Divine Son in her arms. The people stood in wonder before its beauty! The town rejoiced with the words, ‘A miracle! Long Live Mary, our Mother of Good Counsel.’ Mostly peasants, they were convinced it had come from paradise.”
The Holy Father has a longstanding devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
According to Catholic News Agency,
“During his May 10 visit to the church, Leo spoke of the Virgin Mary’s protection and the importance of devotion to her. He prayed at the altar and before the Marian image there, and also prayed a prayer to the Mother of Good Counsel with the assembly.”
Here are 8 more things to know about Our Lady of Good Counsel:
1) The title “Good Counsel” recognizes Mary as a source of heavenly wisdom and guidance.
2) It highlights Mary’s ability to intercede and help Christians discern God’s will, especially in times of uncertainty.
3) Pope Leo XIV has a longstanding devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
4) It is widely believed that the image itself dates back to the time of the apostles. Scientific tests done in the 1950s indicated that the small image was probably painted sometime between 1417 and 1431.
4) The miraculous image is currently housed in an Augustinian church in Genazzano, Italy.
6) Many saints have venerated the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel there, including Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Pope John XXIII, and Saint John Paul II.
7) Leo XIII, Leo XIV’s spiritual predecessor, added the invocation “Mater boni concili, pro nobis” (“Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us”) to the Litany of Loreto in 1903.
8) Pope Benedict XVI had an image of the icon placed in the Vatican Gardens in 2009.
Prayer to Mary, our Lady of Good Counsel
Most glorious Virgin, selected by the eternal councils as Mother of the Eternal Word made human, treasury of divine grace, and advocate of sinners, I, the most unworthy of Christians, have recourse to you, that you may be my guide and counselor in this valley of tears. Obtain for me, by the precious blood of your divine Son, the pardon of my sins, the salvation of my soul, and the means necessary to secure it. Obtain the triumph of the truth taught by the holy Church over those who would reject it, and the spread of the reign of Jesus Christ over all the world.
Amen.