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Mary, Help of Christians, Pray for Us!

By Marissa Romero

Turin, Italy, houses the impressive Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, founded and dedicated in 1868 by St. John Bosco.

The Catholic Church celebrates Mary’s feast day, under her intercessory role as a Help of Christians, on May 24.

^{THE EXTERIOR: Front exterior side of The Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin. (Photo credit: Marissa Romero)}

Tirelessly working on spreading his devotion to Mary Help of Christians, St. John Bosco entrusted his mission of saving youth from the evil present in the streets to Her powerful intercession.

“St. John Bosco was in the right place at the right time!” said pilgrim Renee Fosdick from Mobile, Alabama.

“The divine intervention of our Lord, who knows how to use the exact person for the work He needs done, is amazing.”

Moreover, Our Lady inspired St. Bosco, through dreams, to build Her a Church because “There is no one who could help us better than our Blessed Mother Mary to love Jesus,” said Rome resident Fr. Guido Gockel, MHM, who has served as a spiritual director during 206 Tours pilgrimages.

“She is thus rightly called ‘Help of Christians.’ Her love originates in carrying Jesus and giving birth to Him.”

^{IMPRESSIVE: The altar of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin was inspired by St. Bosco, who envisioned a painting of Our Lady standing in glory. (Photo credit: Marissa Romero)}

But this recognition of the role of Mary as a help of Christians dates back before St. Bosco’s time. For instance, in 1571, when Ottoman Turks enlarged their domains in Europe, it became clear that their ultimate goal was to conquer the city of Rome.

Still, in the Bay of Lepanto, when the grand Turkish warships outnumbered the Christian front, the faithful soldiers earnestly invoked Our Lady’s help and, in faith, bravely fought against the enemy forces.

Astonishingly, the Turks found themselves hopelessly fighting against a league backed by Heaven, a war they could not win. And so, through the help of Our Lady, the entire European Christendom was saved.

^{PROCESSION: On May 24, the feast of Mary Help of Christians, countless devotees march in procession following this statue of Our Lady to honor her for the help and graces received through Her intercession. (Photo credit: Marissa Romero)}

The powerful help of the Blessed Mother has been evident before and after Lepanto and Turin, impacting countless lives throughout history, just as it does today.

Jesus Himself established the spiritual motherhood of Mary over humanity when He said from the cross to John, who represented humankind, “Woman, behold, your son” (John 19:26).

It is “a spiritual motherhood, born from the heart of the Paschal Mystery of the Redeemer of the world,” as St. John Paul II explained in his Encyclical, Redemptoris Mater.

She “helps all Her children, wherever they may be and whatever their condition, to find in Christ the path to the Father’s house.”

Indeed, Our Lady’s intercessory motherhood provides help to all Her spiritual children while directing them to follow Jesus’ teachings (John 2:5).

And so, as St. Bosco used to say,

EXPLORING: 206 Tours pilgrims experiencing the beauty of the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin, Italy. (Photo credit: Marissa Romero)

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