April 26th - Our Lady of Good Counsel
(1467)
The apparition of Our Lady of Good Counsel is so celebrated, Her picture
so
well
known and so honored in the Church, that it is very fitting to allot a
place
to
this devotion. The little city of Gennazano, situated on the mountains of
the
former Sabina province, about ten leagues from Rome, for a thousand years
already had honored the Blessed Virgin as Our Lady of Good Counsel. In the
15th
century, the church of that city was dilapidated and about to collapse. A
pious
woman of advanced age named Petruccia desired to provide for its
reconstruction,
but the gift of her entire fortune, which she made for this purpose,
proved
insufficient. Petruccia foretold that the Blessed Virgin would Herself
finish
the work.
Then on April 25, 1467, at the hour of Vespers, a celestial harmony was
heard in
the air, and the crowd saw a brilliant cloud coming down through the air,
which
came to rest over the altar in the Chapel of Saint Blaise in the Gennazano
Church, where the restoration had begun. At the same time, all the church
bells
began to ring joyously. The cloud disappeared, and the marveling crowd saw
a
picture of Mary holding the Child Jesus, painted on a prepared surface,
suspended in the air over the altar near the wall, without any natural
sup****t.
It was duly verified that this picture had been miraculously trans****ted
from a
church of Scutari, a city of Albania. Providence, wi****ng to preserve it
from
profanation by the Turks who were controlling that land, sent it as a
reward
for
the faith of Petruccia and her fellow citizens of Gennazano.
A history of the marvels of all kinds which have been wrought since that
time
near this miraculous picture, suspended in the air, would require volumes.
Often
the picture has been seen to change its expression, the eyes of the
Blessed
Virgin taking on an appearance of joy or sorrow. How many illnesses and
infirmities have been cured! How many spiritual graces have been obtained!
Gennazano in Italy is still a venerated pilgrimage site, much frequented
by
the
people of that land, and many pious pilgrims from other nations, when time
permits it for them, arrange to visit this blessed sanctuary. The
Sovereign
Pontiffs have granted many indulgences to devotion to Our Lady of Good
Counsel,
and the title Mother of Good Counsel was included in the Litany of the
Blessed
Virgin by Pope Leo XIII.
Source: Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, by Abbé L. Jaud
(Mame:
Tours, 1950).
Saint Quote:
I die the King's good servant, but God's first.
--Saint Thomas More at his execution
Bible Quote
36 Now whilst they were speaking these things, Jesus stood in the midst of
them,
and saith to them: Peace be to you; it is I, fear not. (Luke 24:36)
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The Power of the Mass
At the hour of death the Holy M*****
you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.
Every Mass will go with you to Judgement and will plead for
pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the tem****al punishment due
to your sins, more or less, according to your fervour.
By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest
homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.
Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies
for many of your negligences and omissions.
He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined
to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never
confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.
By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in
Purgatory the greatest possible relief.
Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and
misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten
your Purgatory by every Mass.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your tem****al goods
and affairs.
When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty
God in honour of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for
the favours bestowed on him, etc., you afford that Saint or
Angel a new degree of honour, joy and happiness, and draw his
special love and protection on yourself.
Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other
intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the Day.
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