Mary, Help of Christians
Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum
Origin & Meaning
The title Mary, Help of Christians — rendered in Latin as Sancta Maria Auxilium Christianorum — is among the most ancient and revered invocations of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. It is not merely a poetic epithet; it is a theological declaration rooted in Scripture, affirming Mary's active, ongoing role as intercessor and maternal protector of all the faithful.
In the earliest centuries of Christianity, two Greek titles of Mary appeared frequently in monuments and liturgical texts: Theotokos (θΡοΟΞΏΞΊΞΏΟ — "Mother of God") and Boetheia (βοηθΡια — "The Helper"). These two titles together captured the dual reality of Mary's identity: she is the God-bearer, and she is the one who brings help from God to her children. The title "Helper" was not an invention of any single age; it flowed organically from the lived faith of early Christians who experienced Mary's intercession in times of persecution, illness, and spiritual struggle.
The word Auxilium (Help) in the Latin title carries a sense of active, purposeful assistance — not passive sympathy, but dynamic intervention. When Catholics pray "Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us," they are invoking a mother who is believed to stand before God on their behalf, drawing down grace and mercy through her singular closeness to Christ.
Patristic & Ancient Roots
The devotion to Mary under this title stretches back to the very foundations of the Church. St. John Chrysostom, in a homily delivered around 345 AD, is regarded as the first recorded use of this title, making it one of the earliest Marian invocations in Christian history. Chrysostom, one of the greatest orators of the early Church, used the title to affirm Mary's intercessory power before God on behalf of believers.
Other great voices of the patristic era continued and deepened this tradition. In 476 AD, Proclus, a renowned preacher, declared that the Mother of God is "our Helper because she brings us help from above." St. Sabas of Caesarea in 532 AD called the Virgin the "Helper of the Suffering," recounting the miraculous healing of a sick person brought before an image of Our Lady — an image that became known as the "Helper of the Sick" and drew great devotion.
The Greek poet and hymn-writer Romanos the Melodist (518 AD) praised Mary as the "Helper of those who pray, exterminator of evil spirits, and helper of the weak," and even recommended that Christians pray for her to be the "Helper of those who govern." Later Church Fathers — including Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem (560 AD), John of Damascus (749 AD), and Germanus I of Constantinople (733 AD) — all continued to invoke Mary under this title, embedding it deeply into the theology and liturgical life of the ancient Church.
"The Mother of God is our Helper because she brings us help from above."— Proclus, 476 AD
The Oldest Prayer to Mary — Sub tuum praesidium
Perhaps the most profound connection between the title "Help of Christians" and the earliest Christian prayer lies in the Sub tuum praesidium — widely regarded as the oldest known prayer addressed directly to the Virgin Mary. Discovered on a Greek papyrus fragment in Egypt (Papyrus Rylands III, no. 470), scholars date it to at least the end of the 3rd century AD, though paleographic debate places it anywhere between the 3rd and 5th centuries. Either way, it predates the Ave Maria by many centuries.
The prayer reads, in its most common English translation: "We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin." The Latin word praesidium is significant: it translates not simply as "protection," but as "an assistance given in time of war by fresh troops in a strong manner." This martial imagery underscores the conviction that Mary's help is not gentle and passive, but forceful and decisive.
Scholars have noted that this prayer was almost certainly composed during a period of active persecution of Christians — likely during the persecutions of either Decius or Valerian in the mid-3rd century. It employs the title Theotokos ("God-bearer"), which predates its formal definition at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, demonstrating how deeply the belief in Mary as Mother of God was already embedded in the lived faith and liturgical practice of early Egyptian Christians. The prayer survives in ancient versions not only in Greek, but also in Coptic, Syriac, Armenian, and Latin, testifying to its spread across the ancient Christian world.
Pivotal Moments in History
Throughout the centuries, several defining historical events shaped and elevated the devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, transforming it from an ancient patristic invocation into one of the most celebrated titles in the universal Church.
c. 250–280 AD — Egypt The Sub tuum praesidium is composed, becoming the oldest surviving prayer addressed directly to the Virgin Mary. It was written during a time of Roman persecution, reflecting the early Christian community's deep trust in Mary's maternal intercession.
345 AD — Antioch St. John Chrysostom delivers the first recorded use of the title "Help of Christians" in a homily, establishing the theological and devotional framework that would endure for millennia.
1571 — Battle of Lepanto Facing the invasion of the Ottoman Empire into Christian Europe, Pope Pius V called upon Catholics across the continent to pray the Rosary and invoke Mary's intercession. On October 7, 1571, the Christian fleet — though outnumbered — achieved a decisive victory over the Ottoman forces at the Gulf of Lepanto. The wind miraculously shifted in favour of the Christians. In gratitude, Pope Pius V added the invocation "Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us" to the Litany of Loreto and established the Feast of the Holy Rosary on October 7. This event is widely regarded as the moment the title gained its fullest popular expression.
1683 — Siege of Vienna When 200,000 Ottoman Turks besieged the capital city of Vienna, Emperor Leopold I took refuge at the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Passau. Christians across Europe prayed fervently. Defence plans were drawn on September 8 — the Feast of Our Lady's Birthday — and victory came on September 12, the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Vienna was liberated through what believers credited to the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians.
1808–1814 — Napoleonic Captivity By order of Napoleon Bonaparte, Pope Pius VII was arrested on June 5, 1808, and held captive first at Grenoble, then at Fontainebleau — a captivity that would last nearly five years. During his imprisonment, the Pope organised a Rosary Novena to Our Lady, Help of Christians, vowing that if he were restored to the papal throne, he would institute a special feast in her honour. After Napoleon's military reverses forced the Pope's release, Pius VII returned triumphantly to Rome on May 24, 1814. True to his vow, the following year he formally established the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians on May 24 — a date that survives to this day in the General Roman Calendar.
Saint John Bosco & the Salesians
No figure in modern history did more to spread devotion to Mary, Help of Christians than Saint John Bosco (1815–1888), known affectionately as Don Bosco. Born just one month after Pope Pius VII formally established the feast, Don Bosco would go on to place Mary under this title at the very centre of his life, his ministry, and the religious congregation he founded.
From an early age, Don Bosco experienced prophetic dreams that guided his vocation. In visions received in 1844 and 1845, he saw the Blessed Virgin Mary reveal to him a sacred site in the Valdocco suburb of Turin — the place where ancient Roman martyrs, Saints Solutor, Adventor, and Octavius, had given their lives for the faith. Mary spoke to him with the words: "Hic domus mia, inde gloria mia" — "This is my house; from here my glory goes forth." For nineteen years, Don Bosco carried this vision in his heart before beginning construction.
In 1863, Don Bosco set to work on the basilica. Though he had very little money, the construction was completed in just four years — a feat Don Bosco himself attributed entirely to Mary's miracles. He reportedly said: "Every brick in this church corresponds to a miracle of the Blessed Virgin." The church was consecrated on June 9, 1868, and dedicated to Our Lady, Help of Christians. It was elevated to the status of Minor Basilica by Pope Pius X in 1911, and Pope Leo XIII granted a canonical coronation to the celebrated painting of Mary Help of Christians enshrined there on February 13, 1903.
Don Bosco's conviction that Mary was the true source of every good in his work pervaded everything he did. He repeatedly declared: "She did everything" — meaning that every miracle, every salvation of a young person, every success of his mission was attributable to her intercession. He asked his boys and fellow Salesians to say the brief prayer "Mary Help of Christians, pray for us" repeatedly throughout the day, believing that such simple, fervent invocation would open the floodgates of grace.
"Our Lady wants us to honour her with the title of Mary Help of Christians. The times are so sad that we need the Holy Virgin to help us preserve and defend the Christian faith."— Saint John Bosco, 1862
Don Bosco's prophetic dream of May 14, 1862 is particularly striking. In the dream, he saw the Pope steering the Church — depicted as a great ship — through stormy seas, besieged by hostile vessels. The ship found safe harbour between two great pillars rising from the sea. On one pillar stood a statue of Mary, with a placard reading Auxilium Christianorum (Help of Christians). On the other — taller and greater — stood the Blessed Sacrament, with the words Salus Credentium (Salvation of the Faithful). This dream, interpreted by many as a vision of the Church's future, powerfully expressed Don Bosco's belief that the Eucharist and Mary, Help of Christians, are the two pillars upon which the Church's survival rests.
Don Bosco placed all three of his religious foundations under her protection: the Salesians of Don Bosco (the congregation of priests and brothers), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the Salesian Sisters, co-founded with St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello), and the Salesian Cooperators (a lay association). Through these institutions, devotion to Mary, Help of Christians has been carried to virtually every continent, touching millions of lives in schools, oratories, missions, and parishes worldwide.
Theological Foundations
The title "Help of Christians" rests on several interlocking theological convictions, all rooted in Scripture and the living tradition of the Church.
Mary as Intercessor: Just as Mary interceded at the Wedding at Cana — noticing the need before anyone spoke — she continues to intercede before God on behalf of all Christians, bringing their prayers and needs to Christ her Son.
The Annunciation: Mary's courageous "Yes" at the Annunciation made her the Theotokos — the God-bearer. Her cooperation with God's plan of salvation did not end at the Incarnation; it extends through her ongoing intercession for the Church.
Mother of the Church: When Christ on the Cross said "Behold your mother" to St. John, the Church teaches He gave Mary not merely to John, but to all believers. She became, through this act, the spiritual Mother of the entire Church.
Mediatrix in Christ: Mary's intercession does not compete with Christ's unique mediation but flows from it. As the Catechism teaches, her "salutary influence on men flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ."
The Church has traditionally focused on two dimensions of Mary's help on her feast day. First, her intercession is understood as pivotal in the individual believer's spiritual struggle against sin — a personal, intimate help offered to each soul. Second, she is revered as a collective protector, aiding the Christian community as a whole through her intercession against forces hostile to the faith. The title thus encompasses both the deeply personal and the broadly civilisational dimensions of Mary's maternal care.
The Old Testament foreshadowed Mary's role in three key passages. Genesis 3:15 — the Protoevangelium — speaks of the "woman" whose offspring would strike at the head of the serpent. Isaiah 7:14 promises that a young woman shall conceive and bear a son called Emmanuel. And Micah 5:2 prophesies the birth of the ruler of Israel from Bethlehem. In each case, Mary stands as the vessel through whom God's plan of salvation was fulfilled — and as the ongoing helper of Christians in that same salvation.
The Basilica of Turin
The Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Turin, Italy, stands as the spiritual heart of the worldwide Salesian family and one of the most important Marian shrines in the world. Designed by architect Antonio Spezia, who drew inspiration from the façade of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice (the masterwork of Palladio), the basilica was originally built in a simple, unadorned style between 1865 and 1868.
The first stone was laid on April 27, 1865, in the presence of Prince Amedeo di Savoia. The construction was carried out largely by Carlo Buzzetti, one of the first boys of Don Bosco's Oratory. The church was consecrated on June 9, 1868, and elevated to Minor Basilica in 1911.
The basilica enshrines the celebrated painting of Mary Help of Christians, conceived by Don Bosco himself, who described the image to the painter as if he had already seen it in a vision. The painting depicts the Virgin standing radiant in light and majesty, surrounded by angels paying homage to her as their Queen. With her right hand she holds a sceptre; with her left she holds the Christ Child, His arms open, offering grace and mercy to all who turn to His Mother. At the bottom of the painting is the city of Turin, with the sanctuary of Valdocco in the foreground.
The nave of the basilica houses the tombs of several saints: Saint John Bosco, Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello, Saint Dominic Savio, and Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo, as well as the tomb of Don Bosco's mother, Venerable Margherita Occhiena. The crypt contains the tombs of Blessed Michele Rua and Filippo Rinaldi, along with over six thousand numbered relics of other Catholic saints. Successive Salesian superiors enriched the basilica over the decades: polychrome marble decorations were added by Blessed Michael Rua, and a major enlargement was carried out between 1935 and 1942.
Patronage Around the World
Mary, Help of Christians holds a place of singular honour as the patroness of several nations and institutions, a testament to the global reach of this ancient devotion.
Australia (1844 / 1852) Australia was the first nation to choose Mary, Help of Christians as its principal patron, at the First Provincial Synod of Sydney in 1844. Pope Pius IX formally confirmed this patronage in 1852. In the early priestless days of the Australian Catholic community, the Rosary and devotion to Mary kept the faith alive. After the Second Vatican Council, the feast was designated a Solemnity in Australia, celebrated on the first Sunday on or after May 24.
China (2007) Under this title, the Virgin Mary is venerated by Chinese Catholics, particularly at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai — the only minor papal basilica in mainland China (elevated in 1942). In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed May 24 as a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, venerating Mary under this title as the country's patroness, in solidarity with Catholics facing persecution under an atheist state.
New Zealand New Zealand also honours Mary under this title as a significant patronal devotion, closely linked to the Australian tradition.
The Salesian Family (1868) The Salesians of Don Bosco, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters), and the Salesian Cooperators all recognise Mary, Help of Christians as their principal patroness. The Salesian works span over 100 countries worldwide.
The Second Vatican Council (1962) Pope John XXIII proclaimed Mary, Help of Christians as the patroness of the Second Vatican Council, reflecting the enduring centrality of this title in papal devotion.
Shrines & Sacred Places
Basilica of Mary Help of Christians — Turin, Italy The mother church of the Salesian Congregation, built by Don Bosco (1865–1868). Elevated to Minor Basilica in 1911. Houses the canonically crowned painting of Mary Help of Christians and the tombs of Don Bosco and several other saints. The spiritual heart of the worldwide Salesian family.
Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan — Shanghai, China The only minor papal basilica in mainland China, elevated in 1942. A centre of devotion for Chinese Catholics and a focal point of the annual World Day of Prayer for the Church in China (May 24), established by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
Shrine of Mary Help of Christians — Passau, Bavaria, Germany In 1624, Catholics of Passau enshrined a 15th-century painting of Mary Help of Christians in a newly built shrine. Pilgrims traditionally uttered the aspiration: "Maria, hilf" (Mary, help). This shrine played a pivotal role during the Siege of Vienna in 1683, when Emperor Leopold I sought refuge here.
Basilique Notre-Dame de Bonsecours — Rouen, France Originally inaugurated under the Marian title "Help of Christians" in the 13th century, this shrine was formally finalised in 1840. Pope Benedict XV raised it to the status of minor basilica in 1919. Its image received a pontifical coronation from Pope Leo XIII in 1870.
Salesian National Shrine — Stony Point, New York, USA A major centre of Salesian devotion in North America, dedicated to Our Lady, Help of Christians, and serving as a pilgrimage site for the faithful.
Belmont Abbey — Belmont, North Carolina, USA A Benedictine monastery whose minor basilica, Our Lady Help of Christians, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Chapel of Our Lady Help of Christians — Washington, D.C., USA A dedicated chapel within the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, reflecting the presence of this Marian title at the heart of American Catholic life.
Prayers & Devotional Practices
Devotion to Mary, Help of Christians is expressed in a rich variety of prayers, liturgical practices, and personal piety. The most fundamental is the simple aspiration: "Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us" — a prayer Don Bosco encouraged his boys and Salesians to repeat throughout the day. Its brevity is its power: it is a prayer that can be said anywhere, at any time, in the midst of work or worry.
From the Litany of Loreto: Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. Queen of Heaven, pray for us. Queen of Peace, pray for us. All holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us. All holy Men and Women, Saints of God, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Consecration to Mary Help of Christians (for Australia): O Mary, Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia, Mother of Mercy, Queen of Heaven and Earth, refuge of sinners — we consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart. To you we consecrate our country, our families, our hearts and souls, and all that we have. Through your prayers and under your protection, may the light of Christ shine over our land. May Australia be granted harmony, justice, and peace. Amen.
The Rosary holds a central place in devotion to Mary, Help of Christians, particularly given its role in the Battle of Lepanto and the liberation of Pope Pius VII. The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Marian devotions, including novenas, processions, and the crowning of Marian statues. Pilgrimage to the great shrines — especially the Basilica in Turin — remains a powerful expression of faith in Mary's intercession. The Memorare, one of the most beloved prayers in the Catholic tradition, expresses the confidence that lies at the heart of this devotion: the conviction that no one who has ever fled to Mary's protection and sought her intercession has ever been left unaided.
Papal Devotion
Mary, Help of Christians has been a title cherished by numerous popes across the centuries, each contributing to its growth and significance. Pope Pius V added the invocation to the Litany of Loreto after Lepanto (1571). Pope Pius VII established the feast itself in gratitude for his liberation (1815). Pope Pius IX confirmed the patronage of Australia (1852). Pope Leo XIII granted the canonical coronation of the Turin image (1903). Pope Pius X elevated the Turin church to Minor Basilica (1911). Pope John XXIII proclaimed Mary, Help of Christians as patroness of the Second Vatican Council. Pope John Paul II prayed regularly in the chapel of Mary Help of Christians at the Salesian church in KrakΓ³w, Poland — where he had celebrated one of his first Masses as a priest on November 3, 1946. And Pope Francis, who spent part of his youth at the Salesian school of Ramos MejΓa in Argentina, celebrated the main Mass for the feast of Mary, Help of Christians every May 24 at the Salesian Basilica in Buenos Aires during his time as Archbishop — a devotion he continues to honour as Pope.
The Feast — May 24
The Feast of Mary, Help of Christians is celebrated on May 24 each year, a date chosen by Pope Pius VII to commemorate his triumphant return to Rome after years of Napoleonic captivity. In Australia, following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it was elevated to a Solemnity — the highest rank of liturgical celebration — and is observed on the first Sunday on or after May 24.
The feast has been celebrated in Australia since 1844, making it one of the longest-standing observances of this title in the world. The Salesian religious orders celebrate it with particular solemnity, and it remains a day of special prayer and devotion in parishes and religious communities across the globe. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI linked May 24 with a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China, adding a dimension of solidarity with persecuted Catholics to the universal observance of the feast.
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