Our Lady of Providence
Our Lady of Providence or Our Lady of Divine Providence is a reference to Mary (Mother of Jesus) in relationship with Divine Providence. Various Roman Catholic groups have a particular devotion to Our Lady of Providence.
History
Devotion to Mary, Mother of Divine Providence began in the first house of the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul (Barnabites) in Rome at San Carlo ai Catinari church around year 1611.[1] Around 1580, The Italian painter Scipione Pulzone created a work titled "Mater Divinae Providentiae," which depicted the Blessed Mother cradling the Infant Jesus. This painting was given to the Barnabite religious order in 1663. It was placed on the altar of a chapel on the first floor of the Saint Charles rectory behind the main altar. In 1732, a copy of the painting was placed in a location adjacent to the main altar of the church of San Carlo ai Catinari in Rome, where it drew many faithful visitors.[2]
In 1774, Pope Benedict XIV authorized the Confraternity of Our Lady of Providence, a lay organization created for the purpose of promoting special works of Christian charity or piety. Pope Gregory XVI elevated it to an Archconfraternity in 1839.[2] In 1888, Pope Leo XIII ordered the solemn crowning of the "Miraculous Lady" and approved the Mass and Office of Mary, Mother of Divine Providence.[1]
On August 5, 1896, Superior General of the Barnabites Father Benedict Nisser decreed that every Barnabite have a copy of the painting in their home.[1]
Patronage
Our Lady of Providence is the patroness of Indiana and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island.
Our Lady of Divine Providence is the patroness of Puerto Rico.[3]
Our Lady of Divine Providence is the patroness of St. Benedict's Abbey in Atchison, Kansas.
National Shrine Our Lady of Providence
Devotion to Our Lady of Providence came to the United States after a chaplain of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, Monsignor A.J. Rawlinson, saw a reproduction of "Mater Divinae Providentiae" at Catholic University of America. During a trip to Rome in 1925, Rawlinson gathered historical information on the devotion to Our Lady of Providence and then brought back prints of the painting to Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.[2]
On May 1, 1925, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Providence was canonically erected at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods with the purpose of encouraging families to make Mary the queen of their homes. A Confraternity of Our Lady of Providence was erected, and later a certificate of affiliation of the American Confraternity was established with the Archconfraternity in Rome.
The hymn "Our Lady of Providence," by Sister of Providence Cecilia Clare Bocard, is sung by the Sisters at various special celebrations.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 "Mary, Mother of Divine Providence", Barnabites
- 1 2 3 "History of devotion to Our Lady of Providence", Sisters of the Divine Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, March 19, 2009
- ↑ Avi IHM, Sonia. "Our Lady of Divine Providence Patroness of Puerto Rico", Catholic Star Herald, Diocese of Camden, December 2, 2010
- ↑ McCammon, Connie (Summer 2009). "Bringing beauty into the world". HOPE Magazine (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana: Sisters of Providence) 4 (3): 4–5.