O Mary, Help of Christians Pray for us

With this title, the Christian people pay tribute to the effective help they have always received from the Virgin Mary in difficult situations, especially in the battle of Lepanto against the Muslim invasion and in the liberation of Pope Pius VII after being detained for five years by Napoleon. .  Pope Pius V introduced into the lauretanian litanies the invocation of "help from Christians".  For his part, Pope Pius VII solemnly crowned a statue of the Mother God in Savona, and established that the feast of Mary Help of Christians be celebrated every year on May 24.  The outstanding Apostle of this Marian devotion was Saint John Bosco (1815-1888), founder of the Salesians, who received so much help from the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

What this most prudent Virgin said to the servants at the marriage feast of Cana she addresses also to us: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye" (John ii., 5). Now here is the word of Jesus Christ: "If you would enter into life, keep the commandments" (Matt. xix., 17). Let them each one fully convince himself of this, that if his piety towards the Blessed Virgin does not hinder him from sinning, or does not move his will to amend an evil life, it is a piety deceptive and Iying, wanting as it is in proper effect and its natural fruit.

 St. Pius X
AD DIEM ILLUM LAETISSIMUM
Encyclical Of Pope Pius X
 On The Immaculate Conception

"Let us notice, let us say and always preach that Mary Help of Christians has always obtained and will always obtain special, and even extraordinary and miraculous favors to those who help Christianly the youth in danger  with works, with advice, with good example or simply with their prayer". Don Bosco

To Our Lady, Help of Christians
by St. John Bosco

O Mary, powerful virgin, thou art the mighty and glorious protector of the Church; thou art the marvelous help of Christians; thou art terrible as an army in battle array; thou alone hast destroyed every heresy in the whole world. In the midst of our anguish, our struggles and our distress defend us from the power of the enemy and at the hour of our death receive our souls in paradise. Amen.                     

María Auxilium Christianorum, ora pro nobis