With camera in hand, we enjoyed our trip to the Mission Church in Boston. We needed higher quality pictures for our article in the next edition for the "Missio Immaculae" issued by the Franciscans of the Immaculate. It is such a privilege to pray at the foot of the Miraculous Icon. The day we were there, we watched as a mother lifted up her newborn baby, born just three days previously, to the Icon. Having endured a difficult labor, she wanted special protection for her little boy and she went directly from the hospital to attend Mass at the Basilica and to ask for Our Lady's blessings. The new mother prayed to the Immaculate Heart throughout her pregnancy and this special baby was born on the Feast Day of the Immaculate Heart, May 31, 2013.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is surrounded by an array of city dwellings. It is quite an amazing sight to see the impressive stone church’s 214 feet twin steeples soar above the neighboring structures. Rising from the ashes of puritanical hatred for the Catholic Faith, from “No-Nothing” (an anti-Catholic political movement) persecution of Catholics in which an Ursuline Convent in Boston was burned in 1834, and from enactment of laws barring Catholic Priests from the Mass Bay Area, the Basilica stretches its magnificent towers to the Heavens in praise and thanksgiving to God.
The “jewel” of the church is the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Mounted on a shiny, golden mosaic wall is an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who beckons her children to approach the rail and pray to her. On each side of the Icon stands a statue of a praying angel, looking up at Our Lady and on the gold ceiling above the icon are painted two more angels carrying an Ave Maria banner. Kneeling before the awe-inspiring Icon, one senses the palpable presence of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. There are many crutches left in vases at each side of the altar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which indicate the many miracles attributed to Her. During the thirteen years from the inception of the church until 1884, there were already 331 well-authenticated miraculous cures, which were propagated throughout America. In fact, The NY Herald, in March of 1901, called this Shrine the “Lourdes of America” because there were so many miraculous cures.
The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is surrounded by an array of city dwellings. It is quite an amazing sight to see the impressive stone church’s 214 feet twin steeples soar above the neighboring structures. Rising from the ashes of puritanical hatred for the Catholic Faith, from “No-Nothing” (an anti-Catholic political movement) persecution of Catholics in which an Ursuline Convent in Boston was burned in 1834, and from enactment of laws barring Catholic Priests from the Mass Bay Area, the Basilica stretches its magnificent towers to the Heavens in praise and thanksgiving to God.
The “jewel” of the church is the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Mounted on a shiny, golden mosaic wall is an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, who beckons her children to approach the rail and pray to her. On each side of the Icon stands a statue of a praying angel, looking up at Our Lady and on the gold ceiling above the icon are painted two more angels carrying an Ave Maria banner. Kneeling before the awe-inspiring Icon, one senses the palpable presence of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. There are many crutches left in vases at each side of the altar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, which indicate the many miracles attributed to Her. During the thirteen years from the inception of the church until 1884, there were already 331 well-authenticated miraculous cures, which were propagated throughout America. In fact, The NY Herald, in March of 1901, called this Shrine the “Lourdes of America” because there were so many miraculous cures.
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