My Mother, My Confidence!
Mater Mea, Fiducia Mea
Devotion Our Lady of Confidence has proved itself particularly efficacious when combined with the aspiration, "My Mother, My Confidence."
Prayer
O Mary Immaculate, the precious name of Mother of Confidence, with which we honor you, fills our hearts to overflowing with the sweetest consolation and moves us to hope for every blessing from you. If such a title has been given to you, it is a sure sign that no one has recourse to you in vain. Accept, therefore, with a mother's love our devout homage, as we earnestly beseech you to be gracious unto us in our every need. We pray that you will make us live in constant union with you and your divine Son, Jesus. With you as our guide, we are certain that we shall walk in the right way and that it will be our happy lot to hear you say on the last day of our life those words of comfort: "Come then, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord." Amen.
[Oración en español] |
The first picture of Our Lady of Confidence was given to Sister Chiara Isabella Fornari (1697-1744) by the artist Carlos Maratta, when Sister was a young nun in the Poor Clare Convent of Todi, Italy. (The original picture has no crowns on the mother or child.)
Through this picture, Sister Chiara Isabella and her associates were drawn to a deep and intimate relationship with Our Lady, who showed her approval through unusual cures, conversions and, above all, “hope,” which penetrated throughout Italy.
Copies of Sister Isabella’s picture were made, one of which is in the small, students’ chapel of Saint Mary’s Seminary in the Pontifical Major Seminary at the Lateran Pontifical Basilica of Saint John the Baptist, the oldest church in Christendom and the seat of the Cardinal Vicar of Rome.
Twice, Rome was delivered from the ravages of a cholera epidemic. During World War I over 100 seminarians, who were forced into the armed services of Italy, returned safely. It was this latter favor that prompted the seminarians to superimpose crowns of gold and jewels on their picture.
While a student at the seminary, Pope John XXIII became a devotee of Our Lady of Confidence, frequently visiting the seminary chapel. He said his first Mass there. His spirit lived with Our Lady of Confidence and his last words were: “Mater mea, fiducia mea.”
Many in America have also found hope through the devotion. “My Mother, My Confidence” is a short prayer which can be repeated over and over again.
Note: Blessed Clara (Chiara) Isabella Fornari was beatified after this was issued. Her memorial is December 9th. She is also known as Anna Felecia Fornari. |
