Our Lady of Good Counsel

The town of Genazzano, located about an hour outside of Rome, is home to the famous and miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel.

This image is a replica I saw on the street. Unfortunately I didn't get picture of the original.

Various Popes and saints have made pilgrimages to Augustian church where the image is kept in order honor Our Lady and seek her counsel. Who better to seek counsel from than Mary who was the Mother and guardian of Him whom the prophet Isaiah called, "Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6)? Who better to ask for guidance than she who herself listens to intently to His every word?

Here are some pictures from a short "day-trip" I made made a few weeks ago to Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano.











In 1953, Pope Pius XII composed the following prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel:

Holy Virgin, moved by the painful uncertainty we experience in seeking and acquiring the true and the good, we cast ourselves at thy feet and invoke thee under the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel. We beseech thee: come to our aid at this moment in our worldly sojourn when the twin darknesses or error and of evil that plots our ruin by leading minds and hearts astray.

Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the victims of doubt and of error so that they may not be seduced by evil masquerading as good; strengthen them against the hostile and corrupting forces of passion and of sin.

Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from thy Divine Son the love of virtue and the strength to choose, in doubtful and difficult situations, the course agreeable to our salvation. Supported by thy hand we shall thus journey without harm along the paths taught us by the word and example of Jesus our Savior, following the Sun of Truth and Justice in freedom and safety across the battlefield of life under the guidance of thy maternal Star, until we come at length to the harbor of salvation to enjoy with thee unalloyed and everlasting peace.