Join us in praying the Our Lady of Confidence Novena from May 16-24, 2024, with Fr. Mateus Jensen Didonet PIME Missionary from India, with daily videos on our PIME Missionaries YouTube channel or on our Facebook or Instagram accounts.
The Madonna della Fiducia (Our Lady of Confidence) is a beautiful portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Carlo Maratta (1625-1713), painted the image and donated it to Sr. Clare Isabella, the Abbess of the Poor Clares of Todi, Italy.
Sr. Clare Isabella developed a sincere devotion to the Blessed Mother through this beautiful painting. She received a promise of consolation from the Blessed Virgin Mary for all who venerate her through the image. Mary's intercession is invoked through a short prayer:
“Mater Mea, Fiducia Mea!” (My Mother, My Confidence!)
The portrait of Our Lady of Confidence was eventually gifted to a seminary in Rome. More than 100 seminarians and alumni prayed to her before leaving for the front lines, invoking Mary's intercession praying, "My Mother, My Confidence!" Each of those soldiers returned home safely from the horrors of WWI, among their ranks was the future Saint Pope John XXIII. A vital advocate of the Missions of the Catholic Church, the Pope held a fervent love in his heart for PIME. He eventually donated his family home in Sotto il Monte to serve as a seminary for the Institute.
Below is the promise of Our Lady of Confidence, taken from the consoling words of the Blessed Mother when she appeared to Sr. Clare Isabella:
“The divine Lady deigned to reveal to me that every soul that confidently presents hisself/herself before this picture will obtain from her Divine Son the general pardon for all his/her sins. Moreover, my divine Lady assured me with the love of a true mother that she would grant a special tenderness to everyone who contemplated this picture.”
Prayer to Our Lady of Confidence:
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 to 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 the Lord say on the last day of our life those words of comfort: “Come, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”
Amen.
