About
the artwork at left:
The fresco of Mater
Admirabilis. Trinita dei Monti, Rome.
In 1828, the monastery of Trinita dei Monti was handed over to the nuns
of the Sacred Heart according to Pope Leo XII's wish. It was founded
in the 15th century thanks to the generosity of the kings of France,
by St. Francesco di Paola, Head of the order of the Minims. Trinita dei
Monti became a center of education for youth and a center from which
the devotion of the Sacred Heart spread out. Another mission and another
grace was still awaiting it: to become Our Lady's sanctuary where many
souls would find spiritual comfort.
In 1844, a young girl, Pauline Perdrau (later religious
of the Sacred Heart) expressed the wish to Reverend
Mother de Coriolis, superior of the house, to paint
Our Lady on the wall of a passage on the first floor
overlooking the cloister. In spite of many obstacles,
she set to work though ignorant of the proceedings
of fresco paintings. While the young artist was working
at Our Lady's features, the lime was kept fresh for
13 hours which was a particular note of Our Lady's
assistance whom she never stopped invocating.
On July 1st. the painting was finished and its forseen
failure turned to reality. The fresco whose colors
were far too bright was liable to be covered by another
layer of lime. The delay in doing so settled things.
The painting appeared as it is today.
The Virgin was called Our Lady of the Lilies until
the 20th of October 1846, On that day Pope Pius IXth,
visiting the picture exclaimed: She is truly the
Admirable Mother which title she has kept since then.
Miracles began in November of the same year: l'abbe
Blampain was cured of being mute after making a novena.
After this miracle the Pope allowed mass to be celebrated
before this picture. On the 20th of October, the
Pope granted indulgences and permitted the celebration
of a new feast in honor of Mater Admirabilis on this
day. Since then pilgrims come to pray to her.
The grace Mater likes to give especially is the
yearning for an inner life. The deepest meaning of
the Hail Mary is revealed here. She seems to remind
us of the great reality of faith, that every soul
in grace is the temple of the Most High and filled
with the Blessed Trinity. Her whole attitude betrays
this truth and her downcast eyes radiate purity and
peace. Here lies the secret of her attraction. She
leads us to the love of God. Near her the sounds
of our busy feverish world vanish and our attention
rests in quiet contemplation of heavenly things.
Among the innumerable priests, nuns, pilgrims of
all Nations who came to Mater we remember the Saints
who prayed in Her sanctuary: Saint Madeleine Sophie,
foundress of the Society of the Sacred Heart; St.
John Bosco, the Little Flower; St. Pius X etc… Pius
IX came 21 times to Trinita and trusted all his troubles
to Mater. (courtesy of Olga
Rome)
Hymn to Mater
by Harriet Cates
Hardaway, Maryville
1. Let angels hush their songs of holy praise,
Quiet the throbbing strings of Heaven's harps!
Earth still the striving of its numbered days,
While we with heav'n caught echoes hail thy name: Mater, Mater Admirabilis!
2. Thy down dropt lids from passing gaze conceal
What paradise of prayer thy soul hath trod,
Oh let the sweet curve of those lips reveal
All that thy heart foreshadowed of thy God
Mater, Mater, Admirabilis
3. Thy robe is fashioned of the rose of
dawn;
Thou art the dawn whence endless day shall spring. Ah, who the lily
at thy side can see,
When near it smiles the Lily of the King?
Mater, Mater Admirabilis!
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