| The Clerics Regular of St. Paul, known as the Barnabite Order after
their mother church of St. Barnabas in Milan, started and propagated
devotion to Mary, Mother of Divine Providence. In 1611, for lack of funds,
the Barnabites in Rome had to stop construction of a new church dedicated
to their ally, St. Charles Borromeo (d. 1584). The pastor, Fr. Blaise
Palma, made a pilgrimage to Loreto to ask Our Lady's help. On his return,
funds came in, and the church was completed in 1650. Father Palma wrote an
account of this miracle for the church archives, recommending trust in the
Blessed Mother's help in every difficulty. In 1663, the Barnabites moved a
fresco of the Madonna from their old church of St. Paul to St. Charles. In
1677, when they tried to reposition the beloved image over the altar in
their chantry, it disintegrated. In recompense, the architect gave them a
Madonna and Child by Roman painter Scipione Pulzone, called Gaetano
(c1570). One of those who prayed daily before this image, Fr. Januarius
Maffetti, discovered the writings of Fr. Palma and began the public
devotion to Our Lady of Divine Providence in 1732. In 1774, Pope Benedict
XIV established a Confraternity in her name. On November 11, 1888, the
painting was canonically crowned. The feast of Mary, Mother of Divine
Providence is celebrated on the Saturday before the third Sunday in
November by the Barnabite Order and other organizations that have adopted
her as patron. (Information from "Our Lady of Divine Providence," www.catholic-church.org/barnabites/b52oldp.html.
Image from www.romecity.it.) |
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