Jesus' first miracle took place at the wedding feast In Cana (John 2: 1-11). They had run out of wine and Mary asked Jesus to help the young couple. Jesus answered : "Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet". In John's Gospel account, the term "my hour" indicates the hour of Jesus' death, of his final glorification. Jesus knew that when he performed his first public miracle, his public life would begin and that would lead him to calvary and death. Thus, perhaps in response to his mother's petition he said no, so that she would have time to ponder the consequences, not just for him but also for her. Did he say no so that Mary would remember any revelations she might have received where it concerns her son's passion and death? Did Jesus wish to give her more time to enjoy his company?

Looking upon an image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and meditating upon the suffering of our Blessed Mother because of Jesus' crucifixion and death, inspired me to believe that she knew what awaited her son and thus her. At a church In Miami of the same name and through an image whose message many do not know well, I felt that God was showing me how much our Blessed Mother loves us.

The painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (O.L.P.H.) dates back to the XV century, but no one knows exactly when it was painted or who its author is. The Redemptorist order of priests asked that it be taken back to the church of St. Alphonse in Rome, after 75 years of absence and it is still there for veneration.

During the procession for the installation of the image, on April 26, 1886, there were several miracles, including that of a four year old boy who was suffering from a brain disease and was cured. That is just one of many known miracles that have taken place where it concerns those who invoke our Blessed Mother under that title.

Pope Pius IX gave the painting to the Redemptorist Order, not as a gift but as a mission. He told them: "Make Our Mother of Perpetual Help known throughout the world". The Redemptorists embraced this command wholeheartedly by distributing reproductions of her picture and talking about her in missions and homilies around the world. Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II has a great devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, for he has declared: "I have to thank the Madonna of the Perpetual Help who has shown herself ever a perpetual help to me in difficult situations."

The image was painted in the Byzantine style, and the purpose of this type of art is not to show us a beautiful scene but to give us a spiritual message. But let's examine the details of the painting which give us important teachings.

Our Blessed Mother seems to be looking directly at those who are looking at the image, as if she wanted to convey an important message to them. Her tunic is red, the color virgins used at the time of Christ. Her mantle is blue, the color women who were mothers wore In Palestine. She is both virgin and mother. On her head there is a crown, painted into the original painting at the request of the Holy See for the many favors received through her intercession. Her mouth is small, a symbol of her silence and the depth of her contemplation. Her eyes are large, they see all our needs and invite us to ask for her help. However, they reflect the sadness that seems to permeate her soul. I believe that sadness shows that she knew the fate that awaited her son. The letters in Greek above her head tell that she is the Mother of God.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help has Little Jesus in her arms, he ran to her and in his flight lost a sandal. Perhaps he has already seen, at that tender age, part of what would be his destiny: the sufferings and terrible death he would have to endure for our salvation. Even though he is God, he is also human, and his future has filled him with terror. The figures on either side of Jesus and Mary: the Archangels Gabriel and Michael, are carrying the instruments of Christ's passion. To the right, Gabriel carries the cross and four nails. On the left, Michael holds an urn filled with the gall that the soldiers offered Jesus on the cross, the lance that pierced his side, and the reed with the sponge. Jesus' mother holds him in her arms, very close to her breast at this time of panic. Even though she cannot spare him that suffering, she can love him and console him. Jesus' Little hands are in hers in order to remind us, that just as he put himself in her hands invoking her protection, now from Heaven he places each of us mortals, under that same loving, tender protection.

The biblical account of the wedding feast at Cana proves to us, that Mary did not hesitate a single instant before she gave up her son so that he could begin his public life. She asked him to perform that first miracle, even though she knew what it would mean. Simeon had already warned her, when Jesus was presented at the temple as a baby: "He will be a sign from God that many people will speak against...sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart" (Luke 2:33). Simeon surely prophesied some of the suffering that Mary would have to endure, which in the end would turn out to be possibly the worst a mother could ever go through: to see her beloved son betrayed, humiliated, tortured and murdered. Mary risked death in saying yes to God the first time, so that Jesus could be born into the world. Then she voluntarily gave up her beloved son in spite of the fact that she knew that a horribly painful death for the salvation of the world, awaited him.

Mary's second yes must have been infinitely more painful and difficult for her than her first one. Oh, how deeply we are loved by our Blessed Mother! There is no living human being --other than Jesus, God made man-- that can compete with her in love, goodness and generosity. This is another reason why she is Queen of the universe, of the Saints, Martyrs, Apostles, Angels, etc. The better we get to know our Blessed Mother, the more we love her.

In the year 2000 the annual celebration of the Feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, on June 25, took on special significance because it was a Jubilee Year. Let us honor her in a very special way! Dear reader: wherever you are, take time to contemplate her image and join in prayer with those who visit her at her shrine in Chicago and in Rome.

Magaly Llaguno is the Executive Director of Vida Humana Internacional, Human Life International's Hispanic Division in Miami.