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The picture shows the chapel with the globally renowned icon of ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help’.
There is a good reason why this spot in the Church of Our Lady in Amsterdam attracts so much attention.
The icon’s special significance is evident in everything within the chapel.
Discover it and convince yourself
There is a good reason why this spot in the Church of Our Lady in Amsterdam attracts so much attention.
The icon’s special significance is evident in everything within the chapel.
For instance, the unique paintings (A to H) tell of the blessings of the past. The display cases filled with gifts of gratitude underscore the fact that the icon remains a source of blessings to this day.
Discover it for yourself!
The heart of the chapel:
Story and tangible evidence united
Image below: you can see the icon of “Our Lady of Perpetual Help”, flanked on either side by two display cases. These are filled with (votive) gifts.
The language of gratitude
If you look closely at the display cases, you will see a rich collection of gifts. Each gift speaks its own language of gratitude:
Silver hearts: These often symbolise gratitude for inner healing, comfort in times of sorrow, or the answering of a prayer that was close to the giver’s heart.
Crosses and rosaries: Signs of renewed faith or thanks for protection during a difficult phase of life.
Other shapes: Sometimes you will see specific shapes (such as a leg or an eye), indicating gratitude for physical recovery.
Silent witnesses of today
These personal gifts are the ‘silent witnesses’ and form tangible proof that people still experience blessings today. In this way, the display cases form a living bridge between history and the present. Every gift is an encouragement to hold fast to faith amidst life’s storms. It is an invitation to seek support from Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
From living room to global icon
Trust in the icon began as early as the Middle Ages among private individuals who personally experienced its power. They became increasingly convinced that this miraculous icon did not belong in a living room, but in a church. This was later confirmed by the highest ecclesiastical authority: the grace that the icon radiates must be shared with the whole world. The historical panels (A to H) tell this remarkable story.
From the living room to a global icon
Faith in the icon began as early as the Middle Ages among private individuals who experienced its power first-hand. They became increasingly convinced that this miraculous icon did not belong in a living room, but in a church. This was later confirmed by the highest ecclesiastical authority: the grace that the icon radiates had to be shared with the whole world. The historical panels (A to H) tell this remarkable story.
It begins stormy.
Eight panels, foundations of Trust
A. Rescue at Sea (1480)
A merchant takes the icon from Crete to Italy. During a life-threatening storm, prayers are offered, in the presence of the icon. Just as the child Jesus sought safety from His Mother, so do they. The sea calms down.
Below the painting is written in old Dutch:
"Transfer of the Painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from the island of Crete to Rome in the year 1480. The merchant now cried, 'Fear not, God wills that we arrive safely at Rome, for the ship that carries us cannot perish."
B. The deathbed
Once in Rome, the merchant becomes deathly ill. He realizes that he cannot keep the icon, source of grace, to himself. He leaves it to his friend to make the icon accessible to everyone through the church.
Below the painting is written in old Dutch: "The dying merchant hands over his greatest treasure to his friend. The merchant said, 'See to it that this Holy Image is placed in one of Rome's churches for worship.'"
C. Marian apparition (1499)
This panel depicts a pivotal moment. After the merchant died, his friend kept the icon for himself, despite the merchant's last wish. According to the story, Mary then appeared to the friend's six-year-old daughter. In the painting, you can see the girl kneeling in the garden as she witnesses the apparition.
Mary indicated the specific location where the icon should hang: between two major basilicas in Rome (Santa Maria Maggiore and St. John Lateran). On that spot stood the small St. Matthew's Church, where the icon was finally placed in 1499 during a large procession.
D. The First Miracles during a solemn procession (1499)
In 1499, the icon is solemnly carried in a procession to the St. Matthew (San Matteo) church. The paralyzed arm of a woman who touches the icon is healed on the spot. This serves as confirmation that the icon's power is spreading and must be made public.
Below the painting, the following is written in old Dutch:
"Procession to St. Matthew's church and the healing of a woman's paralyzed arm on March 27, 1499. And by touching the Holy Image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, she felt her paralyzed arm healed at that very same moment."
E. Growing Confidence
E. Growing Confidence
Below the painting the following is written in old Dutch: "Veneration of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St. Matthew's Church, 1499. The story of the miracles that took place so repeatedly before the Holy Image caused the number of devout worshippers of Jesus' Mother and the great confidence in her powerful intercession to grow daily."
Below the painting the following is written in old Dutch: "Veneration of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St. Matthew's Church, 1499. The story of the miracles that took place so repeatedly before the Holy Image caused the number of devout worshippers of Jesus' Mother and the great confidence in her powerful intercession to grow daily."
Destruction (1798-1850)
Until 1798, the icon hung in the San Matteo church. After this church was destroyed by war, the image went missing. For more than half a century, the icon remained safely hidden in a private chapel, until it was unveiled in 1850.
Right side of the chapel with original paintings (F, G and H)
F: The Lost Treasure (1850):
Until 1798, the icon hung in the San Matteo church. After this church was destroyed by war, the image went missing. For over half a century, the icon remained safely hidden in a private chapel, until it was unveiled in 1850.
Below the painting, in Old Dutch, it reads: "Brother Orsetti shows Michael Marchi the painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help 1850. Brother Orsetti said: Did you hear me well, Marchi? Oh, what miracles have been performed by Our Lady of Perpetual Help!"
G: The Commission (1865):
On December 11, 1865, Pope Pius IX decreed that the icon must return to the place Mary herself had designated. After a careful restoration, he entrusted its care to the Redemptorists, with the urgent instruction: "Make it known!"
Below the painting, in Old Dutch, it reads: "His Holiness Pius IX grants an audience to the Most Reverend Superior General of the Redemptorists on December 11, 1865. Having completed all formalities, H.H. wrote: The Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda is ordered to make known to the Superior of Posterula that it is Our will that the painting spoken of in this petition be returned between St. John and Mary of the Vienna".
H: Healing of a paralyzed child (1883)
Below the painting, in Old Dutch, it reads: "Healing of the paralyzed child before the altar of Our Lady in St. Alphonsus Church, April 26, 1883. The mother carried her daughter before the holy image and prayed with living faith to Mary, for whom a poignant, pleaded prayer was uttered, or the girl stands up and begins to walk without any difficulty, to the great astonishment of all present."
Left side of the chapel with original paintings (A, B, C, and D)
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