梵二大公會議的文獻中說 :「 ……聖母瑪利亞升天以後,她在救恩中的角色從未中止過,她以一再的轉求,繼續為我們獲取永生的恩惠。她的慈母身份延續到她聖子『尚在人生旅途上被危險和困險包圍』的兄弟姊妹們身上,直到他們被引進幸福的天鄉。因此在教會內,人呼求榮福童貞為辯護者、輔助者、求急者、中保。不過,須肯定這樣稱呼聖母,對基督唯一中保的尊嚴和能力,並無任何增損。」( 參閱《教會憲章》62 ) 教宗保祿六世於梵二大公會議後,以宗座名義發表了一篇訓辭,宣稱聖母瑪利亞為「教會之母」,並說明:此即教會中的牧人與信徒的母親。
在教會的每一個時期,信友們常體驗到聖母的助佑多麼有能力;因此在一切患難中,不論個人或團體都滿懷信心,投奔到她聖壇前,深信能獲得她的保障和助佑。
1572 年,當土耳其企圖闖入歐洲時,義勇的十字軍依恃童貞聖母的助佑,於萊濱多海戰中,大破土耳其的艦隊,榮奏凱歌。教宗庇護五世為紀念這光榮的勝利,欽定了勝利之后聖母瞻禮。
後來,在 1682 年,至聖童貞又解救了維也納城的信友,擊退了土耳其軍隊。為了感謝聖母的洪恩,教宗依諾增爵十二世批准成立聖母進教之佑善會。最後在 1814 年 5 月24 日 ,教宗庇護七世排除了拿破崙強權的壓迫,結束長期的漂流生活,榮歸羅馬。為了感謝聖母的助佑,他欽定了 5 月 24 日為聖母進教之佑瞻禮,永作紀念,而他本人亦常以進教之佑的尊號來呼求聖母。
聖若望鮑思高神父更加竭力傳揚這個光榮而令人欣慰的稱呼,使聖母進教之佑這個稱呼發揚光大。他得到童貞聖母的啟導和助佑,創立了慈幼會,專為青年服務,目前這修會已擴展到全球各地。
1868 年,鮑思高神父藉著聖母所顯的許多奇蹟,在杜林城建立了一座輝煌壯麗的聖母進教之佑大殿。為了感謝聖母進教之佑,鮑思高神父創立了 「聖母進教之佑孝女會」(簡稱 :「母佑會」),教育女青年。
鮑思高神父更曾經寫過 : 「我們對耶穌的母親,聖母進教之佑的敬禮,和教會的歷史一樣悠久。聖母升天後,宗徒首先恭敬聖母,教友就效法他們留下的敬禮,不停地呼求聖母,頌揚聖母。」
聖母進教者之佑會的宗旨,就是呼籲現代的基督徒,掌握符合福音啟示的價值觀念,渡聖化的生活,聖化自己和他人:
維護及促進他們「身在俗世心繫天主」的
在俗基督徒的屬靈生命,俾能在聖神及聖
母的助佑下成長及聖化,成為地上的鹽和
世界上的光。
Catholic laities have experienced the power of our Blessed Virgin Mary over the centuries. Regardless you are an individual or a group, if you pray faithfully in any trouble; you will receive her protection and assistance.
Our Lady of Victory.
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In 24 May 1814, Pope Pius VII, who was in jail under the oppression by Napoleon Bonaparte, was released and returned to Rome. Twelve months later, Pope Pius VII decreed that the Feast of Mary Help of Christians be kept on 24 May.
Mary Help of Christians. He later dedicated his works to De Sales when he founded the Salesians of Don Bosco – a catholic institute to help poor children during industrial revolution in Turin, Italy. Today, Salesians of Don Bosco
Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christian. He later founded the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, a religious congregation of nuns dedicated to the care and education of poor girls.
Aim : To foster the growth and sanctification of members’ Christian life,”sojourning in the world yet longing for God” through the daily practice of spiritual reading and meditation so that, with the help of the Holy Spirit and Our Lady, they may become the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
In Chinese Catholic Community Brisbane, we have formulated a Mary Help of Christians,