“Be faithful to the Mother” – A Marian Encounter with Pope Leo XIV and Our Lady of Good Counsel
From the heart of Rome to the quiet hills of Genazzano, the devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel continues to echo a timeless invitation: “Be faithful to the Mother.”
This ancient Marian title, so deeply cherished by the Augustinian family, has found renewed life under the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, whose first papal pilgrimage placed this devotion at the heart of his ministry.
The Augustinian Thread: A Pope Formed by Mary’s Counsel
Before becoming Pope, Leo XIV was known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a friar of the Order of Saint Augustine. Within this order, Our Lady of Good Counsel is venerated as patroness and mother, guiding her sons and daughters to discern God’s will with wisdom and serenity.
The miraculous image of Our Lady in Genazzano, a delicate fresco said to have appeared miraculously in 1467, has long been the spiritual heart of Augustinian devotion. When Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name, he paid subtle homage to Pope Leo XIII, who also had a deep love for this same Marian title. In this way, the new pontiff reaffirmed a lineage of Marian faith and Augustinian contemplation that bridges centuries.
A First Pilgrimage that Speaks of the Heart
Only days after his election on May 8, 2025, Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for his first journey as pontiff. His destination was not a political stage or international summit, but the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, a small hill town southeast of Rome.
According to Vatican News, he arrived quietly in the late afternoon and entered the sanctuary in silence, kneeling before the miraculous image that has inspired countless miracles and conversions.
In that sacred moment, the Pope prayed for guidance, grace, and perseverance in the mission entrusted to him as Successor of Peter.
“I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has entrusted to me,” he said, “to ask for grace to carry it forward.”
Then, turning to the faithful, he added: “As the Mother never abandons her children, you must remain faithful to her.”
His words recall the same maternal tenderness found in Mary’s counsel at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you.”
For Pope Leo XIV, that Marian obedience is not simply devotion, it is the very foundation of his papal mission.
The Meaning of the Devotion
The image of Our Lady of Good Counsel, housed in the Genazzano shrine and guarded by Augustinian friars since the 14th century, continues to draw pilgrims from around the world. The devotion reminds the faithful that Mary is not distant or silent, she is the Mother who offers heavenly wisdom and gentle direction in every moment of life.
In times of confusion, moral struggle, or personal decision, she whispers counsel that leads the heart back to Christ. That is why this title has been so loved by popes, saints, and faithful souls seeking divine clarity.
Pope Leo XIV’s early visit to the shrine reaffirmed this connection. By kneeling before the miraculous image so soon after his election, he invited the entire Church to rediscover Mary as the living source of guidance for today’s world.
A Blessed Medal: Faith You Can Hold
This devotion now comes alive in a tangible way through our specially designed medal:
Maria SS. del Buon Consiglio – Our Lady of Good Counsel Medal – Papal Blessing.
Each medal is crafted in Rome and blessed in the Eternal City, connecting the wearer directly to the universal Church and the spiritual legacy of Pope Leo XIV. Inspired by his Augustinian roots and Marian heart, this medal is meant to be both a token of faith and a daily reminder of Mary’s guiding presence.
Wear it close to your heart as a sign of trust in her intercession.
Place it upon your home altar or prayer corner as a source of peace and clarity.
Gift it to someone beginning a new chapter, a marriage, a vocation, a family journey, so they may carry the Mother’s counsel with them.
A Call to Faithfulness
In a world filled with noise, distraction, and conflicting voices, Mary continues to speak the words of divine wisdom: “Do whatever He tells you.”
Just as Pope Leo XIV began his ministry on his knees before Our Lady of Good Counsel, we too are called to begin each day in prayerful openness to her Son’s will.
If you’re building a home shrine or enhancing your devotional collection, this medal is more than a keepsake, it’s a living sign of the Church’s unity and of Mary’s ever-present love.
👉 Explore the Medal:
Maria SS. del Buon Consiglio – Our Lady of Good Counsel Medal – Papal Blessing
Add this blessed medal to your prayer space or give it as a meaningful Catholic gift, a symbol of peace, protection, and divine counsel for every season of life.
