The website, "Catholic Doors Ministry," has been entrusted to Our Lady of Trust. Our Lady promised Sister Claire that she would give special graces throughout the ages to all those who would venerate her image under the title of our Lady of Trust.
The volunteers of this website, its work of evangelization, the mission it supports in India, its members, and its visitors, those who welcome such an entrustment, are also placed under the special care of Our Lady of Trust who has been known to never fail those who seek her heavenly assistance. For in Luke 1:48, it states, "From now on all people will call me [Blessed Virgin Mary] blessed." Truly, by the manifestation of her special graces, Our Lady of Trust is blessed, now and forever.
History of Picture of Our Lady of Trust.
According to old records, the original painting of Our Lady of Trust, then called Our Lady of Confidence, was painted by the great Italian painter Carlo Maratta (1625-1713) who was knighted by Pope Clement XI in 1704 and then was made court painter by Louis XIV the same year.
Carlo Maratta donated the painting to a noblewoman by the name of Claire Isabella Fornari (June 25, 1697- December 9, 1744). She was the abbess of the Convent of Poor Claire of St. Francis in the city of Todi.
The Abbess, now elevated as Venerable Sister Claire Isabel, lived a life of severe penance and was blessed with many mystical graces. She had a great devotion to sacred images, especially those of Mary. She treasured the picture that Carlo Maratta gave her and she frequently meditated on it during her prayer time.
In a private revelation, Our Lady promised Sister Claire that she would give special graces to all those who would venerate the image of our Lady of Trust throughout the ages. The Abbess said, “My Heavenly Mother assured me that she would give a special tenderness and devotion toward her to everyone who contemplated this image,” (the original and its copies).
Sister Claire advised her spiritual director, Father Gazali, to take the picture with him whenever he traveled. Father Gazali always found a great sense of peace and consolation from it. He kept the picture until his death on July 29, 1762. Then his possessions, including the image, were given to the Sisters of the Monastery of St. Francis of Todi where they are today.
In the Major Seminary in Rome, there is an identical picture of our Lady of Confidence. How can this be? Sister Claire had another spiritual advisor, Father Crivelli, who was the spiritual director of the German College in Rome. While visiting Foligno, Father Crivelli became seriously sick, but was suddenly healed as soon as Sister sent him the original painting. He was so moved by this healing that he wanted a copy of the image which he took to Rome and then to the local seminary. From this simple beginning the devotion spread so that by the 1830’s Our Lady of Trust had become the patroness of the Major Seminary in Rome.
Our Lady of Trust protected the seminarians in times of crisis. In fact, in 1837, the scourge of Asiatic flu claimed many lives. The seminarians and their families were put under the protection of Mary; not one of them contracted the disease! In thanksgiving, two crowns were fashioned in gold and placed on the images of Mary and the Child Jesus.
During World War I, more than 100 seminarians were forced into the Italian military. The seminarians placed themselves under the special care of Mary of Trust. They all returned home safely. To repay the goodness of their Queen, the seminarians put diadems on the crowns of Mother and Child!
In the seminary today the Feast of Our Lady of Trust is celebrated on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday.
Prayer O Mary, renown as "Our Lady of Trust",
into your hands I place this request...
[Mention your intention(s) here...]
Bless it and then present it to Jesus.
Manifest your Motherly love and Queenly power.
I entrust myself to your will.
I have confidence in your mercy.
O Mother of God and mine too,
pray for me.
Our Lady of Trust,
pray for us.
Amen.