Our Lady of Perpetual Help Coloring Page
This Our Lady of Perpetual Help coloring page shows the famous icon: Mary holding the Child Jesus, who grips her hand while one sandal slips off his foot, with two small angels in the corners and a star on her veil. The PDF is free to print. The icon has hung in Rome since 1866.
The story of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Some pictures of Mary are statues, and some are paintings. Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a special kind of painting called an icon. It is painted on wood, with a shining gold background, and it is more than 500 years old.
Look closely at the little Jesus in the picture. Two angels have come to show him the cross and other signs of what will happen to him when he grows up. Jesus is so surprised that he has run to his mother and grabbed her hand with both of his. He ran so fast that one of his sandals is slipping off his foot!
Mary holds him close. But she is not looking at Jesus. She is looking right at us. It is as if she is saying, "When you are scared, run to my Son, just as he ran to me."
An old story says a merchant brought the icon to Rome from the island of Crete, and it was placed in a church there in 1499. For 300 years people prayed before it. Then soldiers destroyed that church, and the icon was forgotten for many years. In 1866 Pope Pius IX gave it to priests called the Redemptorists. People say he told them, "Make her known throughout the world." And they did! Today copies of Our Lady of Perpetual Help hang in churches and homes all over the world.
What to color
- Mary's mantle: dark blue with a green lining, over a red dress.
- The star on her veil: gold. Mary is like a star that leads us to Jesus.
- The Child Jesus: green and red clothes, with a gold sash.
- The falling sandal: brown, hanging by its strap.
- The angels: St. Michael on the left and St. Gabriel on the right, with wings in any bright colors you like.
- The background and halos: gold or yellow, for the light of heaven.
A prayer to pray together
Many parishes pray a novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help every Wednesday. Children can pray this short prayer:
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.
Then pray a Hail Mary together. For a prayer asking Mary's help, see the Memorare.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color this page on June 27, her feast day. She is the patroness of Haiti, so pray for the people of Haiti too.
- Look for this icon in your parish or a nearby church. Can you find the falling sandal and the two angels?
- Talk about it: when you feel scared, who do you run to? How can we "run" to Jesus when we are afraid?
- Make a "gold" icon: color the background with yellow crayon, then rub it with a little gold glitter glue.
Read the full story: Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What colors should I use for Our Lady of Perpetual Help?
In the real icon, Mary's mantle is dark blue with a green lining, her dress is red, and the background is gold. The Child Jesus wears green and red with a gold sash. The halos are gold too.
Why is the Child Jesus losing his sandal?
The angels are showing him signs of the cross he will one day carry. He has run to his mother so fast that his sandal is falling off, and he holds her hand tight. Mary looks at us, as if to say, "Run to my Son too."
Who are the two angels?
St. Michael is on the left and St. Gabriel is on the right. Their names are written above them in small Greek letters.
Is this coloring page free for schools?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for your home, classroom or parish.