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Our Lady of the Garden

Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), defined the mystical meaning of garden as “a place of spiritual repose, stillness, peace, refreshment and delight.” For centuries this title has been given to the Blessed Virgin and is one which is used in the Litany of Mary.

The ancient painting known as Our Lady of the Garden, however, does not depict a botanical garden. It received its name from the location where the image was originally placed at the end of the fifteenth century.

In the spring of 1493, the city of Genoa was suffering from a serious cholera epidemic. A pious woman vowed to make a public expression of gratitude if her family was spared from the sickness, which they were. She commissioned a painter to paint a picture of the Virgin, and had him place it on a city wall of the town, so that more people could see it.

The painting expresses vividly the power and goodness of Mary. The virgin holds the infant Jesus with her left hand, and with her right she holds up his tiny arm to bless the city and all who pass by. The words of the angelic salutation, “Ave gratia plena” (Hail, full of grace) circle the Virgin’s head; above the figures we read the biblical phrase from the Song of Songs: “Hortus conclusus” (enclosed garden).

The image began to attract devotion immediately. Through the years, devotion to Our Lady increased. Although constantly exposed to the weather and the salty sea air, the painting miraculously remained fresh and undamaged. Almost a century later, two apparitions of the Virgin increased the devotion even more.

Although the image remained bright, through time the wall had begun to suffer from age and the weather. A crack as wide as a finger ran across the head of the Virgin in the picture. The wall seemed in imminent danger of collapse. A few days after the second apparition, the crack miraculously closed, leaving only a nearly invisible line as a sign of the prodigy.

A small chapel was built to protect the sacred image. Later a magnificent church was built which is today a Pontifical Minor Basilica.

St. Anthony Gianelli (1789 - 1846) had a deep filial devotion to Our Lady of the Garden, and he consecrated himself and his religious institutions to her. As they spread to missions throughout the world, they brought the love and devotion to Our Lady under the title of Our Lady of the Garden.

In South America, many children are given the name Maria del Huerta, in honor of Our Lady of the Garden. In Spanish, the name signifies not simply a garden but a fruitful one. In truth, devotion to Mary under this title is fruitful, inviting her devotees into the wonders of the divine love and mercy of Our Father.

The feast of Our Lady of the Garden is celebrated on July 2.

If you would like a prayer card of Our Lady of the Garden, just write to Father Jack and ask him for one. As you pray to Our Lady under this title, please ask her to bless the gardens of our missionaries which they have planted in many of our mission areas to help feed the poor.