The Augustinians have been in charge of a shrine in Genazzano, Italy, since the 13th century -- it is now home to a famous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
According to a popular legend, on April 25, 1467, before a Mass in honor of St. Mark, the people of the village witnessed a marvelous sight. They heard melodious music coming from above and as they looked, they saw a white cloud of luminous beauty. The cloud slowly descended and eventually hung over a wall in a side chapel of the church.
The cloud began to vanish and in its place, there remained a miraculous image of Our Lady. Almost immediately the sick were healed. Ever since the image and devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel has obtained countless healings.
The image reportedly came from a basilica in Albania before it was destroyed by the Turks. The origins of the image in Albania are shrouded in mystery and there is little evidence as to where it came from or who painted it.
White Scapular
Pope Leo XIII had a devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel, including her title in the Litany of Loreto. Additionally, he approved the White Scapular of Our Lady of Good Counsel and entrusted it to the Augustinians.
The scapular is made of white wool and has on one piece the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel. On the other piece of cloth is the coat of arms of either the Vatican, or Pope Leo XIII along with the words, Fili acquce consiliis ejusi, which is Latin for, “Child, listen to her counsels.”
While it is not as popular as the Brown Scapular, it maintains a similar symbolism.
St. John Paul II provides a powerful meditation on the use of the scapular in a message he gave to the Carmelite Order.
Therefore two truths are evoked by the sign of the Scapular: on the one hand, the constant protection of the Blessed Virgin, not only on life's journey, but also at the moment of passing into the fullness of eternal glory; on the other, the awareness that devotion to her cannot be limited to prayers and tributes in her honor on certain occasions, but must become a "habit," that is, a permanent orientation of one's own Christian conduct, woven of prayer and interior life.
Even though his words were in regard to the Brown Scapular, they can also be applied to the White Scapular, reminding us that wearing such a "habit" should lead to a "habit" of prayer.
Pope Leo XIV has his own devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel and visited the shrine in Genazzano shortly after he was elected pope.
