Refugium Peccatorum
Refugium Peccatorum, also known as Our Lady of Refuge, is a title for the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. Its use goes back to Saint Germanus of Constantinople in the 8th century.
Catholic tradition
In the Catholicism, Eve is understood responsible for the suffering of humanity due to her and Adam’s fall and expulsion from paradise, while the Virgin Mary is viewed as the source of all healing. She is the "New Eve”, who cannot eliminate the damage created by Eve, only limit it. Her fullness of grace, her position among the disciples of Christ, and her title as Mother of God are seen as assurances the Virgin Mary is a powerful intercessor.Prayer
Refugium Peccatorum is one of four Marian advocations in the Litany of Loreto, the others being Salus Infirmorum, Consolatrix Afflictorum, and Auxilium Christianorum. Each title extols Mary’s role as advocate for spiritual and corporeal mercy has a rich history, and the general notion of Marian intercession in temporal needs dates back to Church Fathers such as Justin Martyr, Irenaeus and Ambrose of Milan.Community
The Archconfraternity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Refuge of Sinners was established at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires in the 19th century, and spread throughout the world.Art
The 18th-century Jesuit preacher Antonio Baldinucci had a particular devotion to the Refugium Peccatorum image of Virgin Mary in the Church of the Gesu (Frascati) in Italy and commissioned a copy which he considered miraculous and carried it with him in his travels. The Jesuits spread copies of the image of this Madonna of Refuge in Mexico by the 19th century, and it began to be depicted in missions there, often with clouds surrounding the lower portion of the image of the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus.In some 19th-century images, biblical scenes are included below the image of the Madonna, e.g. Peter's visions as well as the depiction of a safe harbor.
The term "Refugium peccatorum" is also used other works of Roman Catholic Marian art. For instance, there is a marble statue representing the Virgin Mary, on the grand staircase of the old municipal palace in Venice, Italy. The name came from the fact that the convicts were allowed to stop before the Virgin Mary’s statue and pray for their souls on their way to execution.