The painting & the prayer
The Madonna della Fiducia (Our Lady of Confidence) is a beautiful portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus in her arms. Carlo Maratta (1625-1713), painted the image and donated it to Sr. Clare Isabella, the Abbess of the Poor Clares of Todi, Italy.
Sr. Clare Isabella developed a sincere devotion to the Blessed Mother through this beautiful painting. She received a promise of consolation from the Blessed Virgin Mary for all who venerate her through the image. Mary's intercession is invoked through a short prayer:“Mater Mea, Fiducia Mea!” (My Mother, My Confidence!)
The prayer: O Mary Immaculate, the precious name of Mother of Confidence, with which we honor you, fills our hearts to overflowing with the sweetest consolation and moves us to hope for every blessing from you.If such a title has been given to you, it is a sure sign that no one has recourse to you in vain. Accept, therefore, with a mother’s love, our devout homage as we earnestly beseech you to be gracious to us in our every need. We pray that you will make us live in constant union with you and your divine Son, Jesus.With you as our guide, we are certain that we shall walk in the right way and that it will be our happy lot to hear the Lord say on the last day of our life those words of comfort: “Come, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.” Amen.
A Mother's Protection
More than 100 seminarians and alumni prayed to Our Lady of Confidence before leaving for the front lines of WWI, invoking Mary's intercession praying, "My Mother, My Confidence!"
Each of those soldiers returned home safely from the horrors of WWI, among their ranks was the future Saint Pope John XXIII. A vital advocate of the Missions of the Catholic Church, the Pope held a fervent love in his heart for PIME. He eventually donated his family home in Sotto il Monte to serve as a seminary for the Institute.
Pray the 2024 Novena with Us
Join Fr. Mateus, PIME Missionary in India, as he leads us in prayer to Our Lady of Confidence throughout our 2024 Novena - from scenic spots around the PIME Mission on the Amazon River!
Watch Day 1 of the Novena, and follow the links on our YouTube or Facebook page to pray along with us from May 16-23.
Support the work of the PIME Missionaries
in the name of Our Lady
Our Lady & PIME in the U.S
As an alumnus of the Rome seminary, Fr. Nicholas Maestrini, PIME, treasured this devotion to Our Lady and secured a print of the devotional portrait.
In 2022, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of PIME Missionary service in the United States. As part of that celebration, we remembered the special role that Our Lady of Confidence has played throughout the years (pictured is Our Lady's Chapel in PIME's former Maryglade College Seminary in Memphis, Michigan).