Vergine Immacolata: Aiutateci!
Immaculate Virgin , Help Us!

Our Lady of Humility is the patroness of the North American College.  She is our guide and model in priestly humility, a quality that is so important for our ministry, especially here in Rome.  Our Lady reminds us that our lives as priests must be entirely given up to the will of God - each of us responding to God's call with a resounding fiat as Mary did.  For this reason, the 2004 orientation team asks Mary to intercede for us on behalf of the incoming New Men, that they may follow her example of humility, growing in holiness, and persevere in God's will for their lives.

The image here portrayed is quite famous.  The original hung at the first home of the North American College - the Casa Santa Maria in the ancient city of Rome.  The image was in fact stolen, and no one has found it, but a replica was made and is in the chapel of the Casa to this day.  It is now venerated by the priests from the United States who live there while working on advanced degrees in theology.  Up here on the hill we have yet another replica immediately outside of the chapel.  

Prayer to Our Lady of Humility
Oh God, who looks down upon the lowly and knows the heights from afar; grant that your children may with pure heart imitate the humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary; she who was pleasing to You in her virginity and in humility conceived our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son; Who lives and reigns forever and ever.  Amen.