Marian devotion
Our Lady of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
The Virgin Mary in the capital of Finland, where the Catholic faith has been reborn after centuries.
St. Henry's Cathedral
St. Henry's Cathedral is the most important Catholic church in Finland. Built in the 19th century, the cathedral is the center of Catholic life in a predominantly Lutheran country.
Our Lady of the Northern Lights
The image of Our Lady of the Northern Lights is a wooden carving depicting the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, surrounded by the aurora borealis. Tradition says that the Virgin appeared to a Finnish monk during an aurora borealis, announcing the arrival of Christianity in Finland.
"The Virgin of the Northern Lights illuminates the dark winters of Finland with her celestial light."
Popular devotions
The faithful in Helsinki flock to the cathedral to light candles for the Virgin Mary and ask for her protection. The most popular tradition is that of the "Wishes of the Virgin": faithful write their requests on slips of paper and place them in a special box next to the image of the Virgin.
Prayer
O Virgin of the Northern Lights, protector of the Finns. You who illuminate the dark winters with your celestial light, intercede for us before your Son Jesus. Protect the people of Finland and guide us toward peace. Amen.
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