bavarikon4UWallfahrtsmedaille auf die Mariahilf-Wallfahrt nach Passau
Description
Obverse image: The miraculous image of Maria-Hilf, seated and shown from the left; the Virgin embraces the Christ Child with both arms, below signature: V S.
Reverse image: The bust of the angel of the Annunciation to the left with raised right arm and with a lily stem in the left, above the ray of the Holy Spirit, below signature: V S.
The present pilgrimage medal consists of two thin, embossed lamellas that were set into a pendant. Unfortunately, the meaning of the monogrammed maker’s mark of the medallist has been lost. Beyond being a souvenir of the Mariahilf pilgrimage to Passau, this work – completely made of silver – was a symbol of lived popular piety. Whether as pendant or as part of a rosary: the religious medal was always supposed to offer protection and blessing. The obverse shows the Passau miraculous image that had been created in c.1620 after a model by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553). To accommodate the ever-increasing number of pilgrims to this miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin more easily, the still existing pilgrimage church was erected above Passau between the years 1624 and 1627. The pilgrimage received further invigorated, after Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705) fled to Passau during the Turkish siege of Vienna and prayed daily before the image of the Virgin Mary for liberation from the Turkish aggression. His prayers were successful, since in 1683 Europe was saved from the Turks at the Kahlenberg under the battle cry of “Maria hilf” (Mary help us).