Holidays: 24 May. The spread of devotion to Mary Help of Christians is attributable to St. John Bosco who chose her as the main patroness of the Salesian family. He addressed her for every need, especially when things went long or tangled. In 1862, he began building a basilica dedicated to the Help of Christians in the Valdocco district of Turin. Under his protection, he established numerous religious institutes and congregations for youth welfare works. By now the Madonna Help of Christians has become the Madonna of Don Bosco: she is inseparable from the great Salesian Family who has given the Church a host of Saints, Blessed and Venerable from all over the world Through her spiritual children (Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians) he spread his devotion all over the world. Whole continents and nations have Mary Help of Christians as patron: Australia. Catholic China, Argentina, Poland. The iconography is represented in a red tunic and blue cloak, with the Child Jesus in the left arm and the scepter in the right fist, loose hair, crown surmounted by a star.