12 June 2010: Feast-- The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Saturday following the Second Sunday after Pentecost

In the 17th century, St John Eudes preached this devotion together with that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Church instituted this feast to encourage us to trust always in our Blessed Mother as a spring of grace and mercy.

Mary’s all pure Heart calls us to be pure of heart, keeping it free from chains, so it may respond easily to do God’s will. She teaches us to love all in the Heart of Jesus. In 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Ref: Fr James Socias et al (Eds), “Daily Roman Missal”, 1989, p1537

Most Sweet Heart of Mary

The heart symbolizes a person’s inmost being. In the Gospels, the first time the Heart of Mary is mentioned is to express her grand interior life. “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19)

The ‘Preface of the Mass’ attributes a number of qualities to the Heart of Mary. It is 'wise', because she understood the meaning of the Scriptures as no other person had ever done; she kept in it the memory of the words and things relating to the mystery of salvation.

It is ‘immaculate’, that is, immune from any stain of sin. It is ‘docile’ because she submitted so faithfully to God’s Will and to every one of his wishes. It is ‘new’, according to the ancient prophecy of Ezechiel -- “a new heart I will give you, and a new spirit” (cf Ez 36:26) -- clothed in the newness of grace merited by Christ.

It is ‘humble’ because she imitated the humility of Christ, who said “Learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Mk 11:29); ‘simple’, free from any duplicity and full of the Spirit of truth; ‘clean’ and thus able to see God in the words of the Beatitude (cf Mt 5:8).

It is ‘firm’ in her accepting the Will of God when Simeon announced that a sword of sorrow would pierce her heart (cf Lk 2:35), when persecution broke out against her Son (cf Mt 2:13) or when the moment of his death came. It is 'ready', for while Christ slept in the sepulchre she kept watch expecting his resurrection, just like the spouse in the “Canticle of Canticles” (cf “Song of Songs” 5:2).

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is, mainly, the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (cf Second Vatican Council, “Lumen Gentium”, 53), by reason of her divine motherhood; and because of the continuous and all-embracing inhabitation of the Holy Spirit in her soul. This sublime maternity, which places Mary above all other created beings, was accomplished in her most pure womb.

The Church Fathers affirm that she conceived the Word to whom she gave birth according to the flesh first of all in her heart according to faith. (cf St Augustine, “On Holy Virginity”, 3) By her Immaculate Heart, full of faith and love, a heart that was humble and totally dedicated to the Will of God, Mary merited to carry the Son of God in her virginal womb.

She always protects us as a mother protects her small child who is surrounded by dangers, and helps us to grow continuously. How can we not turn to her each day?

“Holy Mary, Star of the sea, be our guide! Make this request, because there is no storm that can shipwreck the most Sweet Heart of Mary. When you see the squall coming, if you seek safety in the firm Refuge that is Mary, there will be no danger of your being hurled off course or going down.”(St Josemaria Escrivá, ”The Forge”, 1055) In her Heart is a safe harbor where it is impossible for us to founder.

Mary knows the Heart of her Son well and she knows how to reach it. Now in heaven, her attitude remains. Through her intercession, our prayers reach the Lord ‘sooner, more certainly and better’.

Thus, we can address to her an ancient prayer of the Church: “O Virgin Mother of God, you who are always in his presence, speak good things about us.” (“St Pius V Missal, Prayer over the offerings” from the Mass of Mary Mediatrix of All Graces; cf “Jer” 18:20) Say something to him in our favor. We need it so much!

From Our Lady there spring forth torrents of the grace of forgiveness, of mercy, of help in necessity ... This is why we ask her today to give us a heart which is pure, human and understanding towards the defects of people around us. We ask her to make us kind to everyone, to understand people’s sorrows whatever their circumstances, and always to be ready to assist anyone.

“‘Mother of Fair Love’, pray for us. Teach us to love God and our brother as you have loved them; make our love for others always patient, benign, full of respect ... Make our joys always authentic and complete, so that we can communicate it to everyone”, (John Paul II, “Homily”, 31 May 1979) especially to those God has united us with stronger ties.

We recall how, when needed most, the Church and her children turned to the Most Sweet Heart of Mary so as to consecrate to her the world: nations or families. (cf Pius XII, Address, “Benedicite Deum”, 31 October 1942; John Paul II, “Homily in Fatima”, 13 May 1982)

It is always our intuitive feeling that we are safe only in her Sweet Heart. We place on her motherly lap the days that seem good and bad; our illnesses, weakness, work; our tiredness and our rest, together with the noble ideals God has placed in our souls.

We place especially in her hands our journey towards Christ so that she may keep it free from all dangers and guard it with tenderness and fortitude, as a mother does. Most Sweet Heart of Mary “prepare for me, for them, a safe way”. (cf Hymn, “Ave Maris Stella”. In “Handbook of Prayers”, Fr Charles Belmonte & Fr James Socias [eds], 1988, p368)

Finally, we ask God: “Father, you prepared the heart of the Virgin Mary to be a fitting home for your Holy Spirit. By her prayers may we become a more worthy temple of your glory.” (“Roman Missal, Opening Prayer”)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 6:329-35

Hail, True Body, Born of the Virgin Mary

Today, our thoughts turn to Her from whom God, the Son of God, took this Body. Let us, therefore, greet with veneration and love that Body of the Eternal Word and her who, as Mother, gave His Body to the Eternal Word.

This Body is the Sacrament of Redemption of man: “He truly suffered, and was immolated on the Cross for mankind.” ...

This Body, suffering unto death on the Cross, together with the Blood shed as the sign of the New and Eternal Alliance, became the Church’s greatest Sacrament, to which today we desire to render particular adoration and show particular love and gratitude. ...

Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, p243

The weight of the Cross

When we feel the weight of the Cross, our Lord invites us to go to him. “Come, not to give an account ... don’t be afraid to hear talk of a yoke, because it is gentle; don’t be afraid if I speak of burden, because it is light. (St John Chrysostom, “Homilies on St Matthew”, 37, 2) By the side of Christ, all the struggles of life become lovable.

Sacrifice and sorrow borne with Christ is neither bitter nor crushing, but rather in accord with our will. “Everything hard is made bearable through love. What can love not do? Look how people in love work: they do not feel what they suffer, they increase their efforts as the difficulties increase.” (cf St Augustine, “Sermon 96”, 1)

Unity with God through whatever adversity, is a grace that God is always ready to grant us. However, like all grace, it demands the use of our free response. We must not reject the means that God places within our reach. We must be particularly prepared to open our hearts in spiritual guidance, if on some occasion the Cross gets unusually heavy.

“A gentle wind is not the same as a hurricane. Anyone can resist the first: it is child’s play, a parody of struggle. Gladly you bore small contradictions, shortages and little worries. And you enjoyed the interior peace of thinking: now I am really working for God, ... here we have the Cross ...

"But now, my poor son, the hurricane has come, and you feel you are being shaken by a force that could uproot century-old trees. You feel this from without and within. But you must remain confident, for your Faith and your Love cannot be uprooted, nor can you be blown from your way, if you remain with the ‘head’, if you maintain unity.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 411)

Our Lord awaits us in the Tabernacle, to encourage us always, and to inform us that the heaviest part of the Cross has been carried by him on the road to Calvary. Beside him we learn how to carry peacefully and serenely what seemed most difficult and demanding.

“Everything may collapse and fail. Events may turn out contrary to what was expected and great adversity may come. But nothing is to be gained by being perturbed. Furthermore, remember the confident prayer of the prophet: ‘The Lord is our judge, the Lord gives us our laws, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us’. Say it devoutly every day, so that your behaviour may agree with the designs of Providence, which governs us for our own good.” (Ibid, Op cit, 855)

From the persecution suffered by the first Christians there arose new conversions in unexpected places. From the difficulties and obstacles Our Lord permits in our lives innumerable apostolic fruits are born. Our love becomes more refined and strong, and our soul emerges purified if we manage to bear these trials peacefully and united to Christ.

Let us say to Our Lord we want to seek him in all the circumstances of our life: of profession, age, health or environment -- whether favorable or not and amidst whatever difficulties we may have come up against.

“In the hour of rejection at the Cross, the Virgin Mary is there by her Son, willing to go through the same fate. Let us lose our fear of behaving like responsible Christians when the environment in which we move is not easy. She will help us.” (Ibid, Op cit, 977)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:403-4

Our Lady -- “So your strength is failing you? Why don’t you tell your Mother about it: Comforter of the afflicted, Help of Christians ..., our hope, Queen of Apostles!” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 515)

The chronicle records that on this day, Our Lady appeared to St Herman of the Premonstratensian order, and gave him a lock of her hair. — See his Life in Surius. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Apparition of Our Lady to St Herman (France, 13th Century). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (Moveable feast-- Saturday following 2nd Sunday after Pentecost [23 May 2010]). (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

Most Pure Heart of Mary. (Moveable feast-- Saturday after Octave of ‘Corpus Christi’ [6 June 2010]). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Most Pure Heart of Mary. Congregation of the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, for black nuns in Georgia. (Moveable feast-- Saturday after Octave of ‘Corpus Christi’ [6 June 2010]). (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)