2 July 2011: Memorial -- 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”, 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 and 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

• Feast of The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. [Moved to 31 May in accordance with reforms instituted by the Second Vatican Council.] This feast is celebrated between the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord [24 March] and the birth of St John the Baptist [24 June], in conformity with the Gospel accounts. The Visitation is the encounter between Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of St John the Baptist. Mary’s “Magnficat” is another testimony of her humility and greatness before God. Her readiness to serve Elizabeth is a good lesson on fraternal charity. (“Daily Roman Missal”, edited by Fr James Socias, Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr Cecilio Magsino, 1989, p1534)

• Feast of The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. Instituted by Pope Urban VI. 1385. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. This feast was instituted by Urban VI, in the year 1385, and confirmed by Boniface IX, in the year 1389. — Antoine, iv. part, tit. xv., chap. 24. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Visitation of the Blessed Virgin. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (http://www/mariedenazareth.com)
• Unveiling and blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Penrhys, Wales 1953. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Piat -- Vicariate of Itawes, Archdiocese of Tuguegarao (“The 1997 Catholic Directory of the Philippines”, p357); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Guibang. Isabela PHL. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Beauraing. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p121)
• The Immaculate Heart of Mary (universally celebrated; instituted by Pope Pius XII) 1944. Moveable feast -- Saturday after Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
• Most Pure Heart of Mary. History, detailing wide variety of celebration dates. Carmelite province. Congregation of the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, for black nuns in Georgia. Prayer. Moveable feast -- Saturday after the Octave of “Corpus Christi”. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)