Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today is the Feast Day of The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Observed on the Saturday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, in close proximity to the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, this feast honors the purity, love, and maternal compassion of the Blessed Virgin Mary, symbolized through her immaculate heart. The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary highlights her unique role in the salvation history and her exemplary model of discipleship. 

In the 20th century, the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917 significantly boosted the devotion to the Immaculate Heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, and emphasized the importance of prayer, penance, and devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means of securing peace and converting sinners. This message resonated deeply with the faithful, leading to a renewed focus on this devotion.

The Immaculate Heart of Mary symbolizes her pure love for God and humanity, her maternal compassion, and her sorrows and joys as the mother of Jesus. Unlike the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which represents divine love, the Immaculate Heart emphasizes Mary’s human love and her perfect response to God’s grace.

This devotion invites the faithful to contemplate Mary’s virtues and to seek her intercession. It highlights her role as a model disciple, who listened to God’s word, pondered it in her heart, and responded with unwavering faith and obedience. By imitating Mary’s heart, we are encouraged to grow in our own love for God and neighbor, and to trust in Mary’s maternal care and guidance.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, intercede and pray for us!