The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary represents the pure, loving, and perfectly obedient heart of the Blessed Virgin—completely united to the Heart of Jesus and fully open to God’s will. It is a symbol of her maternal love for humanity and her role in guiding souls to Christ.

the virgin Mary showing her immaculate heart

  • Origin:

Devotion to Mary’s Heart began in the early Church through reflections of the Fathers, grounded in Scripture (especially Luke 2:19, 2:35, 2:51). It developed further in medieval spirituality and took clearer form through saints such as St. Anselm and St. Bernard. The modern spread of the devotion is strongly linked to St. John Eudes (17th century), who promoted the liturgical feast of the Immaculate Heart. It was deeply strengthened by the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima (1917), where Mary asked for devotion to her Immaculate Heart as a means of conversion and peace.

 

  • Structure:

The devotion is not a single, fixed prayer, but a spiritual focus expressed through:

    • Feast Day: Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

    • First Saturdays Devotion: Five consecutive first Saturdays, including Rosary, meditation, Communion, and Confession in reparation to the Immaculate Heart.

    • Prayers and Consecrations: Acts of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart, Rosary, and other Marian prayers.

    • Iconography: Mary showing her heart, aflame with love, pierced with sorrow, crowned with roses, and shining with grace.

 

  • Purpose:

The devotion aims to:

    • Lead souls to Jesus through Mary’s motherly guidance.

    • Repair for sins committed against her and her Son.

    • Grow in purity, humility, and obedience, reflecting Mary’s virtues.

    • Seek conversion and peace, especially as requested at Fatima.

 

  • Spiritual Value:

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart helps the faithful:

    • Deepen their love for Christ, since Mary’s heart is entirely centered on Him.

    • Receive protection and intercession from the Mother of God.

    • Imitate her virtues: purity of intention, calmness of heart, and trust in God.

    • Strengthen prayer life and cultivate a spirit of reparation and mercy.

    • Find consolation, especially in trials, through the tenderness of Mary’s heart.

 

  • When to Pray:

You may pray to the Immaculate Heart:

    • Daily, in any Marian devotion.

    • First Saturdays, fulfilling the devotion requested at Fatima.

    • Whenever seeking peace, conversion of sinners, or strength to follow God’s will.

    • During times of suffering, uniting your heart with Mary’s sorrows and trust.

    • On the feast of the Immaculate Heart (Saturday after the Sacred Heart).