Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart

 of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Yesterday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Today we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary a memorial which began in parallel, but to a lesser degree, to that of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

These devotions became more recognized during the lifetime of St. John Eudes, when he composed Masses and Offices in their honor with the first Feast of the Holy Heart of Mary celebrated on February 8, 1648 and the Feast of the Heart of Jesus celebrated on October 20, 1672.

But it was not until after the apparitions concerning the Miraculous Medal made to Catherine Laboure in 1830, that the devotion dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary became well known.

Mary's heart is immaculate, meaning it is without sin, qualifying her to be the only fully human person to truly love God completely, the way He deserves to be loved.  

In our devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary we may learn by her model this same love of God, never able to fully love as Mary did, but drawing ever nearer to Him.  Devotion to Mary will always lead us closer to God through a more personal relationship with her Son.