Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Novena Prayer
O most Blessed Mother,
heart of love, heart of mercy,
ever listening, caring, consoling,
hear our prayer.
As your children, we implore your
intercession with Jesus your Son.
Receive with understanding and
compassion the petitions we
place before you today, especially…
(name special intention here).
We are comforted in knowing your
heart is ever open to those who ask
for your prayer.
We trust to your gentle care and
intercession, those whom we love
and who are sick or lonely or hurting.
Help all of us, Holy Mother to bear
our burdens in this life until we
may share eternal life and peace
with God forever.
Amen.
Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a special form of devotion to the physical heart of Mary. It is Mary’s love for God, her love for her Son and her love for all people that draws us to want to study and imitate her. In his Gospel, Luke mentioned the devotion twice, saying that ‘Mary kept what Jesus was saying and doing in her heart.’ Historically, during the 12th century, writers such as St. Anselm and St. Bernard of Clairvaux had great influence in Marian devotion. The Church used the lessons of the Second Nocturn of St. Bernadine of Siena, Doctor of the Heart of Mary, for her feast. However, it was St. Eudes who renewed the devotion, made it public and published Coeur Admirable (Admirable Heart) to promote devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In 1917 at Fatima, Portugal, Mary appeared to three children while in the hills tending sheep. On July 13, during one of her six apparitions, Mary told the children, that in order “to save poor sinners, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
Twenty-five years later, December 8, 1945, on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Pius XII, dedicated the Church and the human race to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and extended the feast to the entire Church. On March 25, 1984, Pope John Paul II made the solemn act of consecration of the world, particularly Russia, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Sister Lucia, the only surviving visionary from the apparitions at Fatima, confirmed that the act of consecration was accepted by Heaven and was fulfilled. Mary’s Immaculate Heart is typically pictured with flames representing her burning or undying love. Her Heart is encircled by roses or lilies symbolizing her joys and her purity and oftentimes, a sword pierces the heart reflecting the prophesy of Simeon in the Gospel of Luke. Mary’s Heart is a symbol of her compassion and her sinlessness.
Feast Day: Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (19 days after Pentecost)
Patron Saint of: Philippines
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