The Immaculate Heart of Mary
“The Immaculate Heart of Mary is my refuge, principally in very difficult times, and there I feel safe. It is the heart of the best of mothers, always concerned, watching over the least of her daughters. This assurance so comforts and cheers me up! I find solace and strength. This Immaculate Heart is the channel through which the Lord lets flow a multitude of graces to my soul. ” - Fatima Visionary, Servant of God, Sister Lucia
The children of Fatima received devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Lucy relates that on 13 June 1917, after speaking at length about her Immaculate Heart, Our Lady of Fatima again stretched forth her hands, throwing on the children the rays of that immense light in which they saw themselves as if immersed in God. The Blessed Virgin held in her right hand a Heart surrounded by thorns, which pierced it from all sides. The seers understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, afflicted by all the sins of the world, which demanded penance and reparation. ‘It seems to me,’ said Lucy, ‘that on that day the purpose of the light was to pour into us a special knowledge and love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as on other occasions it infused into us the knowledge and love of God, and the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. From that day, indeed, we experienced a more ardent love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’
Before leaving for the hospital in 1919, Jacinta said to Lucy, ‘I am going soon to heaven. You will remain still on earth to make known to men that the Lord wishes to spread in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that God wishes to grant us his graces! It is from this Immaculate Heart that we must ask for them! The Heart of Jesus wishes the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated with his own! It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that peace must be asked, because it is to that Heart that the Lord has confided it.’
The best commentary on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is that left us by the children in the admirable example of their lives. After the revelations they were true models of devotion and reparation to the Immaculate Heart.
Practices
We know that penance and the daily Rosary is so much recommended by Our Lady of Fatima. Here are the three principal practices of devotion for which she has asked in honour of her Immaculate Heart:
First Saturdays
The practice of the First Saturdays consists of the following exercises, performed with the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and making reparation to it for all the outrages and blasphemies of which it is the object on the part of ungrateful Christians - the Rosary and Communion of Reparation.
Five First Saturdays
For the practice of the Five First Saturdays, in addition to the two exercises already mentioned, the following two are added on the first Saturday of five consecutive months - go to Confession and keep the company of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by meditating for a quarter of an hour on the mysteries of the Rosary. These two must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart. The meditation may be on one or several mysteries.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As is known, Our Lady asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and Lucy, the longest surviving seer has explained that she wants the Pope and all the bishops of the world to do this on one special day. If this is done she will convert Russia and there will be peace.
Our Lady of the Rosary Library
The children of Fatima received devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Lucy relates that on 13 June 1917, after speaking at length about her Immaculate Heart, Our Lady of Fatima again stretched forth her hands, throwing on the children the rays of that immense light in which they saw themselves as if immersed in God. The Blessed Virgin held in her right hand a Heart surrounded by thorns, which pierced it from all sides. The seers understood that it was the Immaculate Heart of Mary, afflicted by all the sins of the world, which demanded penance and reparation. ‘It seems to me,’ said Lucy, ‘that on that day the purpose of the light was to pour into us a special knowledge and love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as on other occasions it infused into us the knowledge and love of God, and the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. From that day, indeed, we experienced a more ardent love for the Immaculate Heart of Mary.’
Before leaving for the hospital in 1919, Jacinta said to Lucy, ‘I am going soon to heaven. You will remain still on earth to make known to men that the Lord wishes to spread in the world devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that God wishes to grant us his graces! It is from this Immaculate Heart that we must ask for them! The Heart of Jesus wishes the Immaculate Heart of Mary to be venerated with his own! It is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary that peace must be asked, because it is to that Heart that the Lord has confided it.’
The best commentary on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is that left us by the children in the admirable example of their lives. After the revelations they were true models of devotion and reparation to the Immaculate Heart.
Practices
We know that penance and the daily Rosary is so much recommended by Our Lady of Fatima. Here are the three principal practices of devotion for which she has asked in honour of her Immaculate Heart:
First Saturdays
The practice of the First Saturdays consists of the following exercises, performed with the intention of consoling the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and making reparation to it for all the outrages and blasphemies of which it is the object on the part of ungrateful Christians - the Rosary and Communion of Reparation.
Five First Saturdays
For the practice of the Five First Saturdays, in addition to the two exercises already mentioned, the following two are added on the first Saturday of five consecutive months - go to Confession and keep the company of the Immaculate Heart of Mary by meditating for a quarter of an hour on the mysteries of the Rosary. These two must be offered in reparation to the Immaculate Heart. The meditation may be on one or several mysteries.
Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
As is known, Our Lady asked that Russia be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and Lucy, the longest surviving seer has explained that she wants the Pope and all the bishops of the world to do this on one special day. If this is done she will convert Russia and there will be peace.
Our Lady of the Rosary Library