The Immaculate Heart of Mary

The heart of Mary has been attracting Christians from the very beginning of the faith attested to by the countless names, titles, and devotions bestowed upon Mary, Mother of God, throughout history. She has been called Holy Virgin of Virgins, Mother of the Church, Mother of Mercy, Mirror of Justice, Seat of Wisdom, Mystical Rose, Ark of the Covenant, Morning Star, Queen of Angels, Comforter of the Afflicted, Undoer of Knots, Star of the Sea, and Refuge of Sinners.

Specifically, the Catholic devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary focuses on the interior life of the Blessed Mother, meditating on both her inner joys and sorrows, her many virtues, and her love for the father, her son, and for all of us. St. John Eudes was one of the early leaders in the devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart and was part of the first feast day to Mary’s heart held in 1648. After this date, religious orders dedicated to the devotion of Mary’s heart began to rise. Then with the revelation of the Miraculous Medal in 1830, even greater attention was drawn to Mary’s heart. In 1855, the office and Mass in honor of The Most Pure Heart of Mary was approved. Pope John VI has said on behalf of this day: “May the Immaculate Heart of Mary shine before the eyes of all Christians as the model of perfect love toward God and toward our fellow beings.”

The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a specific devotion to Mary’s heart, and thus her full and total self-surrender and love for her son, for God, and for all of us as her adopted sons and daughters. But with such intense and total love and surrender often comes great suffering. Thus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is often pictured as being pierced by a sword, just as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is often pictured as being surrounded by a crown of thorns.

In Luke 2, shortly after Jesus’ birth, He is taken by His parents to the temple in Jerusalem to be consecrated to the Lord as was the Jewish custom. Inside the temple, they meet an old prophet named Simeon, who “blessed them and said to Mary, His mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own heart too.” Simeon foretells the work and mission of Jesus but adds also the immense spiritual pain and suffering Mary herself will undergo as a result of love for her son and obedience to God’s will. Indeed, nearly Mary’s entire life is an act of self-surrender, love, and suffering for her son and for you and I.

“There is no storm that can shipwreck the most sweet heart of Mary. When you see the squall coming, if you seek safety in the firm refuge that is Mary, there will be no danger of your being hurled off course or going down.” -St. Josemaría Escrivá

About the Author: 

Avila Rose (Allison Ramirez) is a Catholic author, editor, and teacher. She received her B.A in English with Creative Writing emphasis from Seattle Pacific University in 2019. She recently received her M.A. in Theology with Church History emphasis from Holy Apostles College & Seminary in 2024. She currently serves as the Pastoral Assistant for Faith Formation at St. Barbara Parish, and she is the author of The Divided Kingdom series as well as nonfiction devotional journal, Breathe Deeply: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as Invitations to Peace. Allison and her husband, Nathan, reside in Washington State with their pug pup, Leo.

You can connect with Allison through her Substack newsletter at https://authorallisonramirez.substack.com/p/welcome. She can also be found on her website at www.author-allison-ramirez.com or Instagram at authorallisonramirez.