Today: Immaculate Heart of Mary [DEVOTIONAL]

Te Deum Laudamus! ^ | 6/12/2010

[markomalley]

Holy Card Photo Source

Today in the ordinary form it is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  It follows the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.   In the 1962 missal, it is celebrated on August 22. 

This was the second reading found in today's Office of Readings in the breviary:

From a sermon by Saint Lawrence Justinian, bishop

(Sermo 8, in festo Purificationis B.M.V.: Opera, 2, Venetiis 1751, 38-39)

Mary stored up all these things in her heart

While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth.

So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform one to a greater holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith. It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice.

Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves. Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters.

More

• Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Its Origin and History
• See another beautiful holy on the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Holy Cards for Your Inspiration. 
• Consecration of the family to the Two Hearts (and Q & A)

[Salvation]

If you were raised as Catholics — you still are Catholics as your screename points out.

I would say to make an appointment with a priest and talk about these things.

Another suggestion (and I didn’t check out where you live) is to get into a class for Catholics Coming Back to the Church.

Our church in the eight years we have sponsored “Catholics Can Come Home Again” has experienced over 100 returning Catholics taking the class. I am especially excited because my son-in-law, his sister and her husband participated in the last one.

My son-in-laws sister and husband will also be taking part in the RCIA class to be Confirmed (for her) and to be baptized, receive the Eucharist for the first time, and to be confirmed for him.

This might happen to you too! Have you been confirmed — either one of you? Then you do not have a full knowledge of the Catholic Church through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.

On the Anointing of the Sick — how many times is it in the Bible that Christ and then the Apostles healed people. There is a sound Biblical foundation for this Sacrament — check out my profile page.

[Salvation]

BTW, we welcome you back at any time. Anyone who has any Catholic instruction at all WILL come back to the Catholic Church when the End Times come.

[Salvation]

This is a DEVOTIONAL thread -- if you are not aware of the guidelines for devotional thread -- please go to the Religion Moderator's profile page here: Guidelines for Devotional Threads

[Salvation]

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary*

"I, ____________, a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy hands, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my baptism: I renounce forever Satan, and all his pomps and works, and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.
"In the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day as my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul; my goods, both interior and exterior; and even the value of all of my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity."

Amen.

[Salvation]

Behold this heart!

 

 

Luke 2:19: But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.

Luke 2:35: And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

Luke 2:51: And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

[Salvation]

A sermon of St Laurence Justinian

Office of Readings and Invitatory Prayer

 

Mary kept all these things in her heart

As Mary pondered all she had learned from reading and from what she had heard and seen, how greatly did she increase in faith, advance in merit and become enlightened with wisdom! More and more she was consumed with burning love. Drawing life and inspiration from the heavenly mysteries which were being unlocked for her, she was filled with joy; she became alive with the Spirit, she was guided towards God and was kept humble in herself. The effects of divine grace are such indeed that they raise one from the depths to the heights, and transform one in an ever greater degree of glory. Entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the direction of the Spirit dwelling in her, ever obeyed the command of the Word of God in all things. She was governed not by her own judgment or opinions, but she outwardly performed through her body whatever wisdom had indicated inwardly to her faith. It was surely fitting that divine Wisdom, which had built the house of the Church for its abode, should use most holy Mary as its instrument, where the observance of the law, purification of the heart, the doctrine of humility and spiritual offering were concerned.

  Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the temple of your heart that you may be purified in spirit and cleansed of the pollution of your sins. In everything we do God considers our disposition rather than our actions. And so, whether we retire mentally to God in earnest contemplation and remain at rest or whether we are intent on being of service to those around us with good works and worthy undertakings, let our object be that we are motivated only by love of Christ. So the really acceptable offering of purification of the spirit is that which is rendered not in a man-made temple but in the temple of the heart, where Christ the Lord is pleased to enter.