The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

ABOUT

In 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. However, this is not a new devotion. In the seventeenth century, St. John Eudes preached it together with that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Church instituted this feast to encourage us always to trust in our Blessed Mother as a source of grace and mercy. The most pure Heart of Mary beckons us to keep our heart free from chains so that it may easily respond to God’s will. She teaches us to love all in the Heart of Jesus.

Source: Daily Roman Missal

BIRTHDATES

1942 AD

ORA PRO

ORA CONTRA

READING 1

Isaiah 61:9-11
I exult for joy in the Lord

Their race will be famous throughout the nations,
their descendants throughout the peoples.
All who see them will admit
that they are a race whom the Lord has blessed.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord,
my soul rejoices in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,
he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,
like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,
like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow,
as a garden makes seeds spring up,
so will the Lord make both integrity and praise
spring up in the sight of the nations.’

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

1 Samuel 2:1,4-8
My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

My heart exults in the Lord.
  I find my strength in my God;
my mouth laughs at my enemies
  as I rejoice in your saving help.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

The bows of the mighty are broken,
  but the weak are clothed with strength.
Those with plenty must labour for bread,
  but the hungry need work no more.
The childless wife has children now
  but the fruitful wife bears no more.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

It is the Lord who gives life and death,
  he brings men to the grave and back;
it is the Lord who gives poverty and riches.
  He brings men low and raises them on high.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

He lifts up the lowly from the dust,
  from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set him in the company of princes
  to give him a glorious throne.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
  on them he has set the world.

My heart exults in the Lord my Saviour.

ALLELUIA

Matthew 23:11, 12b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the Virgin Mary,
who treasured the word of God
and pondered it in her heart.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Luke 2:41-51
Mary stored up all these things in her heart

Every year the parents of Jesus used to go to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up for the feast as usual. When they were on their way home after the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it. They assumed he was with the caravan, and it was only after a day’s journey that they went to look for him among their relations and acquaintances. When they failed to find him they went back to Jerusalem looking for him everywhere.

Three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among the doctors, listening to them, and asking them questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence and his replies. They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’

‘Why were you looking for me?’ he replied. ‘Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?’ But they did not understand what he meant.

He then went down with them and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart.