The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a timeless devotion that has been celebrated for centuries. Catholics familiar with this devotion may take it for granted, as images of Our Lady’s Heart are plentiful in Catholic art and as theologians talk extensively of Our Lady. It can easily become a commonplace devotion, for which many give little thought.
But as Sister Lucia, one of the children who witnessed the Fatima apparitions, explained, the Immaculate Heart is a devotion especially loved by Jesus and Mary.
Lucia wrote that Our Lady said to her, “Jesus wishes you to make me known and loved on earth. He wishes also for you to establish devotion in the world to my Immaculate Heart.” And further, in referring to the vision of hell that the Fatima children saw and Mary’s desire to convert Russia, Our Lady said, “You have seen hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. It is to save them that God wants to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
Further, the Child Jesus said to the Fatima children, “Have compassion on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother, covered with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to make an act of reparation to remove them.”
Our Lady’s Sorrowful Heart longs to convert sinners and bring them to her Son, but she is so often rejected and forgotten by mankind. She desires consolation from those who would dedicate themselves to her Immaculate Heart, to whom she promises beautiful graces.
She said to Sister Lucia: “Look My daughter, at My Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce Me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console Me and announce in My name that I promise to assist at the moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive Holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary, and keep Me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to Me.”
The Sacred and Immaculate Hearts are closely linked. Jacinta, another of the Fatima children, said, “Tell everybody…that the Heart of Jesus wishes the Heart of Mary to be venerated at His side. Let them ask for peace through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for God has given it to her.”
We also read in the Bible about how “…Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19) and later, Simeon’s prophecy that Mary’s soul would be pierced by a sword (Luke 2). The Prophecy of Simeon was the first Sorrow of Our Lady, and this passage is why the Sorrows of her Immaculate Heart are portrayed as swords.
Where Did the Devotion Come From?
While there was some form of devotion before the 17th century, St. John Eudes was instrumental in popularizing the devotion. Many saints loved the Immaculate Heart, but Eudes is among the most famous. He held the first Feast of the Immaculate Heart in 1648. He also founded religious societies dedicated to the Heart, and he wrote the book Coeur Admirable about the Immaculate Heart. While he was unsuccessful in his attempts to make the Immaculate Heart feast official, after the Miraculous Medal was given to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830, the feast day was approved.
Centuries later, when Our Lady appeared to the children at Fatima, she revealed her and Jesus’ desire to make this devotion known and practiced so that sinners may repent and make reparation for the offenses committed against her, and so that she may be their refuge and guide them to God. She spoke of the conversion of Russia, saying: “If my wishes are fulfilled, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, then Russia will spread her errors throughout the world, bringing new wars and persecution of the Church; the good will be martyred, and the Holy Father will have much to suffer; certain nations will be annihilated. But in the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph.”
How to Practice Devotion to the Immaculate Heart
So how can we practice this beautiful and necessary devotion? One of the best ways to make reparation for the offenses committed against the Blessed Virgin is to do as she asked – namely, practice the First Saturday Devotion. For five consecutive months, we are called to go to Confession, receive Holy Communion (preferably at Mass), pray five decades of the Rosary, and meditate on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary for an additional fifteen minutes (outside of praying the Rosary), with the intention to make reparation to Mary. The Confession requirement may be fulfilled within eight days before or after the Saturday, and Holy Communion should always be received in the state of grace. All this must be done with the intention to make reparation.
Sister Lucia once asked the Child Jesus what can be done when one forgets to make the intention. Jesus responded: “They can do so at their next confession, taking advantage of their first opportunity to go to Confession.” We must also be careful not to simply go to Confession as a matter of routine, but rather approach the wonderful and merciful Sacrament with repentance, true sorrow for our sins, a firm purpose of amendment, and a desire to live in imitation of Our Lady. We can pray and ask for her assistance in desiring God more deeply, for a true sorrow for sin, and to aid us in our resolution to amend.
But why five Saturdays? Our Lord explained to Sister Lucia that the five Saturdays are to make reparation for five ways that mankind offends the Immaculate Heart. It is to make reparation for: 1), denial of or blasphemies against the Immaculate Conception; 2), denial of Our Lady’s virginity; 3), denial of Our Lady’s divine maternity and that she is the Mother of all mankind; 4), those who cause children to be indifferent, have contempt for, or even hate, Our Lady; and 5), those who insult her through committing outrages against holy images of her. Jesus concluded this list by telling Lucia: “Here, dear daughter, is the motive that led the Immaculate Heart of Mary to petition Me to ask for this small act of reparation. And, out of regard for her, to move My mercy to pardon those souls who have had the misfortune to offend her. As for you, seek endlessly, with your prayers and sacrifices, to move Me to mercy in regard to these poor souls.”
There are three promises attached to the First Saturday Devotion, First, Our Lady promised to assist those who practiced this devotion all the graces necessary for salvation at the hour of their death. Second, Sister Lucia wrote that Jesus and Mary wish to pardon souls who have offended the Immaculate Heart, and that this devotion will help convert souls. Third, Sister Lucia further wrote that “whether the world has war or peace depends on the practice of this devotion, along with the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is why I desire its propagation so ardently, especially because this is also the will of our dear Mother in Heaven.”
One can also consecrate oneself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and those who practice the devotion should take care to always keep its spirit in their hearts – not just for first Saturdays, but for every moment of their lives. We should strive to let this devotion form our lives and foster a deep love and trust in our Mother Mary.
In the traditional calendar, the feast of the Immaculate Heart is August 22nd, which is the octave day of the Assumption. In the new calendar, the feast is celebrated on the third Saturday after Pentecost. The month of August is also traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart, so those who practice the devotion should take care to celebrate and make proper atonement during this time in particular. Devotees can also pray a novena to the Immaculate Heart, such as a shorter one like this, or a longer one.
In 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. During this time, World War II was raging, and it seemed as though the allies would lose and the Nazis would triumph. But soon after the Pope’s consecration, the tides turned. Months later, on February 2nd (the feast of the Purification of Mary), the Germans were defeated in Stalingrad – a battle that is considered the decisive turning point in the war. You can find the text of Pope Pius XII’s consecration prayer on EWTN’s website here.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary devotion is a beautiful and necessary devotion for Catholics around the world. It is especially loved and encouraged by Mary and her Divine Son, Jesus, Who wished her heart to be honored alongside His. This devotion, when practiced as Mary intended, will not only increase sanctity in the individual, but Our Lady will also assist him and be with him at his hour of death to give him the grace necessary for his salvation. It will increase love of God, neighbor, and of Jesus’ Mother, Mary, and is a great means of sanctification and increase in every virtue.
May Mary keep you and God bless you!
Marisa Cantu has a master's in political science and international affairs and a bachelor's in political science. She has also studied international studies and French. She has a strong background in nonprofit work, research, writing, and policy proposal and analysis.