Conference #1- The History and Meaning of Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Covered in this Conference:

What does Devotion to the Immaculate Heart mean?  Why a devotion to her heart?  When did it first begin (hint: it was centuries before Fatima)? What is the unity between Our Lords and Our Lady’s heart? How should that impact our spirituality? How does this Devotion differ from other forms of devotion to Our Lady?

Conference #1: Description

Initial Retreat Gospel and Homily

This is the first of five conferences, and it begins, appropriately, with a Gospel reading that focuses on the Heart of Christ, and therefore, the very Heart of Christian Life. Jesus is clear and direct in the Gospel when He gives his Church a commandment. Love one another, as I have loved you.

Many Christians rush this commandment. They hear Love one another . . . and they rush out to do what they think that means, without listening to the second part of the commandment. As I have loved you . . . requires an understanding of Jesus’ love for you . . . and for me.  That is the love which is required to do the first part of the commandment.  Listen to the audio #1 to hear more details and what it means for our Spiritual Life.

The first approximately 12 minutes is a Gospel and Homily given on the first night of the retreat.  From there the audio continues and begins the first reflection on the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady.

Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is Centuries Old

When we hear the words Immaculate Heart of Mary in our present age, most will think of Our Lady of Fatima. It is understandable, but historically Devotion to the Immaculate Heart is older than Fatima. To understand this Devotion to the Immaculate Heart, one needs to travel back into the history of the Church.

During this retreat there will be references to Fatima, but this conference begins with framing the Devotion to provide an additional context.

What Do the Words Devotion to the Immaculate Heart Mean?

Spirituality around the heart of Mary is an ancient tradition within the Church. We begin by clarify terminology. When we say Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, let’s take a moment to understand what that really means.

• Devotion does not mean particular prayers or particular practices. Several examples of what Devotion is not (for the purpose of this retreat, is given within the audio).  Devotion is a manner for the heart. It is personally devoted to someone. Listen to the audio for more details.
• Heart: The Heart of Our Lady: 250 years before Fatima, St. John Eudes (1601-1680) wrote and spoke about the Heart of Mary. He wrote (a series of liturgies) about (what he termed) the Sacred Heart of Mary. He wrote about this before the apparitions of St. Margret Mary’s Sacred Heart of Jesus.  There are devotions and spirituality centering around the Hearts of Our Lord and Our Lady that go back centuries. Listen to more of the history within the audio.
• Immaculate: the sinlessness of Our Lady. Why was it Immaculate? Because the Lord of all creation will dwell there.

Uniquely, well before Fatima, within this Devotion to Our Lady, was an importance placed on First Saturday devotions. This is an outgrowth of dedicating Saturday to Our Lady.  Hear more.

Where does all this come from?  And, why is there a Devotion to Our Lady’s heart?  Interesting questions; the audio goes into detail. Briefly, however, there is a devotion to her heart on three levels (each explained in the audio).

• Her Physical Heart
• Her Interior Heart
• Her Inner-most Heart

Devotion to the Heart of Mary is biblical.  Forty days after Jesus is born He is taken to the Temple. The scripture is read that states Mary’s heart will be pierced like a sword.   The mention of the heart of Our Lady is captured within the imagination within the early Church. The image of a sword thrust into Our Lady’s heart impacted the early faithful. Hear the impact of this statement . . . the reason why Mary’s heart is wounded.

Saints Write About the Heart of Mary

St. Augustine writes about the Heart of Mary.  He writes much, but one of his reflections (covered in audio in more detail) is: When Gabriel visits Our Lady at the Annunciation, she is already listening. She is already waiting for heaven to speak. He continues in his writings: Our Lady conceived The Word in her heart, before she conceived Our Lord within her womb.  

St. John Eudes continues that thought and statement.  On the morning of the Nativity, Jesus left her womb, but He never left her heart. Wow!  What an amazing concept!  We also hear about the term Sacred Heart of Mary. Hear more about what never leaving the heart  means and how it might impact our Spirituality.

There is a wonderous sense of unity between the Sacred Heart of Our Lord and Our Lady.  But its not just two hearts standing next to each other.  Rather, its one heart living and reigning within the other.  Again, meditate on that image as the audio goes further into its meaning.

As a result of Fatima, there were a number of practices specified to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady.  All of these are good things.  But as a result of this Conference, one can understand how these practices builds upon the understanding and teachings of the Church for the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Hear more within the closing minutes of the audio.

Fatima Adds a Sharpness to the Devotion that Did Not Exist Previously

Within the event of Fatima, there are three aspects to Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They are all expressed earlier in the history of the Church. The event and message (as it relates to the Devotion) is not something new at Fatima. However, what happens at Fatima, as Our Lady visits the shepherd children, she gathers up all of the good of the Church’s Devotion to her heart, she adds something to it.  She gives it a direction or sharpness that it did not have before the event. It’s the same devotion, simply amplified.

These will be the themes of the next three conferences.

• Adoration
• Reparation
• Consecration

These are the fundamental practices associated with Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

A Special Insight

Just a brief insight into what is to come, a preview if you will.  St. John Eudes, 250 years before Fatima, wrote a prayer An Honorable Atonement, an Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Mary. This prayer was translated from French.  It has within it all of the notes of Reparation that were later sounded at Fatima.

The event provides something new, yet they are old in the eyes of the Church.  It is the newness that makes them wonderous.  Hear more as the conferences unfolds.

Conference #2: The First Practice Associated with Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Adoration

Covered in this Conference:

Covered within this Conference: Where does the term sacred come from when talking about the Sacred Heart of Our Lady? Before Our Lady comes to Fatima, months earlier the Angel of Peace came. Why? What did he do? And how does that impact us?

What is Adoration? What are the fundamental movements within Adoration? How does the Fatima prayer unite us with Adoration?

Conference #2: Description

This is the second conference of Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This and the next two conferences will focus on the practices associated with the Devotion. This conference focuses largely on Adoration.

Our Lady’s Heart is the Abode of the Lord

First, a revisit to some of the images presented in the first conference. St. Augustine observed . . .  Mary conceived the Word in her heart, before she conceived the Lord in her womb. The Church then amplifies this observation as follows. The Lord remained in her womb only a short time. But He never left her heart. This idea of Our Lady’s heart being the abode, the resting place of the Lord is vitally important for a full sense or understanding of Devotion to the Immaculate Heart.

Sacred Heart of Our Lady

The word sacred in the terms Sacred Heart of Our Lady comes from the dwelling place of the Lord. The audio then provides some verses from Psalms to help with meditation of this point. Listen to more within the audio.

There are three practices associated with this Devotion. They are:

• Adoration
• Reparation
• Consecration

This audio’s focus is on the first of the three.

What is Adoration?

The term Adoration is often only partially understood by many Christians. Many reduce the term as a loving look at someone else. That idea is not complete. In fact, in a way, it’s wrong.

The Lord tells us: where your treasures are, there is where you find your heart. When we look at Our Lady’s heart, there is bidirectional. Both Adoration and Reparation involve a bidirectional as part of it. Our Lady’s heart is directed first to her Son.

What exactly is Adoration? Certain things require a moment of grace. At Fatima, heaven prepares the children for the event a year earlier (October, 1916) when an angel appears before the children. The Angel of Peace comes to this children. The audio explains why this is remarkable.

The lesson of the scene of the angel meeting the children is one of humbleness and preparation of the heart before prayer. This lesson is also the action one should do in Adoration. The words of prayer rise to heaven from the one who bows before the Lord . . . before the One that is greater. It is the fundamental movement of Adoration. Adoration is not only a loving look. It is first a bending low before the One who is great. Listen to the audio to understand this further.

The prayer is simple: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. The audio describes this prayer and how it relates to Adoration; and briefly, describes how it also relates to Reparation. Listen to this audio to further understand Adoration.

Conference #3: The Second Practice Associated with Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Reparation

Covered in this Conference:

Reparation prayers to the Heart of Mary existed more than 250 years before the events of Fatima. Reparation follows upon Adoration, or it will not be done rightly! What does that mean? How does the Angel teaching the Fatima children impact Reparation? What does it mean to say Reparation has a directionality? How does Our Lord’s Passion impact our Reparation? What does Reparation have to do with Devotion to the Heart? Why does Our Lady come to Fatima? What did Our Lord say to Lucia (later when she was in the covenant) about the issue of repentance on Saturdays? Is there a writing or prayer that summarizes the Church’s idea of Reparation?

Conference #3: Description

There is a much earlier connection to the Reparation to the Heart of Mary than Fatima. Indeed, it was written in the early 1600s, over 250 years before Fatima. In fact, there are prayers to the atonement to her heart also written in the 1600s.

The Directionality of Reparation

Reparation follows upon Adoration, or it will not be done rightly. What does that mean? The audio explores this further.

When the angel appeared before and taught the children of Fatima there was a sequence. Belief flowing into Adoration, flowing into Hope, and thereby producing Love. Understand what that means and how it impacts Reparation.

In the prior conference, it was mentioned that Adoration is directional. Adoration is directed toward heaven. Reparation has a different directionality. It involves, also, my relationship with the Lord. But it also involves my relationship with the world around me. Understand more about the directionality of Reparation and its significance on our Spiritual Life.

We know that we are redeemed by Our Lord’s Passion on the Cross. He took upon His shoulders the sins of the world, though He was innocent and though He did not commit sin. He asks heaven for forgiveness. Jesus made Reparation for man-kind.

At the foot of the Cross, is Mary, who is also innocent. She unites her heart with Jesus’ heart. Hear how this image of Our Lord and Our Lady should influence our Reparation. What does Reparation have to do with Devotion to the Heart?

Why Does Our Lady Appear at Fatima?

Why does Our Lady appear at Fatima? It was not to give chilling warnings. She doesn’t come to give a dark warning of danger! Mary shows the children the vision of hell. Why? To show the cost of what turning away from Our Lord really entails, so that no one ends up there. Hear how the call for Reparation is connected with the potential for lost souls. Listen to more within the audio.

Our Lady Reveals Her Heart

There are two elements that ones sees when Our Lady reveals her heart to the Fatima children. When she shows her heart, it is ringed with thorns.  She mentions how her heart is pierced with thorns and there is no one to remove them.  When the children hear this, they immediate think that they need to do something about her pierced heart.

Francisco is moved. He is captivated by the glory of God and doesn’t understand how anyone can be indifferent. He wants to make sacrifices . . . to make Reparation for the glory of God, so that the honor of God receives its due. Francisco wants to do this on behalf of the world who will not honor the Lord.

Then there is his little sister Jacinta. In a beautiful gesture, she is worried about the poor sinners in the world. Imagine today a seven year old girl worried about the poor sinners and their potential fate. A fate lost and separated from Our Lord. She wants to be the one to extend her hand to lift them up. Hear more about little Jacinta.

These two children understand and articulate the heart of Mary. The willingness to always honor the Lord for His goodness. And they always want to appreciate this goodness and love of the Lord. They recognize if they love God, they will also love the ones whom God loves . . . which includes sinners. Hear more about the event of Fatima and the call for Reparation.

First Saturdays Devotion

Our Lady, and Our Lord explain further to Lucia (when she was in her covenant) the issue of repentance on Saturdays. First Saturdays is an old activity. It is not new with Fatima. Why First Saturdays? To honor and appreciate Our Lady; to celebrate and glorify her; and to help others know her.

Our Lady speaks to the children about her wounded heart. She asks them to do something. Mary asks for something to be done in Reparation for the wounds that she feels in her heart. She asks the children for five consecutive First Saturdays. She asks this for outrages against her heart. Why five consecutive Saturdays? Because of five specific outrages against her heart. Hear more within the audio.
There are five steps in the Reparation Process. They include:

• Set aside five consecutive First Saturdays in the spirit of Reparation. Set aside the Saturdays for confession, Holy Communion, the Praying of the Rosary, and fifteen minutes meditating on the Mysteries

Hear more about First Saturdays and Reparation.

When someone approaches Reparation in this manner, the grace of conversion of hearts will occur.  Hear more within this conference.

The Prayer of Atonement to the Heart of Mary

Lastly, hear the prayer, originally written in French, of St. John Eudes. This prayer was translated previously, and then read at the conclusion of this conference. May we suggest all people with a love of Mary . . . even better, all people with a love for Our Lord NEED to listen to this prayer. Listen intently and hear its power. It beautifully summarizes what Reparation to Our Lady entails.

Conference #4: The Third Practice Associated with Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: Consecration

Covered in this Conference:

When, where and what was the impact of the Pope’s Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary? What actually is Consecration? What are the levels of Consecration? And, what is the highest form of Consecration? How do we grow in Devotion to Our Lady? Some additional bonus thoughts on what is the scapular.

Conference #4: Description

The Pope’s Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Where were you on October 31, 1942? Some may have not have been born. Others may not recall where they were or what they were doing. However, on this day, you were very much in the eye of God.

On this day in 1942 something important happened. It was a little more than twenty five years after the events of Fatima. Much was happening on this date. Millions had already died in World War II. Germany was advancing across North Africa to the Suez Canal. The Germans had invaded Russia. Most of Europe was under Germany’s brutal domination. In the Pacific, the Japanese had invaded China and was expanding across the Pacific. Evil mushroomed in the world, and at times there appears little that would resist it.

A Gold Crown was delivered to Fatima in honor of Our Lady that month. In Rome, in a land that was not free (it was under rule of another), the Holy Father Pope Pius XII said a prayer. The audio begins with that same prayer. Listen closely to it.

Prayer of Consecration

This powerful prayer consecrates the whole world to Our Lady and to her Immaculate Heart. Shortly after this prayer was originally said, the English army stopped the advancement of Germany in North Africa. The process of liberating Europe by Canadian and US forces began successfully. The Battle of Stalingrad was the turning point of Russia turning back Germany on Russia soil on February 2, 1943 (which was then the Feast of the Purification of Our Lady). Shortly after this prayer was said, the Allied Forces turn the tide in the Pacific theatre.

Many other things influenced all these events. However, the results might be argued as not coincidental. What an amazing prayer . . . which consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

What is Consecration?

Consecration is the third element and practice to the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart. Notice the power. Notice the words in the prayer . . . consecration to her Immaculate Heart.

So, what actually is Consecration? Consecration in the modern age has lost some of its actual meaning. Many make their Consecration to Mary. But, as the audio elaborates, there is NO one form of The Marian Consecration.

Consecration is an expression of belonging. Any real relationship . . . sooner or later involves belonging. It is intrinsic to human life. We belong to one another . . . in a variety of ways. It is this belonging that allows us to make claims on one another.

When we speak of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart . . . when we speak of Marian Consecration . . . we speak of belonging. When we examine this further, we realize that everyone is not able (or ready) to belong to Mary . . . on the same level. The forms of belonging vary. Listen to the audio for more information.

The Degree of Consecration

When our Lady speaks of Consecration to her Heart . . . she is speaking of something that has broad accessibility. It can include everyone. It does not require to first grow spirituality, but even now they can do so as they are . . . to consecrate themselves.

The degree of Consecration therefore, is accessible to everyone. But it is powerful enough . . . deep enough . . . so that no one is so advanced that they do not profit from it. No one out grows it. Wow! To be able to include everyone . . . amazing! That would be a remarkable Devotion. Listen to the levels of Consecration.

How Do We Grow in Devotion to Our Lady?

How do we grow in Devotion to Our Lady? The first place to start is not the specific book we pick up to read! Start with an idea in how you grow in any relationship! One needs to know the person . . . and beginning to open one’s life to the other person.

But how does that work in Marian Consecration? It involves that I give myself . . . or something of myself . . . to you. It is grounded in the life that you currently live. Not the life you’ll have 10 years from now . . . or the life you wish you have, but your current life. Why is this so? Listen to the audio.

The power of Marian Devotion does not consist of promises or messages. It is found in the way she relates to the reality of the lives we are actually living. Where does a mother hold her children? In her heart! When the Lord gives Mary to the disciple He loved, she held him in her heart. When He says behold your son . . . Jesus planted that disciple in her heart. And not just the disciple Jesus loved, but all of us as well . . . in her heart!

Jesus Plants All Of Us Into Mary’s Heart

Regardless of one believing it or not . . . or wanting it or not . . . we all are in Mary’s heart! So when Our Lady comes to Fatima, at the time of a great worldly turmoil, she says . . . find your way here! There is a place here! You are already here . . . within my heart!
Hear more about being in Mary’s heart . . . and what consecration does for us all!

At some point one will say, I give you all Mary. I give my all to you. That is the second highest form of consecration! The highest form is Total Consecration. One might say . . . what is the difference? If one gives all . . . how is that different? Listen to the details near the conclusion of the audio.

Also at the end of the audio, a brief discussion of the scapula, its origins, its devotion and its significance.

Conference #5: Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: The Song of Mary’s Heart

Benediction Meditation: The Song of Mary’s Heart

One of the ways the Church speaks of the Heart of Our Lady, is that it is like the heart of king David. It is an instrument that makes inspired praise of the great things of God. This conference offers some reflections on the song within Our Lady’s Heart.