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

Conference #1- The History & Meaning of Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary 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. Each of these words are explored within the audio. 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.