Renewal Voice
As we contemplate the depth of God’s love for us by looking at the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we must also contemplate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart is the day that remembers the heart of Jesus. After this feast, we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The fact that the Feast of the Sacred Heart and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart come so close together reminds us of the fact that nothing can separate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. From the moment Jesus’ heart began to beat in Mary’s womb, their hearts were united. Just above the heart of Jesus, the heart of his mother was also attached.
There was no other heart so close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They were one in the suffering of Calvary. They were one in the joy of the Resurrection. When God raised the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary to heaven to beat close to His heart, they became one in eternity. Just as we know the depth of God’s love in the Sacred Heart, we need to look into the Immaculate Heart and know what response we are called to give to God with our lives.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is completely consecrated to God out of love for God and humanity. Her heart is ablaze with an intense love for God. That love is expressed in her becoming a mother.
It is passed on to all of our children. When we look into the burning Heart of Jesus, we know that God is a consuming fire, and that He burns away our shortcomings with the unquenchable fire of His love. When we look into the Immaculate Heart, we know that we too must earnestly desire to love God as Mary loved Him with an all-encompassing fervor.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is surrounded by a crown of thorns. It is the same crown of thorns that was placed on His forehead as a continuation of the pain and ridicule He suffered on Calvary. It is a perfect example of how Christ the Savior is willing to joyfully endure any humiliation and torture to bring back His lost children. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is surrounded by a crown of flowers. It is a sign of Mary’s holiness. But the flowers in that crown have thorns. It reminds us of the mortification that those who want to imitate her holiness must practice. While the crown of thorns teaches us how glorious even the trivial pains we experience for the love of God make us, the Immaculate Heart invites us to remain in holiness, mortification, and joy in our self-surrender.
Jesus’ Sacred Heart was wounded. A deep wound that was caused when one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear after he died. It is an open door to the reality that if we live with hope in the wounded One, our wounds are glorified. Sitting at the right hand of the Father, Jesus caresses and rejoices in the wounds of His heart. Because in those wounds lies our salvation.
A sword is seen piercing the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This is reminiscent of Simeon’s prophecy that “a sword will pierce through your own soul” (Luke 2:35). In some paintings, seven swords are also seen piercing the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a sign of the intense suffering that often came upon her life with such force that it could have completely broken her. It is the intense pain we experience in loss and loneliness that leads us to despair, rather than the thorns of simple sacrifice. In the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, each sword of sacrifice was glorified. She does not scream in pain, does not reject the suffering, and does not try to pull out the swords that have pierced her heart. Looking at her Son who suffered so much, she offers him her pain and unites her Immaculate Heart to his Sacred Heart. When we too embrace life by accepting and offering to him the pains caused by our decision to follow Jesus, he makes us holy.
Pope Pius XII consecrated the entire world to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1942. Let us also consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart of the Son through the Immaculate Heart of the Mother. In this way, we can keep our hearts pure.
Reflecting on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary reminds us of the profound love and care God has for humanity. Trusting in God’s Providence offers comfort, especially during times of uncertainty. It’s a reminder that God’s plan is always perfect, even when we cannot see it. How can we deepen our trust in God’s Providence in our daily lives? Recently, I came across a program for GPT-generated text (генерация текста) in Russian. The cool part is that it runs locally on your own computer, and the output is actually unique and quite decent. By the way, I hope the content on your site isn’t AI-generated?
Reflecting on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary deepens our understanding of divine love. Trusting in God’s Providence reminds us that He is always in control, even in uncertain times. This assurance helps us remain steadfast in faith, knowing that our needs are met according to His perfect plan. How can we better cultivate this trust in our daily lives? German news in Russian (новости Германии)— quirky, bold, and hypnotically captivating. Like a telegram from a parallel Europe. Care to take a peek?