TODAY IS THE FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: Devotion to the Immaculate heart of Mary has existed for centuries. However, St. Jean Eudes (d. 1681) propagated the devotion, and tried to make it public, and to have a feast celebrated in honor of the Heart of Mary, first at Autun in 1648 and afterwards in a number of French dioceses.
In 1799 Pius VI, then in captivity at Florence, granted the Bishop of Palermo the feast of the Most Pure Heart of Mary for some of the churches in his diocese. In 1805 Pius VII made a new concession, thanks to which the feast was soon widely observed. On 21 July 1855, the Congregation of Rites finally approved the Office and Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary without, however, imposing them upon the Universal Church. [Excerpted from Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913 edition.]
The feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was transferred by Pope Paul VI to the Saturday immediately following the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
CONSECRATION
I, . . ., a faithless sinner, renew and ratify today in thy Heart, O Immaculate Mother, the vows of my Baptism; I renounce forever Satan, his pomps and works; and I give myself entirely to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom, to carry my cross after Him all the days of my life, and to be more faithful to Him than I have ever been before.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in the presence of all the heavenly court, I choose thee this day for my Mother and Mistress. I deliver and consecrate to thee, and to thy Immaculate Heart, as thy child and slave of love, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of me, and all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greater glory of God, in time and in eternity. Amen
NOVENA
Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of love for God and
mankind, and of compassion for sinners, I consecrate myself entirely to you. I
entrust to you the salvation of my soul. May my heart be ever united with yours,
so that I may hate sin, love God and my neighbor, and reach eternal life
together with those whom I love.
Mediatrix of All Graces and Mother of Mercy, remember the
infinite treasure which your Divine Son has merited by His suffering and which
he has confided to you for us, your children. Filled with confidence in your
motherly heart, and for the sake of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, obtain for me the
favor I ask: [Mention your request here].
Dearest Mother, if what I ask for should not be according
to God's will, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to
my soul. May I experience the kindness of your intercession with Jesus during
life and at the hour of my death? Amen.
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