The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Pope Francis has announced that he will consecrate the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. You may be asking, what does that even mean!? Here are the basics:

1. Honor. I think a lot of people confuse devotion to Mary and the saints to that of worship. Turning to Mary is simply about honoring her as a model in the faith. Think of someone in your life who you look up to and who helps you out. Don't you want to honor that person and thank them for being your friend!? Mary is that person for me. Her abandonment of self and love of Jesus inspires and challenges me to be a better Catholic woman. Consecration, at it's base, is about honoring Mary. And think about it, aren't we honoring God when we honor the people He has created?

2. A sword will pierce your heart

"Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, "This child is destined for the rising and falling of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many may be revealed - and a sword will pierce your own heart too." Luke 2:34-35

God told Mary through a prophet that a sword will pierce her heart so that our thoughts may be revealed.  If our God is a God who keeps his promises (which, isn't that what the canticle of Simeon is all about!?), then shouldn't we believe Mary's heart has been pierced so that our hearts may be revealed!? This leads me into point three...

3. To Jesus, through Mary. Jesus spent 30 years at home, intimately living the ins and out of daily life with Mary. She knows Him better than any other person. Because she was 100% without sin, she is able to perfectly desire everything that Jesus desires. And that is our happiness and that we may know her son. So any honor, praise, or prayer request she receives goes to her and she brings it straight to her son. You might be thinking, yeah, okay, but why do I need a third party? Well, aren't you more likely to listen if your mom asks you to do something!? Many saints have said that the surest way to Jesus is through His mother. Above all, Mary desires that we are united with her Son in the way that He wants us to be.

Consecrating the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is just a way of Pope Francis asking Mary to keep praying for us, honoring her, and helping us go straight to Jesus.

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