Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary – Jun 17 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jun 17, 2023, on how Mary's heart is wonderful and Immaculate in every way and how entering her heart is to enter Jesus' Heart. We do this by simply loving her.

Yesterday, we celebrated the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and today we commemorate the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady, described by St. Gertrude as the ever-shining jewel of the Holy Trinity. This heart is the closest to that of Jesus. In the words of Our Lady to St. Bridget, relayed by St. Alphonsus in his "Glories of the Blessed Virgin Mary", mankind was sold for an apple by Adam and Eve, but reclaimed by her son and herself with a single heart. This paints a vivid picture of their heart-to-heart unity, reflecting the unity described in 'Acts 4:32 - The community of believers was of one heart and mind - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/4?32'.

Just as we learn in 'John 3:35 - The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/3?35', Jesus, considering us gifts from the Heavenly Father, treats us as His own presents. He entrusts us to His mother, a scene captured in 'John 19:26 - Woman, behold, your son - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/19?26'. This means we are all gifts to the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady.

The desires of Our Lady were always focused on goodness, love, God's glory, and everyone's welfare, not on self-seeking. Her heart was the opposite of the one mentioned in 'Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately corrupt - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/17?9', for her heart was free from any deceit.

As the heart of the Church, her heart embodies her entire inner life. In 'Luke 2:19 - But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?19', and 'Luke 2:51 - Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?51', St. Luke proposes that by delving into Our Lady's heart, we can deepen our comprehension of Christ. This is achievable by loving her. Her greatest treasure after God is us, whom she loves in a pure and unselfish manner, as reflected in '1 Corinthians 13:5 - Love does not seek its own interests - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1corinthians/13?5'.

Our Lady assured Lucia at Fatima that devotion to her Immaculate Heart would be a path to God and a sanctuary. Jesus desires this devotion, and as 'Philippians 2:5 - Have among yourselves the same mindset that is also in Christ Jesus - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/philippians/2?5' suggests, we are to emulate this mindset.

Her heart has been described in a myriad of ways - the Paradise of God, Eden of the new Adam, Ark of the New Covenant, Ladder to Heaven, Throne of the Messiah King, and Holy Temple of God. It is a heart filled with love, kindness, sorrow, and joy, and provides us encouragement to do good and a place of solace. It is an open heart.

00:00 – Introduction
00:35 – Immaculate Heart Feast follows Sacred Heart
01:22 – Reflections on Divine Gifts to us
02:28 – Discerning God's Desires for Us & Insights into Our Lady's Desires
03:42 – The Role of Mary in the Spiritual Life & Family
06:03 – True Happiness & Obedience to God's Commandments
07:28 – Devotion to Immaculate Heart
08:16 – Jesus' Love for His Mother and the Church
08:39 – The Symbolism and Significance of Mary's Heart
09:55 – Mary's Sorrowful but Joyful Heart
10:57 – Mary's Role as a Spiritual Mother
12:41 – Consoling Mary's Heart and Practicing Devotions

Ave Maria!

Mass: Immaculate Heart of Mary - Feast - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07168a.htm
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061723.cfm
1st: isa 61:9-11
Resp: 1sa 2:1, 4-8
Gsp: luk 2:41-51

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1875

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