“My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the way that will lead you to God”-Our Lady to Lucia
refuge-shelter or protection from danger or distress; a place that provides shelter or protection; something to which one has recourse in difficulty- Merriam Webster Dictionary
Our Lady’s Heart, so full of love for us, and so immaculate, offered to us by herself as a protection from danger or distress. We have such a powerful gift of protection and growth within Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. The world, the devil, and even our own misguided thoughts, all three of these powerful enemies we have to fight against, will drag us down, cause us despair, twist good things into bad things, cause fear, and worst of all, if left unchecked, sin. We have Our Lady’s Heart, so full of love for us and purely good, so free from the stain of sin, as a refuge. A place to run to when we cannot deal with the weight of the world. An impenetrable fortress protecting us from the ravenous beasts seeking our destruction, and a warm embrace when our own failures seem to never leave our own inner dialogue. This is important, we need help, we cannot do this on our own.
A Heart Full Of Love For Us
“If you put all the love of the mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children.” – Saint Louis de Montfort
Let’s reflect on this for a moment. Every single mother in the world, so full of love for their children, all combined, and this would still not equal the love of Mary for us. We are essentially children in the grand scheme of things, knowing very little of what is actually going on in the world. So like children, we need to run to our mom when things get dicey. And Mary, whose love is so vast, will not hesitate to help and protect. Like a mamma bear protecting her cub, Mary will protect us with such intensity no diabolical forces could stand a chance. The forces of hell fear her so much they flee at only the mention of her name. So when predators come for us, we need to cry out for help!
Why Do We Need A Refuge?
We need to grow in our faith and virtue, because otherwise, we are dying in our faith. This cannot happen if we hope to succeed in making our way to Heaven. Since we need to grow in our spiritual life toward Christ, we need to weather all of the evil and temptations slung in our direction. They are so exhausting and tiring to fight against. They are designed by far more intelligent beings to wear down our will and tear down our resolve. The Immaculate Heart of Mary helps us resist, protects us, and gives us a breather. Mary has also promised that her heart will lead us to God. We need help to be led toward God, because the way is narrow, and especially hard to find in our confusing world. A strong trust in Mary’s love and guidance will help us grow toward Christ by leaps and bounds.
How do we grow in devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
When we develop a devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we are developing a relationship with the person that was conceived without sin and always sinless. A devotion to Mary’s heart involves forming a relationship, as we would our own mothers. Every time you feel tempted, call out to the Immaculate Heart. Every time you feel sorrow, bask in Our Holy Mother’s love for us. We need to constantly have her Immaculate Heart on our mind, especially when we are in trouble.
Get a picture for your home, either print it or order one online. Even put a picture on your phone. And of course, pray to Our Lady every night, asking for the help of her Immaculate Heart.
Remember also, that Our Lady’s Heart is very troubled. Either because of sins against her, blasphemies that people speak about the Mother of God, or because she sees us struggle, and many times fail. Think of the sorrow Our Mother must feel when she sees so many go to hell. Offer prayers of consolation, of sympathy, of reparation, and sorrow.
Here are a few prayers to inspire your devotion.
-O, Immaculate Heart, Virgin Mary…Pray for Us
-Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of death.
-O heart most pure of the Blessed Virgin Mary, obtain for me from Jesus a pure and humble heart.
-“Mary, give me your Heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your Heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing guise of the poor.” – Saint Teresa of Calcutta
-Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Most Holy Virgin Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of your Immaculate Heart surrounded with the thorns placed therein at every moment by the blasphemies and ingratitude of ungrateful humanity. We are moved by the ardent desire of loving you as Our Mother and of promoting a true devotion to your Immaculate Heart.
We therefore kneel before you to manifest the sorrow we feel for the grievances that people cause you, and to atone by our prayers and sacrifices for the offenses with which they return your love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. Hasten the conversion of sinners that they may love Jesus and cease to offend the Lord, already so much offended. Turn your eyes of mercy toward us, that we may love God with all our heart on earth, and enjoy Him forever in Heaven. Amen.