Hearts United!

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1 Kgs 19: 19-21; Lk 2: 41-51

The feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary invites us to unite our hearts with Jesus, following her model and example.

It is not a mere coincidence that we celebrate the immaculate heart of Mary after the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mary’s heart was united with her son’s in every way. Her life offers a convincing testimony to the claim.

In Love: Mary becomes an example of how a human should love God. Mary’s topmost priority was to love what Jesus loved. In fact, Mary asserted her discipleship through such priority. That is seen when she accompanied the Church that Jesus left behind. When his disciples were a terrorized group after the death and resurrection of the Lord, she made the dream of her son her own. By holding them together in love and prayer, Mary preserved the Church intact so that it would undertake the evangelization of the Good News of her son as he himself envisaged. For this reason, we may boldly conclude that no one ever loved Jesus as Mary did. 

In Suffering: Simeon prophesied regarding Mary that ‘a sword will pierce her soul’ (Lk 2:35). We also have the tradition of meditating on the seven sorrows of Mary. If so, how can we understand the sufferings of Mary when we reflect on the redemptive suffering of Jesus on the cross? If Jesus’ suffering was physical, Mary’s suffering was more spiritual. This is how the sufferings of her Son became the sufferings of Mary as well. Thus, the one who chose to accompany her son unto his death became the mother of all believers at Calvary. Mary redefines holiness through loyal and extraordinary love for her son. 

In Mission: Mary’s missional oneness with her son deserves an important mention. From the time she said ‘yes’ to cooperate with God’s will for humanity, Mary’s heart beat in harmony with the mission of her son. The importance of Jesus’ mission shaped her love for her son. That is why, at Bethlehem, she could adore him. At Nazareth, she nurtured him. During his missionary wanderings, she could follow her son with the heart of a disciple. When everybody left him at Calvary, she stood with her son beneath the cross. At Pentecost, she was with her son’s disciples to strengthen them for mission. Thus, ultimately, Mary desired what Jesus desired. That is why she could say, ‘Do whatever he tells you’ (Jn 2:5).

Mary’s life and example help our conviction that when we closely imitate Mary, we begin to inherit the features of Christ in us. 

Let us pray that our devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary may lead us to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar