Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections and above all, her maternal love for her son Jesus Christ, and her motherly compassionate love for all mankind.
Traditionally, the Immaculate Heart of Mary is depicted pierced with seven wounds or swords, in homage to the seven dolors of Mary and roses wrapped around the heart. The devotion to Mary is about the love of her heart for Jesus and God. The aim of the devotion is to unite mankind to God and Jesus better by uniting one's self to Mary for this purpose and by imitating her virtues.
St. Louis de Montfort wrote a short book titled " True Devotion to Mary". In this book he says," This is what we do by this devotion, we offer and consecrate all we are and all we possess to the Blessed Virgin in order that our Lord may receive through her, as intermediary, the glory and gratitude that we owe to Him." (T.D. 142)
He also said," We renounce the devil, the world, sin, and self as expressed in the act of consecration, and we give ourselves entirely to Jesus through Mary." ( T.D. 126)
Painting by my daughter Sarah Story