The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is celebrated on the Saturday following the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, traditionally within the octave of Corpus Christi.
This devotion has its origins in the 17th century, thanks to the efforts of Saint John Eudes, who promoted veneration of the hearts of Jesus and Mary. However, it gained worldwide significance after the Marian apparitions in Fátima, Portugal. During one of her messages to the young visionary Sister Lucia, the Blessed Virgin asked for the consecration of the world to her Immaculate Heart. She promised that if her request was fulfilled, peace would be granted and Russia would experience conversion.
Our Lady also revealed that her Son’s Heart should be honored together with her own, affirming that peace for the world had been entrusted to her care. Sister Lucia dedicated her life to spreading this message, becoming a key figure in the promotion of the Immaculate Heart devotion.
In response to Our Lady of Fátima’s request, Pope Pius XII established the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the universal Church on May 4, 1944. Through Mary’s intercession, the pope sought:
freedom for the Church, the conversion of sinners, a renewed love for purity, and a deeper commitment to virtue.
In times of conflict and unrest, the Church invites us to turn to the Immaculate Heart of Mary—to seek her maternal intercession for the many countries and communities still affected by war. Her heart remains a refuge of hope, a source of peace, and a powerful path to her Son, Jesus.
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Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Pius XII)
On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII, at the close of a solemn celebration honoring the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima and in response to her request, consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
This act of consecration took place during a critical point in World War II. German forces had taken key positions in North Africa and were advancing toward the Suez Canal. Meanwhile, the Japanese imperial army continued to expand its reach, and the Soviet Union was suffering the relentless advance of the German invasion.
Faced with such global turmoil, Pope Pius XII—deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin, like his predecessors—placed his trust in the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On that same day, he called for a worldwide crusade of prayer to the Queen of Peace, begging for an end to the war. Then, he solemnly consecrated the entire human race, especially Russia, to her Immaculate Heart.
Let us join in this prayer today, asking especially for peace in the world.
Queen of the most holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy Mother’s Heart.
In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the Mystical Body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities.
Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long-desired coming of peace on earth.
O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ. Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquility of order.
Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.”
Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ’s one fold, under the one true Shepherd.
Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing
torrent of immorality; arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.
Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation
so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting “Magnificat” of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace. Amen.
Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Blessed Virgin, Mother of God, look down in mercy from Heaven, where thou art enthroned as Queen, upon me, a miserable sinner, thine unworthy servant. Although I know full well my own unworthiness, yet in order to atone for the offenses that are done to thee by impious and blasphemous tongues, from the depths of my heart I praise and extol thee as the purest, the fairest, the holiest creature of all God’s handiwork. I bless thy Holy name, I praise thine exalted privilege of being truly Mother of God, ever Virgin, conceived without stain of sin, Co-Redemptrix of the human race.
I bless the Eternal Father who chose thee in an especial way for His daughter; I bless the Word Incarnate who took upon Himself our nature in thy bosom and so made thee His Mother; I bless the Holy Spirit who took thee as His bride. All honor, praise and thanksgiving to the ever-blessed Trinity who predestined thee and loved thee so exceedingly from all eternity as to exalt thee above all creatures to the most sublime heights. O Virgin, holy and merciful, obtain for all who offend thee the grace of repentance, and graciously accept this poor act of homage from me thy servant, obtaining likewise for me from thy Divine Son the pardon and remission of all my sins. Amen.
Most glorious Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn thine eyes in pity upon us, miserable sinners; we are sore afflicted by the many evils that surround us in this life, but especially do we feel our hearts break within us upon hearing the dreadful insults and blasphemies uttered against thee, O Virgin Immaculate. O how these impious sayings offend the infinite Majesty of God and of His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ! How they provoke His indignation and give us cause to fear the terrible effects of His vengeance! Would that the sacrifice of our lives might avail to put an end to such outrages and blasphemies; were it so, how gladly we should make it, for we desire, O most Holy Mother, to love thee and to honor thee with all our hearts, since this is the Will of God. And just because we love thee, we will do all that is in our power to make thee honored and loved by all men. In the meantime do thou, our merciful Mother, the supreme comforter of the afflicted, accept this our act of reparation which we offer thee for ourselves and for all our families, as well as for all who impiously blaspheme thee, not knowing what they say. Do thou obtain for them from Almighty God the grace of conversion, and thus render more manifest and more glorious thy kindness, thy power and thy great mercy. May they join with us in proclaiming thee Blessed among women, the Immaculate Virgin and most compassionate Mother of God. Amen.
Pray three Hail Marys in honor of the power, wisdom, and mercy of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, scorned by men. Conclude with the following ejaculations:
Oh Immaculate Heart of Mary, have mercy on us!
Refuge of sinners, pray for us.
Oh sweet Heart of Mary, be my salvation!
Hail Mary, Our Father, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Pope.
Visit to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Let us invoke the protection of the Immaculate Heart with this beautiful prayer:
O Most Blessed Mother,
heart of love, heart of mercy,
ever listening, caring,
consoling, hear our prayer.
As your children,
we implore your intercession
with Jesus your Son.
Receive with understanding
and compassion the petitions
we place before your today,
especially (state your petitions).
We are comforted in knowing
your heart is ever open to those
who ask for your prayer.
We trust to your gentle care
and intercession,
those whom we love and
who are sick or lonely or hurting.
Help all of us, Holy Mother,
to bear our burdens in this life until
we may share eternal life
and peace with God forever.
Amen Amen.
Ejaculation. May the most divine Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary be known, praised, blessed, loved, served, and glorified forever and everywhere. So be it.
Prayer to Ask a Favor from the Immaculate Heart
The Heart of Mary burns with the desire to listen to and assist her children who turn to Her with confidence in their needs:
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Heavenly beauty and splendor of the Father, You are the most valued Heavenly treasure.
New Eve, immaculate in soul, spirit and body, Created of the godly seed by the Spirit of God, You are the spiritual Mother of mankind.
Pure Virgin, full of grace then and now, Your whole being was raised Heavenly in full glory, To be elevated above all the hosts within the Kingdom of God.
O Heavenly Mother, Queen of Heaven and earth, I recognize the glory of your highest title, The Immaculate Heart of Mary!
Loving Mother, dispenser of endless blessings, You who continuously intercedes on our behalf, Please present my need before your loving Son Jesus.
(In your own words, make your special request here. Do not just mention a word. Speak to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as you would speak to another person, begging your Heavenly Mother to plea to Jesus on your behalf, that you be granted this special request.)
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I know that you are now presenting my need before Jesus, For you have never turned away those in dire need. Mother dearest, I await your favorable answer, Submitting myself to the Divine will of the Lord, For all glories are His forever and ever. Amen.
Heart of Mary, perfect image of the heart of Jesus, make our hearts like yours. Amen.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary invites us to draw closer to the Mother of God and to recognize that we are her beloved children. Her Immaculate Heart stands as a shining example of purity, love, and perfect obedience to God’s will. It is a safe refuge and an endless wellspring of grace that gently leads us to her Son, Jesus. As we contemplate her heart, we are inspired to imitate her virtues in our daily lives.
Her intercession—so powerful in critical moments of history, such as during World War II—remains just as essential today. In the face of modern challenges, from spiritual confusion to global conflict, she encourages us to stand firm in faith, trust in her maternal care, and courageously proclaim the Gospel.
To help this devotion take root in your heart, we encourage you to:
- Reflect on her life by praying the Rosary.
- Set aside quiet time to contemplate her example.
- Offer small acts of love or sacrifice in her honor.
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary continue to be our light and our guide, always leading us to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
What Does the Heart of Mary Symbolize?
The Heart of Mary represents the Immaculate purity of the Blessed Virgin, conceived without original sin and filled with grace. It stands as a sign of her unconditional love for God and for all humanity—a love that moved her to say “yes” to God’s will at every moment, even as she stood beneath the Cross.
It also symbolizes her unwavering fidelity and obedience to God. Scripture tells us that Mary “kept all these things and pondered them in her heart,” reflecting her deep interior life and intimate connection with Jesus and His mission. The Heart of Mary is also a sign of her compassion and sorrow for the suffering of her Son and, by extension, for the pain and sin of humanity. It is a refuge of mercy and a sure path that leads us to Christ.
What do we ask of the Heart of Mary?
We turn to the Heart of Mary to ask for her loving intercession before God, seeking her help in many areas of our lives. The devotion to her Immaculate Heart invites us to trust her as our spiritual Mother and to bring her our intentions.
Most often, we ask her for:
- Peace: peace in the world, that conflicts and wars may end, and peace within our hearts and families. This has been a central intention since the apparitions of Fatima.
- The conversion of sinners: that hearts distant from God may be opened to faith and repentance.
- Protection and comfort: that she may shield us from danger, temptation, and adversity, and care for us with her maternal love.
- Purity and holiness: that she may shield us from danger, temptation, and adversity, and care for us with her maternal love.
- Specific graces and favors: Personal requests and particular needs are presented, trusting in your powerful intercession before Jesus.
- Reparation for offenses: to console and make amends to her Immaculate Heart for the many blasphemies and injuries directed against her dignity and holiness.
At its core, devotion to the Immaculate Heart is about asking Mary to lead us to Jesus, to help us obtain the graces we need for our salvation and for the good of the Church and the world.
Where does devotion to the Immaculate Heart come from?
The roots of this devotion go back to the 17th century, when St. John Eudes began to promote liturgical worship of the Heart of Mary, seeing it as the center of her love, virtue, and immaculate purity.
However, it was the apparitions at Fatima in 1917 that gave this devotion global prominence. In her messages to the three shepherd children, Our Lady specifically asked for the world to be consecrated to her Immaculate Heart and encouraged the practice of the First Saturdays Devotion as a way to obtain peace and conversion.
Responding to these heavenly requests—amidst the global chaos of World War II—Pope Pius XII formally established the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the whole Church on May 4, 1944. What began as a spiritual inspiration became a powerful devotional practice embraced by millions of Catholics worldwide.
What Does it Mean to Consecrate Oneself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
To consecrate oneself to the Immaculate Heart of Mary means to offer yourself entirely and willingly to the Blessed Virgin—placing your life under her care and allowing her to guide you ever more deeply into the heart of Christ. It is a personal act of trust and love in which the faithful surrender themselves to Mary so that she may shape their hearts to reflect Jesus more fully.
Far from distancing us from God, this consecration is a sure and time-tested path to grow closer to Him. Through it, we ask Mary to intercede for us, to teach us to love Jesus as she did, and to help us live out God’s will with purity, humility, and faithfulness.
This act also involves a personal commitment to live more fully as a disciple of Christ—to avoid sin, pray the Rosary, receive the sacraments, and cultivate virtue. It’s a way to deepen your spiritual life and become an instrument of peace and evangelization in the world. Through Mary’s help, we hope to grow in holiness and persevere in faith until the end.
