Jun 13 Sat
Should I foster good sentiments in my heart?
The Church gives us a particularly lovable feast to celebrate today: the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to encourage us to trust in our Blessed Lady at all times. Let us then, with confidence, come closer to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
She is a fount of grace and mercy, a Mother who can give her children the grace they need for their journey at every stage of life.
During his life on earth, our Lord taught us that the good man out of his good treasure brings forth good. Our Lady's heart is filled to overflowing with love for God; it is the home of the Holy Spirit, and is moved by the very sentiments that move Christ's own Heart.
From her heart, then, comes a flood of mercy and forgiveness. We read, “I am the Mother of Fair Love, of fear, of wisdom, and of holy hope. In me is all grace for the way and the truth, in me is all hope of life and virtue. Come to me, all you who desire me, and fill yourselves with my fruits. For my spirit is sweeter than honey, my inheritance sweeter than the honeycomb.”
From Mary’s heart, says St Bernardine of Siena, “as from a furnace, does the Virgin bring forth good words, aflame with divine love, and thoughts of glowing hot charity. From a jar full of good wine, only good wine can be poured; from a furnace, only a raging fire can issue; so too, from Christ's Mother, nothing can come but sentiments of radiant love for God.”
No matter how many of us there are, our Lady loves each of us as a mother loves her only child. And “so if we find there have been times when we failed to be gentle and kind towards this good Mother of ours, we should feel sorry. I ask you now, as I ask myself, how are we honoring her?"
We need to be constantly attentive to keep our hearts free of attachments, but we have learnt not to trust ourselves. Therefore, we run to be with our Lady, close to her Immaculate Heart, so that her love can burn up our hearts and purify us of any disordered affection there may still be in our lives.
“Get accustomed to entrusting your poor heart to the Sweet and Immaculate Heart of Mary, so that she may purify it from so much dross, and lead it to the most Sacred and Most Merciful Heart of Jesus."
We can resolve now to ask our Lady for help in breaking any shackle, once and for all. Her motherly love will fill our hearts to the point where our affection, wholly placed in our Lord, is the same as hers. We will give up whatever is necessary to make room in our heart for a deep, vibrant love as the fruit of greater self-giving, and we will be filled with peace, serenity, and joy.