In me is all grace of the way and of truth, in me all hope of life and strength, we read in the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass.
As we considered on yesterday's feast, the heart expresses and is a symbol of the person's intimacy. The first time the Heart of Mary is mentioned in the Gospel is to express the fullness of that inner life of the Virgin: Mary — writes Saint Luke — kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
The Preface of the Mass proclaims that the Heart of Mary is wise because she understood like no other creature the meaning of the Scriptures, and kept the memory of the words and things related to the mystery of salvation; immaculate, that is, immune from all stain of sin; obedient, because she faithfully submitted to God's will in all her desires; new, according to the ancient prophecy of Ezekiel — I will give you a new heart and a new spirit —, clothed in the novelty of grace merited by Christ; humble, imitating Christ, who said: Learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; simple, free from all duplicity and filled with the Spirit of truth; pure, capable of seeing God according to the Beatitude of the Lord; firm in accepting God's will, when Simeon announced that a sword of sorrow would pierce her heart, when persecution was unleashed against her Son, or when the moment of her Death arrived; willing, since, while Christ was sleeping in the tomb, imitating the bride of the Song of Songs, she kept vigil, awaiting Christ's resurrection.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary is called, above all, the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, because of her divine Maternity and the continuous and full indwelling of the divine Spirit in her soul. This exalted motherhood, which places Mary above all creatures, was realized in her Immaculate Heart before it in her purest entrails. The Holy Fathers affirm that the Word who gave birth according to the flesh was conceived first in her heart, according to faith.
Through her Immaculate Heart, full of faith, love, humility, and surrendered to God's will, Mary merited to carry in her virginal womb the Son of God.
She always protects us, like a mother to her small child surrounded by dangers and difficulties everywhere, and makes us grow continuously. How can we not turn to Her daily? “Sancta Maria, Stella maris” — Holy Mary, Star of the Sea — lead us!
— She cries out with strength, because there is no storm that can cause the Virgin's most sweet Heart to shipwreck. When you see the storm coming, if you take refuge in that firm shelter, which is Mary, there is no danger of distress or sinking. In it, we find a safe port where it is impossible to shipwreck.
HCD