There once was something that made my eyes blink or flutter whenever I passed under the statue in the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena Church, Allentown, PA and looked up. That statue was Mother Mary holding her child, just as in most places. I suddenly was reminded of these words: “Look, this is the fruit of my womb. I am the one who forms His affections, emotions as well. I certainly know His will.” Mary, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart!
Mary is truly special. Of all the creatures that have come from God’s hand, none is purer, more special, or more blessed than the woman mentioned in Scripture, the Virgin, the Immaculate, the heavenly Queen who reigns over the universe, the Mother of God or Theotokos.
The story begins with the angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary: “Hail, you blessed one (‘kecharitomene’).” We know! This is the first ‘direct sentence’ in the New Testament. It is the first sentence of the dawn of a new life.
Interestingly that Father Chevalier’s spontaneous personal response to the words “Hail Mary, full of Grace,” a popular prayer among Christians since the Middle Ages, is this is the initial greeting found in the first part of the Hail Mary prayer. Don’t be surprised, this prayer came down from heaven! God himself said it. Only God chose an angelic intercessor, His own messenger.
‘Our Lady of the Sacred Heart’ is a title for the Virgin Mary. It was created in 1857 by Fr. Jules Chevalier in Issoudun, France. The Church consecrated the title of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on July 2, 1864. The feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is on the last Saturday of May. In images, Mary is shown pointing to the Heart of Jesus, as if to say: “Go through my Heart to reach the Heart of Jesus.” That is exactly the link to point about the “two hearts united.” How deeply these two hearts united love in the world!
To be on earth the heart of God! Many people are busy chasing viral fame, seeking views, and craving human approval. Keep scrolling through TikTok… keep complaining… keep living in fear. Yet few are truly brave enough to carry the tender love of God into a world that is becoming increasingly hard. Jesus actually does not seek perfect people. He sends willing hearts as missionaries, just like His mother, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who opened her heart to say “yes”!
Fr. Herman Pongantung, MSC