A Marian prayer prayed by Sts. Louis de Montfort and John Paul II
I keep returning to the reflection of Pope Leo in his Assumption homily:
in Mary’s heart, heaven and earth, time and eternity, meet.
I also continue to contemplate this insight from a private homily of Pope Benedict XVI:
“Mary can be close to us all only because she is with God.”
And then I came across this lovely prayer:
Give me your Heart, O Mary.
In an instant, my Marian devotion was renewed, strengthened. Yes, I want a heart like Mother Mary’s.
That prayerful phrase is part of a consecration prayer by St. Louis de Montfort:
I am totally yours, and all that I have is yours, O Virgin Ever Blessed. I accept you in all aspects of my life. Give me your Heart, O Mary.
Pope St. John Paul II prayed that Marian invocation daily.
This prayer covers much of Catholic life and living: Give me your Heart, O Mary,
- to approach daily demands
- to discern rightly
- to deal with unexpected difficulties or particular problems well
- to consider concerns and worries by reflecting on them
- to respond rightly to relationships
- to have proper charity, in word and deed
- to carry intentions for my family, friends, colleagues, community and wider world to Jesus and console and help as I can
- to bring my sorrows to Jesus
- to trust Jesus, even when I do not fully understand
- to hope in the eternal sense
- to recognize and embrace the peace of Christ
- to appreciate beauty
- to be ever grateful for the goodness of God
- to entrust myself to Jesus
- to walk more closely with Christ and do what he tells me.
As we close out this month dedicated to Mary’s heart, we can also prayerfully ponder the preface of the Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary (as recommended by Msgr. Roger Landry), which outlines the attributes of the Immaculate Heart:
“You gave the Blessed Virgin Mary a wise and obedient heart, that she might perfectly carry out your will, a new and gentle heart, in which you were well pleased and on which you inscribed the law of the New Covenant. You gave her an undivided and pure heart that she might be worthy to be the Virgin Mother of your Son and to rejoice to see you forever. You gave her a steadfast and watchful heart, so that she could endure without fear the sword of sorrow and await in faith the resurrection of her Son.”
Msgr. Landry offers futher reflection for each of these Marian characteristics (wise, obedient, new, gentle, undivided, pure, steadfast, vigilant); well worth reading.
Give us your Heart, O Mary.
