Immaculate Heart
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In these troubled times, when the powers of darkness seem to grow bolder each day, let us recall that "God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believes in him, may not perish" (Jn. 3:17). "In the world you shall have distress, our Savior tells us, but have confidence, I have overcome the world, that in me you may have peace" (Jn. 16:33).

Christ's victory and peace can be ours if we abide in him, as he abides in us (Jn. 15:4). Christ abides with us in his sacred humanity, which is "full of grace and truth" (Jn. 1:14). We abide in the Lord by keeping his commandments, which allow us to receive of his fulness, and to "have life more abundantly" (Jn. 15:10; 1:16; 10:10).

Christ came to us by taking flesh in the womb of a humble virgin. In order to prepare a worthy habitation for himself, he chose a Mother "full of grace" (Lk. 1:28), preserving her from all trace of sin. In return, Mary kept all of his words in her Immaculate Heart (Lk. 2:19, 51), becoming first among those blessed souls who "hear the word of God and keep it" (Lk. 11:29).

Just as Christ taught us to honor his Father as ours (Mt. 6:9), so too did he instruct us take his Mother as our own (Jn. 19:27). If we would receive of his fulness, we must turn to Mary, who is "blessed among women" and by "all generations" (Lk. 1:28, 48, 45).

"Learn of me," our Lord bids us, "because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest for your souls" (Mt. 11:29). As Christ in his humility adopted our humanity (Jn 1:14), Mary in her humility rejoiced to bear God her Savior (Lk. 1:47). In his meekness, Christ laid down his soul to take away our sins (Jn. 10:17; 1:29). In her meekness, Mary allowed her soul to be pierced by a sword so that our hearts might be renewed (Lk. 2:35).

When we honor the Mother of our Lord, she comes to us, advising us to do "whatsoever he shall say" to us (Jn. 2:5). She reminds us that "his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him" (Lk. 50). She teaches us that the peace her Son gives is not the peace of the world. Rather, it is the peace of those who, patiently bearing their crosses and enduring the hatred of the world, abide in his love (Lk. 9:23; Jn. 15:18, 9).

The triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart is the triumph of God's Eternal and Incarnate Word. "Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass" (Mt. 24:35).

Prayer of Pope Pius XII:

Oh, Mother of Mercy, obtain peace for us from God! Obtain especially those graces which can convert human hearts quickly; those graces which can prepare, establish, and insure peace. Queen of Peace, pray for us! Give the world at war the peace for which all are longing: Peace in Truth, Justice, and the Charity of Christ. Give them peace of arms and peace of mind, that in tranquility and order the kingdom of God may expand.