A Month Dedicated to Mary

The month of August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Since the 16th century, Catholic piety has assigned entire months to special devotions. As CatholicCulture.org explains it, the month of August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The physical heart of Mary is venerated and not adored as the Sacred Heart of Jesus is because it is united to her person and is the seat of her love, especially for her divine Son, virtue, and inner life. Such devotion is an incentive to a similar love and virtue.

This devotion has received new emphasis in this century from the visions given to Lucy Dos Santos, oldest of the visionaries of Fatima, in her convent in Tuy (Tui), in Spain, in 1925 and 1926. In the visions, Our Lady asked for the practice of the Five First Saturdays to help make amends for the offenses committed against her heart by the blasphemies and ingratitude of men. The practice parallels the devotion of the Nine First Fridays in honor of the Sacred Heart. 

On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII made a solemn Act of Consecration of the Church and the whole world to the Immaculate Heart. Let us remember this devotion year-round, but particularly through the month of August. 

This Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is particularly appropriate to pray in the month of August, which is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart. It can, however, be prayed at any time of the year, when you have a special favor to ask of the Blessed Virgin.

A Novena to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of love for God and mankind, and of compassion for sinners, I consecrate myself entirely to you. I entrust to you the salvation of my soul. May my heart be ever united with yours, so that I may hate sin, love God and my neighbor, and reach eternal life together with those whom I love.

Mediatrix of All Graces and Mother of Mercy, remember the infinite treasure which your Divine Son has merited by His suffering and which he has confided to you for us, your children. Filled with confidence in your motherly heart, and for the sake of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, obtain for me the favor I ask: [Mention your request here].

Dearest Mother, if what I ask for should not be according to God’s will, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul. May I experience the kindness of your intercession with Jesus during life and at the hour of my death? Amen.