August is the month the church has long dedicated to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. She is our Heavenly Mother who longs to intercede for us to her son Jesus.

This devotion was put forward by St. John Eudes in the 17th century after the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal (Lucia, Francisco and Jacinto). She appeared to the three children six times between May 13 and October 13, 1917, revealing her Immaculate Heart and asking for the people to pray the daily rosary for peace and the conversion of sinners. This is looked upon as a long reaching and powerful message of faith, hope and charity that we are called to live.

Often times, I think Mary is misunderstood by many. We do not worship her or adore her as we do Jesus; however, we greatly honor her and pray for her help in leading our lives on this journey. We honor her for her ‘Yes” to God to bear Our Savior Jesus. She plays an amazing part in the history of salvation.

The Hail Mary is one of my favorite prayers: “Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

PJP