August is devoted to the Mary’s Immaculate Heart and is a time to meditate on an example of a heart pleasing to God. Through the symbolism illustrated in the Immaculate Heart, we are led directly to Our Lord. In my original work titled, Home, I felt called to highlight some key aspects of Mary’s Heart that can draw us deeper into the Lord’s love. So let’s explore how the symbolism of Home can bring us closer to Christ.

Suffering and Sorrow

Now, notice the Sword that goes through her heart. As the sword pierces her heart (Luke 2:35), Mary continues to gaze upon Christ with love. As we observe Mary’s loving gaze, we recognize her acceptance of Christ’s sufferings through her calm and comforting maternal expression. We recognize how Mary humbly held her sorrows in her heart. Subsequently, we recognize that God calls us to unite our sufferings with His Son and our sorrows with Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Uniting our sufferings and sorrows brings the burning love of Mary and Christ into our hearts.

Mother of Mercy

Next, we see the title Mother of Mercy illustrated in this image. This painting reminds us of the Lord’s Divine Mercy through the rays that flow forth from His heart. We also notice Mary’s open gesture that points us to her disposition of openness to the will of God. These details of Home lead us to know of His Divine Mercy through Mary’s fiat. This image reminds us that the moment Mary said yes to God, the Lord filled her with everything He is and let her share in it. This in turn truly made Mary the Mother of Mercy. Drawing close to Mary’s Immaculate Heart brings us to the fullness of Jesus Christ’s merciful love.

A Prayer by St. Fuastina

St. Faustina wrote a beautiful prayer in her diary that encompasses the beauty of Mary and her Immaculate Heart. It connects her heart to the heart of Our Lord and how their hearts, together, work toward bringing us close to the divine. Hold the image of the painting Home in your mind as you read through the poem.

O Mary, Immaculate Virgin,
Pure crystal for my heart,
You are my strength, O secure anchor,
You are a shield and protection for a weak heart.

O Mary, you are pure and unparalleled,
Virgin and Mother at one and the same time;
You’re beautiful as the sun, by nothing defiled.
Nothing is worthy of comparison to the image of Your soul.

Your beauty enthralled the Thrice-Holy One’s eye,
That He came down from heaven, forsaking the’ eternal See’s throne.
And assumed from Your Heart Body and Blood,
Hiding for nine months in the Virgin’s Heart.

O Mother, Virgin, this will no one comprehend,
That the infinite God is becoming a man;
It’s only love’s and His inscrutable mercy’s purpose.
Through You, Mother – it’s given us to live with Him for ever.

O Mother, Virgin Mother and Heaven’s Gate,
Through You salvation came to us;
Every grace to us streams forth through Your hands,
And faithful imitation of You only will sanctify me.

O Mother, Virgin – Most beautiful Lily.
Your Heart was for Jesus the first tabernacle on earth,
And that, because Your humility was the deepest,
Wherefore you were raised above Angel choirs and Saints.

O Mary, my sweet Mother,
To You I turn over my soul, my body and my poor heart.
Be the safeguard of my life,
Especially at death’s hour, in the final fight.

St. Faustin Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (Diary, 161)

In what other ways were you able to connect this prayer to the image in your mind? Sit with the image and prayer a little longer and see how each can help you come closer to Christ through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. How can you bring this experience into your daily life?

The Importance of Sacred Art

Some final thoughts – bringing sacred art into our homes is a wonderful and simple way to surround ourselves with reminders of our faith. In this way, we can perfect virtues in ourselves with the symbols in Catholic art. With that in mind, let us make time to stop and pray with visual beauty. Furthermore, Let us be reminded of the examples of the faithful life we strive for through our sense of sight. Add the tool of an image to compliment your favorite prayer to help immerse yourself fully in the Lord’s beauty and wonder. Finally, let the Holy Spirit enter your heart to the beauty of sacred art.