The Immaculate Heart of Mary: Our Sure Path to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

By John C. Preiss

Among the most beautiful truths of the Catholic faith is that God chose to come to us through Mary. The Son of God entered the world through her loving “yes,” and throughout His earthly life, no human heart was more united to His than hers. For this reason, devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary naturally leads us to a deeper love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The heart symbolizes the center of a person’s love, desires, and intentions. When the Church honors the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she honors Mary’s perfect love for God, her purity, her obedience, and her complete union with the mission of her Son. Mary’s heart is “immaculate” because it was preserved from original sin and remained entirely open to God’s grace.

Yet Mary’s heart never points to itself. Like everything else in her life, it points to Jesus.

At the wedding feast at Cana, Mary spoke words that continue to guide Christians today: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). These words reveal the mission of her heart. She desires nothing more than to bring souls to her Son. Just as she carried Jesus physically in her womb, she continues to carry Him spiritually to the world.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus reveals the depth of Christ’s love for humanity. It is a heart that burns with mercy, compassion, and self-giving love. It is the heart that welcomed sinners, healed the sick, forgave enemies, and was pierced on the Cross for our salvation. Through devotion to the Sacred Heart, we contemplate the immense love God has for each one of us.

Mary understood this love more deeply than anyone else. She stood beneath the Cross and witnessed the sacrifice of her Son. The sorrow of her heart was inseparably united to His suffering. For this reason, the Church often speaks of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary as being closely united—distinct, yet profoundly connected.

When we entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, she gently forms us into faithful disciples. She teaches us humility, prayer, purity, and trust in God’s providence. She removes obstacles that keep us from Christ and helps us respond generously to His grace. In this way, devotion to Mary’s heart is not an end in itself; it is a pathway to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The saints understood this well. Many taught that the quickest and safest road to Jesus is through Mary because no one knows Him better or loves Him more than His Mother. As we draw closer to her heart, we begin to see Jesus through her eyes, love Him with greater devotion, and surrender ourselves more fully to His will.

In our own time, marked by uncertainty and spiritual challenges, the Immaculate Heart of Mary remains a refuge for believers. She invites us to place our fears, struggles, and hopes within her maternal care. There, she leads us unfailingly to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where we find mercy, healing, and peace.

John C. Preiss is the President of the Fatima Family Apostolate.