August — the Month of Mary’s Immaculate Heart
We are presently in the newly arrived month of August. Augustus Caesar, one of the emperors of ancient Rome, named the month after himself as Julius Caesar, another previous emperor of Rome, named the month of July after himself. The name August, from the Latin Augustus, means venerable, worthy and revered, coinciding with the notion of the greatness of the emperor.
August is popularly considered a transitional month. It is the beginning of the end of summer, the time when the school year begins, a month of hot weather as well as possible stormy weather here in Florida, and a time of changing pace. During August, we transition from the summer to a more routine way of life and begin to prepare for the return to work as well as the more normal routines of life. Once September arrives, and we celebrate Labor Day, a new phase of transition begins.
August is a very venerable month for us as Catholics as it brings with it reminders of significant transitions in our lives of faith. On Aug. 6, we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration, in which Christ, ascending Mount Tabor, reveals His glory to His disciples in an extraordinary manner. From that glorious moment onward, Jesus begins to transition to the acceptance of the cross, which will be our salvation, and to teach His disciples of its necessity. Aug. 15, we celebrate the great Feast of the Assumption, when Mary transitions from this earthly life to the fullness of life, body and soul, in heaven. Mary’s transition reminds us of what the meaning of life is all about, and what the cross and Resurrection of Jesus have brought to our lives. Our lives are based on the hope of our transition to heaven as well.
The month of August is also a renewed and venerable one for us as Catholics as it is the month dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We are very familiar with October being dedicated to Mary as a month of the rosary, as well as the month of May dedicated to our Blessed Mother in general. However, it is not as well known that the month of August is dedicated to Mary with her Immaculate Heart. In 1944, Pope Pius XII set Aug. 22 as the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as the octave of the celebration of the Feast of the Assumption on Aug. 15. In 1969, St. Paul VI moved the date to the Saturday after the Feast of the Sacred Heart so that it is celebrated on the third Saturday after Pentecost. He designated Aug. 22 as the celebration of the Queenship of Mary as a fitting conclusion to the octave of the Assumption.
The heart of Mary is the heart of love. We read in the Gospels how Mary treasured so many of the events of the life of Jesus in her heart, where she reflected upon them and handed them over to the apostles after the Resurrection of Christ. Pope Leo XIV constantly reminds us, following the teaching of Pope Francis, that it is the heart which is the center of who we are as made in the image and likeness of God. It is especially significant that artificial intelligence is bringing the challenge of moving us away from the heart, and from our humanity, and can become a true danger to understanding the meaning of life and living in the joy it is meant to bring from God. Mary’s Immaculate Heart speaks a great deal to us in this regard.
The heart of Jesus is from the heart of Mary. When the Son of God was conceived in Mary, we can truly say that the heart of God took flesh in Mary. Thus, the heart of God is intimately bound to the heart of Mary. There is a beautiful medieval sculpture of Mary serenely sitting with great grace and peace. Like many of the medieval depictions and statues of Mary, one is immediately drawn to it in a spiritual gaze. However, this particular sculpture opens up so that one is able to see what is inside of Mary. It is as if one is looking into the heart of Mary. Within the sculpture is a carving of the Trinity. The Trinity is fashioned depicting the Father holding His Son on the cross offered to the world as His greatest gift of love. Between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit, depicted as a dove. This particular depiction of the Trinity expresses, in an almost mystical manner, the infinite love of God giving Himself to us in the very depth of His Being. It is an image of what the Sacred Heart of Jesus is all about. How appropriate that, in this particular sculpture, Mary holds the heart of the Trinity within hers. Indeed, the heart of Jesus speaking to the heart of Mary and the heart of Mary speaking to the heart of Jesus is well summed up in this regard.
During the month of August, we look to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and open our hearts to receive what is in hers. Here, we truly find the love of God. May this transitional venerable month be a time to remind us that all of life is a transition, and it is the love of God which is at its center.
Most Reverend Geral M. Barbarito
