Immaculate Heart of Mary
The Immaculate Heart of Mary (Latin: Cor Immaculatum Mariae) is a Roman Catholic devotion which refers to the view of the interior life of Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus Christ, and her motherly and compassionate love for all mankind. Traditionally, the Immaculate Heart is depicted pierced with seven swords or wounds, in homage to the seven dolors of Mary and roses, usually red or white, wrapped around the heart.
The Immaculate Heart of Mary | |
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A painting depicting the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Peterskirche, Vienna | |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Feast | Saturday following the Feast of the Sacred Heart |
| Attributes | Burning bloodied heart, pierced with a sword, banded with roses, and lily flowers |
| Patronage | Apostleship of Prayer, Ratnapura Diocese, Alliance of Sacred Hearts, Russian Territories, Scotland, Central Africa, Republic of the Congo, Angola, Ecuador, Panama, Minglanilla, Cebu, Philippines, and, Georgia |
The Eastern Catholic Churches occasionally utilize the image, devotion, and theology associated with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. However, this is a cause of some controversy, some seeing it as a form of Liturgical Latinisation. The Roman Catholic view is based on their understanding of certain verses of scripture, particularly the Gospel of Luke.