3 and 30 Renew August 2025

The Immaculate Heart of Mary signifies, first of all, the great purity and love of the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary for God. This purity is manifested in her “Yes” to the Father at the Incarnation, her love for, and cooperation with, the Incarnate Son in His redemptive mission, and her docility to the Holy Spirit, enabling her to remain free of the stain of personal sin throughout her life. Mary’s Immaculate Heart, therefore, points us to her profound interior life, where she experienced both joys and sorrows, yet remained faithful, as we, too, are called to do.

In the Catholic Church, August is traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This month is a time for Catholics to focus their devotion on Mary's heart, which is seen as a symbol of her love, virtue, and inner life, particularly her love for Jesus. 

We also celebrate the Assumption of our Lady on August 15th and we will be praying a novena in preparation for this feast day.

Pope Pius XII defined it on 1 November 1950 in his apostolic constitution Munificentissimus Deus as the assumption of Mary, body and soul, into heaven. It leaves open the question of whether Mary died or whether she was raised to eternal life without bodily death.