The School of God's Heart

+

J.M.J.

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

In today's Holy Mass, we hear the Church supplicating that we celebrate this Feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary "with devout minds" in order that we may "live according to [God's] Heart." For to live is to understand - the mind as if delighting in the good it knows in truth - thereby paving a sure road for our heart to thrust itself on the real good with which alone it seeks to take in delightful possession.

"Jesus, MASTER, have mercy on us!" Thus we heard those who are alienated from the Heart of God now appealing to Its tender mercy - the ten lepers yesterday (13th Sunday after Pentecost).   See what the Eternal Word offers them for their cure: "Master!" - they are far from Life for they have corrupted the truth (mixing it with error - the disgusting discoloration on their skin, so explains St. Augustine in the 2nd Nocturn of the Office of Matins) departing from the proven way of life-giving discipline: they wanted themselves to be their own master.

Therefore on the Cross - the throne of God's absolute dominion over us - there we hear: "Son, behold thy Mother;" behold the school of My Heart - the Immaculate Heart of My Mother out of which came THE good a creature could render his Lord and Master: "behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word."