The devotion to the Heart of Mary started in the 18th century as a consequence of the spiritual movement initiated by St John Eudes, priest, in relationship with the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Before becoming a special feast, it began as a simple commemoration within the Mass of the Sacred Heart in the 19th century. In 1942 and on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the apparitions in Fatima, Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"Mary kept all these things in her heart" (Lk. 2:51). This reflection of St Luke in the infancy narrative of Jesus is like a prelude to the liturgy of this feast and encourages us to enter into the "intimacy of Mary" to participate in her thanksgiving, and above all, in her openness to God, her Father. Mary is, in reality, the image of the Church and the model of every Christian. If the Lord prepared her so that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and dwell on her, every Christian, each one of us, is also a temple of the Spirit where the Three Divine Persons dwell within us. With Mary let us say, "Let my heart rejoice in your saving help. Let me sing to Yahweh for the goodness he has shown me." (Ps. 13:5).