Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is by nature intrinsically linked to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, his Mother For from her heart his heart took its first beats.

It is for this reason that Popes John XXIII and Paul VI approved the reform of the liturgical calendar moving this feast from August 22 the Octave of the Assumption; moving the Queenship of Mary from May 31 to August 22 and the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth to May 31 placing before the Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist June 24 giving a chronological as well as liturgical order to the mysteries of the faith concerning Mary's relationship to her son.

Like her son who had appeared to Sr. Margaret Mary Alocoque 252 years earlier, Mary appeared at Fatima in 1917 repeating requests for reverence of the Eucharist, reconciliation of sinners and refuge in her Immaculate Heart.

Following the example of Mary, Jesus asks us to say to the Father: Totus tuus - totally yours. When we commit ourselves to God, we need no longer live for our own self-centered narcistic passions or for the approval and satisfaction of others; but only to be grateful to the one who gave his life for us.

Because he has first loved us we are empowered to love in return. We want to become as Paul describes: ambassadors for Christ. bringing his light and his life to a world in desperation and darkness.

Mary's entire life was set on fulfilling God's plan and advancing his kingdom. In prayer she sought his wisdom and direction and then moved in simple, trusting confidence. Neither years of patient waiting nor the painful culmination of his ministry caused her to loose heart.

As I have quoted the scholarly and famous Archbishop Sheen before: Mary who bore in her womb a unified body and blood with her son for nine months; realizes that for approximately 15 minutes after communion, we likewise share that unity of body and blood with her Son.