Although I vaguely heard many years ago about the devotion to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, it was only very recently that I learned about the visions of the Franciscan tertiary Berthe-Frances-Marie-Ghislaine-Petit (1870-1943).
I owe this discovery to a recent sermon by Father Patrick McBride, pastor of the SSPX Saint Isidore Church (Watkins, Colorado).[i] From the words of the priest, I learned everything I needed to begin unraveling the thread of a history of great importance to us all. Why would this private revelation be so important? Because, undoubtedly, it has a deep and significant connection with the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima. However, leaving this aspect for a future discussion, I particularly want to draw your attention to a devotion of great value.
Even today, terrible calamities (such as the Synod on Synodality) are unleashed. Even today, reparation is needed to appease the anger of God, who has been offended by so many sins, blasphemies, and sacrileges.
A Powerful Prayer
Just as with the visions of the three shepherd children from Portugal, the private revelation of the Belgian Berthe Petit also has a very concrete, practical character. For through her intercession, we are taught how to appeal to the Queen of the Universe, the Blessed Virgin Mary, in these dark times. The spirituality of the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary is best represented by a short prayer that all of us who do not already know it should learn and use:
“Cœur douloureux et Immaculé de Marie, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous!”
“Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to you!”
Approved by Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier (1851–1926) in 1911, and later reconfirmed by Cardinal Jozef-Ernest van Roey (1874–1961), the legendary Primate of the Catholic Church in Belgium who, like the “Lion of Münster”—Blessed Cardinal Clemens Marie von Galen (1878–1946)—actively opposed Nazism, the prayer grants those who recite it 100 days of indulgence. Given the words of Christ the Savior in the context of the prayer’s revelation, I believe I can affirm that it is of great importance even for us today. Here, then, is the revelation during which this prayer was given to us:
“The worst calamities which I had predicted are unleashed. The time is now ripe and I wish mankind to turn to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of My Mother. Let this prayer be uttered by every soul:
‘Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to you.’
Let this prayer dictated by My Love as a supreme succor be approved and indulgenced, no longer partially and for a small portion of My flock, but for the whole universe, so that it may spread as a refreshing and purifying balm of reparation that will appease My anger. This Devotion to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of My Mother will restore faith and hope to broken hearts and to ruined families: it will help to repair the destruction: it will sweeten sorrow. It will be a new strength for My Church, bringing souls, not only to confidence in My Heart, but also to abandonment to the Sorrowful Heart of My Mother.”
Although this primarily refers to the terrible situation that led to the two world wars in the first half of the 20th century, God’s words in this private revelation seem perfectly suited to our times. Even today, terrible calamities (such as the Synod on Synodality) are unleashed. Even today, reparation is needed to appease the anger of God, who has been offended by so many sins, blasphemies, and sacrileges. Even today, families that are still whole need strength to carry on the cross of married life, and those that are already destroyed—and there are so many!—need special means to endure difficult trials and temptations. In short, we all need, more than at any other time in history, the mercy and help of God.
Essentially, in addition to the symbol of purity—the white lily—held in the left hand of the Holy Virgin Mary, her Heart, pierced by a sword, is in solidarity with the Most Sacred Heart of our Savior Christ, crowned with thorns.
A Consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart
An act of personal consecration to the Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of the Holy Virgin has also been conveyed to us. Here it is in both versions (the original text in French can be found in the note at the end of the text):
“Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, divine and purifying abode, take my soul under Your Maternal care, that it be always faithful to the voice of Jesus, respond to His love and accomplish His divine will.
I wish, o my Mother, to remember constantly Your co-redemption, in order to live in the intimacy of Your Heart, united in all with the Heart of Your Divine Son.
Restore me to this heart by the sorrows and virtues of Yours. Protect me always.”[ii]
We immediately notice the important teaching about the role of the Holy Virgin Mary, co-redemptrix, in establishing a harmonious relationship of submission and fidelity between the person who consecrates themselves and Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Virgin Mary is the mediator of restoring harmony between repentant penitents and God. The consecration was printed on the back of an image of the Heart of the Holy Virgin, which quickly became famous in Belgium, the home country of the visionary Berthe Petit.
Essentially, in addition to the symbol of purity—the white lily—held in the left hand of the Holy Virgin Mary, her Heart, pierced by a sword, is in solidarity with the Most Sacred Heart of our Savior Christ, crowned with thorns. In fact, the two hearts are fused together, as one might expect when carefully meditating on the terrible sufferings she endured at the foot of the Cross. It is precisely this extraordinary solidarity with our Savior Christ that grants the Holy Virgin Mary an exceptional and unique role in the economy of our salvation, obtained by Christ on the Cross.
As we all have the opportunity to see countless times in the era of communication, the apocalypse is in vogue.
An Apocalyptic Warning?
As we all have the opportunity to see countless times in the era of communication, the apocalypse is in vogue. Especially on the internet, there are myriads of websites that discuss nothing but the end of the world. Countless prophecies, old or new, famous or obscure, are presented along with their visionaries. Evidently, most are simple fabrications or, at best, severe distortions of authentic messages and apparitions (such as the one at Fatima). This is why the virtue of prudence is always absolutely necessary. The concrete rule is as follows: it is better to reject an authentic apparition out of prudence; it is extremely dangerous to accept a false one out of superficial enthusiasm.
In the case of Berthe Petit’s visions, there is also a message circulating that she supposedly received during a private revelation in 1940 from Our Lord Jesus Christ. Here’s what it says:
“It is hearts that must be changed. This will be accomplished only by the Devotion proclaimed, explained, preached, and recommended everywhere. Recourse to My Mother under the title I wish for her universally is the last help I shall give before the end of time.”
I hasten to tell you that I have not yet been able to verify the origin and authenticity of this message. Of course, I continue my research. However, so far, none of the websites I’ve investigated, nor any of the books I have consulted, provide any bibliographical reference. Therefore, enthusiasts who place this apocalyptic message on the covers of their books risk doing so imprudently.
Avoiding excesses, let us focus for now on what is truly important and certain from everything we know about the devotion to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary. And above all, let us learn to meditate as deeply as possible on everything the suffering of a mother’s heart—like that of the Holy Virgin Mary—meant for the passions and crucifixion to which her beloved Son was subjected. By doing so, and using this brief prayer to the Holy Virgin Mary as often as possible, I believe we will be doing exactly what God and His mother expect of us until the end:
“Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to you!”
[i] The sermon can be viewed and listened to online here (~ min. 44). [Accessed: 02 September 2024].
[ii] “Cœur douloureux et Immaculé de Marie, demeure divine et purifiante, enveloppez mon âme de votre Maternité, afin que, toujours fidèle à la voix de Jésus, elle réponde à son amour et accomplisse sa divine volonté. Je veux, ô ma mère, me souvenir sans cesse de votre co-rédemption, afin de vivre dans l’intimité de votre Cœur, unie en tout au Cœur de votre Divin Fils. Rivez-moi à ce Cœur par les vertus et les douleurs du vôtre. Gardez-moi toujours.”
