The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

Each time I start the fourth and fifth glorious mysteries of the rosary, I pray for the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As we celebrate both these mysteries this month, I wish to share an excellent article on the topic which is worth our reflection. (All credit goes to the author.)

“In the third apparition of Fatima, on July 13, 1917, after vividly depicting the horrifying events of the 20th century to the children, Our Lady promised, “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” There are many interpretations of Our Lady’s words as to how such a Triumph will happen. I won’t offer my own interpretation of when it will happen or what it will look like; I simply offer a reflection on Our Lady’s words at Fatima and Our Lady’s words to St. Faustina.

In one of her appearances to St. Faustina, Our Lady said, “Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of My Son and, in this way, you will be victorious” (Diary, 449). Our Lady speaks of victory both to the children at Fatima and to St. Faustina. In addition to what she said at Fatima, Our Lady shows St. Faustina how we can participate in this triumph and even, as it were, bring it about. Victory comes through gazing upon the Passion of the Son – as did Mary.

What, then, is the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart, if we connect the messages from Our Lady of Fatima and Our Lady to St. Faustina together? Her triumph – at Calvary – was her fidelity to Christ, even amid torments and pains. Satan launched an all-out attack upon Christ and Mary. She was victorious not because things went well; rather, Mary was victorious because when things did not go well, in the bleakest of moments, she remained faithful and trusted in Jesus.

St. Faustina speaks of the triumph of Divine Mercy in a similar way. There was a time when her Divine Mercy revelations were banned by the Vatican itself (1959-1978) due, in part, to faulty translations. St. Faustina predicted this would happen, as we read in her Diary: “There will come a time when this work, which God is demanding so very much, will be as though utterly undone. And then God will act with great power, which will give evidence of its authenticity” (378). All seemed lost, and yet we know the amazing history of how John Paul II, when he served as Archbishop of Krakow, opened St. Faustina’s cause, and as the Holy Father, made the spread of St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy revelations a central focus of his pontificate.

The Triumph of the Immaculate Heart is a triumph of faith over doubt, of hope over despair, and love over hatred. This triumph is not “glorious” in the ordinary sense of the word; an eye-witness at Calvary would probably not have called Mary glorious on that Good Friday. However, Good Friday was Mary’s most glorious moment, when she, together with Christ, crushed the head of the serpent.

In your daily lives, then, how do you bring about this Triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart? First, you must, like Mary, cling to faith, hope, and charity in all moments of your life, particularly in the difficult moments. Gaze upon her Son, crucified for you; gaze upon His mercy and love, which are stronger than the worst of our sins. If, like Mary, you do not take your gaze off Jesus, you will be victorious. If you fall, trust in His mercy.