"God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart." - Our Lady of Fatima, July 13, 1917There is a long history to the ever-budding devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, which shall culminate in what many call “The Age of Mary,” the dawn before the Second Coming of Our Lord. St. John Eudes, who so well explains this devotion in his book, “The Admirable Heart of Mary,” was called by Pope St. Pius X the Immaculate Heart’s Father, Doctor, and Apostle. It was through the prayers and good works of this saint that the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was initially instituted in 1644, eventually spreading to all French dioceses, and finally established throughout the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1944.Over three centuries have passed since the saint was called into eternity, and still his writings inspire a greater devotion to Jesus through Mary, “a striking illustration that he wrote for all time. He still speaks in accents that penetrate the mind and heart of the reader to enlighten, purify and sanctify so that Jesus Christ may live and reign in the Christian soul.” (Excerpt from the General Preface by the editors of the English language edition, published in 1945.)For those who appreciate the works of St. Alphonsus de Liguori and St. Louis de Montfort on the office of the Virgin Mary in salvation history, “The Admirable Heart of Mary” is a classic not to be missed!
John Eudes, C.J.M. (French: Jean Eudes) was a French missionary and priest, who founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, and was the author of the propers for the Mass and Divine Office of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
Better books out there for someone wanting to take a deep dive into the theology of Mary. Some gems for contemplation came out of this book, but would not recommend for most people because of how specifically it attempted to address heresies at the time, the flowery language, and the circular themes.
This book is an extended meditation on the heart of Mary and goes into exhaustive, sometimes repetitive detail about her many virutes and the role God has given her to be mother of us all.