Mary’s Heart in the First Millennium

Os Padres da Igreja e os escritores eclesiásticos do primeiro milênio

Se, em certo sentido, a devoção ao Imaculado Coração de Maria pode ser considerada bastante recente, por outro lado, tem raízes profundas na Idade Média e nos Padres da Igreja, especialmente os latinos. O platonismo levou alguns Padres, como Orígenes e seu discípulo Gregório de Nissa, a identificar o coração com a inteligência. Os padres latinos movem-se principalmente nessa linha. Mas Agostinho, ao lado da interpretação do termo bíblico coração como pensamento, situa nele a totalidade do homem, ou melhor, a intimidade mais profunda, o centro originário e fundamental do ser humano.

The Fathers, both Greek and Latin, returned to and developed at length, through profound reflection, the Lucan texts mentioned above. Among the Greek Fathers, we remember a text attributed to Gregory which states that Mary (Homilia 2, PG 10, 1169-1170):

> «[She] kept all these words, meditating them in her heart. As if she were the vessel and receptacle of all mysteries.»

We can also cite Simeon Metafraste, at the end of the first millennium, who testifies to a long Eastern tradition that sees Mary’s heart as the place where Jesus’ passion is somehow reproduced: «While her side was being torn apart, at the same time my heart was also pierced!»…

Among the Latin Fathers, Ambrose often invites us to imitate Mary’s heart: «She was virgin and humble of heart, and what Mary did, do you also in your heart.»

St. Augustine, commenting on Luke 8:19-21, says:

> «And they came to him, his mother and his brothers, and they could not come near him because of the crowd. And it was said to him: Behold, thy mother and thy brethren are standing outside, desiring to see thee. But answering he said to them: My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.»

He affirms that: «If Mary was blessed for conceiving Christ’s body, she was even more blessed for accepting faith in Christ.»

Further on, referring to Luke 11:27-28:

> «While Jesus was saying these things, a woman from the crowd exclaimed: Blessed is the woman who gave birth to you and nursed you. He answered: Before all, blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.»

He adds: (De sancta virginitate 3, PL 40.398): «The divine motherhood would have had no value for Mary if she had not carried Christ in her heart when she generated him in the flesh.»

The theme of Augustine’s conception of Christ by the heart and faith (corde, fide) is later taken up and illustrated by medieval authors, among whom stand out Rupert of Deutz (1075-1129), Hugo of St. Victor (1096-1141), and St. Bonaventure (1217-1247). The latter states: …

> **Commentary on the Gospel of Saint Luke** (1:67):
>
>”From that time [Mary] conceived the word of faith in her heart, and she conceived the Son of God in her womb.”

> **When we proclaim Mary blessed, we must understand that life on earth is an ascent to the bliss of the heavenly kingdom. All men yearn for happiness, and God promises eternal joy to all.** The Beatitudes proclaimed by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount announced happiness especially for the poor, the afflicted, and the persecuted.

> **Matthew 11:29** reveals: “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” To the early Christian communities, the Beatitudes signified recognition of the Messiah, who came to inaugurate a time of joy for believers and manifest in his human heart the tenderness of God’s heart. As Origen put it: “Jesus… confirms all the blessings he announced in the Gospel with his example… He says, ‘Blessed are the meek,’ and adds something personal: ‘Learn from me that I am meek.'”

> **Ephesians 2:14-16** proclaims: “Blessed are those whose lives are rooted and established in Christ. For it is through him that we are reconciled to God.” Who could be more peaceful than our Lord Jesus, who is our peace, having put an end to hatred and destroyed it in his flesh?

> **Commentary on Luke 38:** “Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake. No one suffered persecution for justice like the Lord Jesus.”

> The true alliance is sealed with Jesus in the hearts of believers:

> **Hail, source of immortal streams,**
> **Hail, lampstand ever burning bright,**
> **Hail, incorruptible root of unspeakable delight,**
> **Hail, unfailing gate of light that never ends,**
> **Hail, soil that nurtures the hearts of believers,**
> **Hail, even when we sink in a sea of enemies,**
> **Hail, you make the world happy with your birth,**
> **Hail, you exalt the heavens with your sleep,**
> **Hail, you illuminate the multitude of believers,**
> **Hail, you scatter the multitudes of enemies,**
> **Hail, for you transformed the earth into heaven,**
> **Hail, for you saved nature,**
> **Ave, Virgin and Spouse.**

> To deepen devotion to the Heart of Mary in the tradition of the Church, consult the Apostolic Exhortation *Marialis Cultus* by Pope Paul VI.

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