# Day 18 – The Immaculate Heart of Mary and Mother Teresa’s Consecration
*2018-03-26*

> Bill reflects on a volunteer experience, leads the Day 18 prayer of the 33‑day Marian retreat, and explores Mother Teresa’s devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

## A Day of Service

I’m grateful to share that yesterday I volunteered with AARP’s meal‑packing program for seniors. Together with about 6,000 volunteers we packed roughly 1,030,000 meals. My task was the simple but essential job of moving the packed bags to the loading area. Even the most menial work can be a way to serve the Lord, and I felt blessed to be part of it.

## Opening Prayer for the Immaculate Heart

Let us pray:

Holy Virgin, look upon the many dangers we face. Sustain us so that we may remain steadfast and secure. Protect all Christians, grant us peace, and keep the evil times from perturbing us. Amen.

## The 33‑Day Marian Retreat

We are using the free booklet “33 Days of Morning Glory,” prepared by Fr. Michael Gaetley, as a do‑your‑self retreat for a Marian consecration. You can obtain a copy by contacting the parish office. The retreat runs through June, giving us ample time to complete the daily reflections.

## The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mary’s role is to bring us face to face with the love of the crucified Christ. Often our hearts are hardened by sin, leaving us indifferent to the Passion. The Immaculate Heart—pure and without stain—offers us the compassion we lack. When we consecrate ourselves to Mary, we give our merits to her, and she returns her merits to us, a beautiful exchange of grace.

## Mother Teresa’s Emphasis on the Heart

Mother Teresa highlighted an exchange of hearts in her Marian consecration. She prayed, “Let me your heart, and keep me in your most pure heart.” The first petition asks Mary to fill us with the love of her immaculate heart so that we may love Jesus perfectly. The second petition seeks to be kept within Mary’s pure heart, allowing us to please Jesus through and with Mary. This is not a literal transfer of a physical organ but a spiritual sharing of the inner life where the Holy Spirit dwells.

## Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, living in Mary, keep me in the most pure and immaculate heart. Amen.

*By entrusting our hearts to Mary, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s love and become more fully united with Christ.*