# The hearts of Jesus and Mary
*2022-09-26*

> Bill Young leads a prayer session focusing on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, followed by the eighth day of the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe.

## Greeting the Holy Hearts

We begin today with the prayer to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary by Saint John Eudes. Hearts most holy, most sweet, most humble, and most pure, we greet you. You are hearts given without reserve; hearts of wisdom, patience, obedience, diligence, and faithfulness. We greet your joyful hearts, full of mercy.

Most beloved hearts of Jesus and of Mary, we greet you, adore you, praise you, and glorify you. We give you thanks and love you with all our hearts, all our souls, and all our strength. We offer our hearts to you, consecrating them as a sacrifice. Receive them, possess them completely, purify them, align them, and sanctify them, so that in them you may live and reign forever. Amen.

## Novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe

Continuing with Day 8 of the novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe, we reflect on the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, 'Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends.' Through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose life illustrated such a love, we beseech the Lord to grant our petitions, specifically praying for the health of John and Roseanne.

Through the Knights of the Immaculata movement, which Maximilian founded, he spread fervent devotion to Our Lady throughout the world. By giving up his life for a total stranger and loving his persecutors, he gave us an example of unselfish love for all men—a love inspired by a true devotion to Mary.

## A Call to Selfless Service

We ask our Lord Jesus that we, too, may give ourselves entirely and without reserve to the love and service of our Heavenly Queen, in order to better love and serve our neighbor, imitating the example of His humble servant, Maximilian. Amen.

## Closing Prayers

We conclude our time together with the Hail Mary and the Glory Be, entrusting our intentions to the intercession of the Blessed Mother and glorifying the Holy Trinity.

*True unselfish love for our neighbor is inspired and strengthened by a deep devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.*