LiturgyTools.net: Hymns suggestions for the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

A selection of free-to-use (ie public domain or copyright-free) hymns and songs, based on themes from the Roman Catholic lectionary for the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"Free-to-use" means the words can be copied and sung to at least one tune with no concerns about copyright or performance licensing. Many such hymns are old/traditional - but where possible a variety of styles / genres are included.

Seasonal Note

Devotion to the Heart of Mary grew in parallel, but with less enthusiasm, than devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, In 1836 a society was established in Paris dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and this was encouraged by the apparitions at Fatima in Portugal in 1917.

The main difference between it and the devotion to the Heart of Jesus is that the latter emphasizes the Sacred Heart as being full of love for mankind,

Devotion to Mary’s heart focuses on the love that she has for Jesus, and through him, for the Father. The love of her heart is as a paradigm for the way we should love God - not an end in itself. She leads us closer to God, she is not an object of devotion herself. Her being immaculate (sinless) means that she is able to love God the way God should be adored. The aim of the devotion is to unite humankind to God through Mary’s heart.

Current practise in the Roman Catholic church is to celebrate the day on the Saturday immediately after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Suggestions about hymns that could be included are welcome: leave a messages in the Comments box near the bottom of the page.

Readings

First: Isaiah 61 - Their descendants shall be known among the nations ... all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed... my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation ... as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. .... the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Gospel: Luke 2:41-51 - Jesus is found in the Temple, working on his Father’s business. ... and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? ...” "...Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” .... His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Themes

Mary, the favored handmaid of the Lord is clothed me with the garments of salvation and covered me with the robe of righteousness: Her purity of heart and personal integrity. Closeness to God, through Jesus. Love. Unity.