“...Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
‘Behold, this Child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
and you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’”
(Luke 2:34-35)

Excerpt from Healing Power of Compassion Talk given by our Mother Foundress


“Behold, your Mother.” (Jn 19:27)

Our Lady teaches us a deeper level of intercession – deep-heart intercession. Everything Our Lady teaches us, as you know, has to do with the heart. She’s all heart; She’s a contemplative. She carries God, the Trinity, and all of us within Her Heart. So at the foot of the Cross, Her Heart was pierced, and the Heart of Jesus was pierced on the Cross also. Now this was the fulfillment for Mary of Simeon’s prophecy. Remember when She was just a young mother and was offering Jesus in the Temple? It was there when that tremendous prophetic word came to Her from Simeon, “Your own Heart a sword shall pierce so that the thoughts of other hearts may be revealed” (Lk 2:35). 

We don’t know how much Mary understood of that prophetic word, but She certainly understood it by the time She was standing at the foot of the Cross because now was the fulfillment of that prophetic word. Her Heart was definitely being pierced. 

When our hearts are pierced, pierced with love (and maybe it’s only those we love that can pierce our heart at this level), then we know our intercession has power. It’s purchasing tremendous graces. The Lord has shown us that when His Heart was pierced, Blood and Water came forth. This is the Life that is behind the whole Sacramental system of the Church. This is God’s Life.

“And you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Lk 2:35)