Jesus received his human nature from one whose heart was filled with zeal for God, united in life and death to the God of her fathers through complete trust in the goodness of His purpose and His plan. "Behold the Handmaid of the Lord," these word spoken by the Virgin at the annunciation proclaim to God and man her acceptance of the work given to her, and to each of us, namely, the work of faith; her people had been chosen to produce persons of faith through whom God's work could be accomplished and His great love revealed. Chosen to be the Theotokos, the God-bearer, she did not yet know the wonders that her faith would produce, but she placed the mysteries both of Bethleham and Calvary into the hands of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and, in complete trust, she placed herself at His service.

In the images of the Immaculate Heart we are given a symbol by which to approach the heart of the Mother of God; it is open to all.