June 13th, 11:08 PM

Fr. Ryan’s Homily on Day 3 of the Pilgrimage.

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It is a providential gift that on this third day of our pilgrimage we find ourselves here at Mont Saint-Michel, celebrating Mass in St. Pierre Church, the parish church that has served the people of this remarkable island for centuries.

When we arrived at Mont Saint-Michel, we were greeted by a sight unlike any other in the world. Rising from the sea, crowned by the great abbey dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel, this rocky island has drawn pilgrims for more than a thousand years. Through changing tides, wars, revolutions, and the passage of centuries, it has remained a beacon of faith pointing heavenward.

As pilgrims, we made our way here much like countless pilgrims before us. We crossed the bay, climbed the narrow streets, and ascended toward this sacred place. The entire experience is symbolic of the Christian life. We are all on a journey. We are all seeking God. We are all climbing toward heaven.

That journey is at the heart of today’s Gospel.

Mary and Joseph themselves were pilgrims. Saint Luke tells us that they traveled to Jerusalem each year for the feast of Passover. On one of those pilgrimages, they lost Jesus. For three days they searched anxiously until they found Him in the Temple.

Mary’s words are filled with the concern of a loving mother: “Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

Yet what makes Mary extraordinary is what happens next. Saint Luke tells us, “His mother kept all these things in her heart.”

Those words reveal the meaning of today’s feast. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a heart that listens, trusts, and reflects upon the mysteries of God even when they are not fully understood.

As we stand here at Mont Saint-Michel, we can see a beautiful image of Mary’s heart. The abbey above us was built stone by stone over centuries. It was not completed in a day. In the same way, faith is built within us little by little. Mary’s heart became the dwelling place of God because she continually said “yes” to Him, one day at a time, one mystery at a time.

There is another lesson here as well. The tides surrounding Mont Saint-Michel are among the most dramatic in Europe. The waters come in and go out, changing the landscape throughout the day. Life can often feel the same way. Circumstances change. Joys and sorrows come and go. Successes and disappointments rise and fall like the tide.

Yet through all those changes, Mont Saint-Michel remains firmly anchored on the rock.

That is precisely how Mary lived her life. At Bethlehem and at Calvary, in moments of joy and moments of sorrow, she remained firmly rooted in God. Her heart was anchored in trust.

Our pilgrimage has already brought us through Lisieux, where we encountered the simple faith of Saint Thérèse and her holy family. Today, here at Mont Saint-Michel, we encounter another lesson: faith is a journey upward, but it is also a life anchored in God.

The pilgrims who came here throughout the Middle Ages often faced danger, exhaustion, and uncertainty. Yet they came because they believed that drawing closer to God was worth the effort. We too have left our homes and routines behind for a few days because we desire that same encounter with the Lord.

On this feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, let us ask Our Lady to give us hearts like hers—hearts that remain steady amid life’s changing tides, hearts that seek Jesus when He seems distant, hearts that treasure God’s presence, and hearts that never stop making the pilgrimage toward heaven.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary, who always points us to her Son, guide us safely on our journey until we reach our true destination: the heavenly Jerusalem.