Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: 10 Things to Know

Messages From the Blessed Mother

Some thirty years ago, my mom handed me a hefty blue book. She said they were messages from the Blessed Mother to an Italian priest named Don Stefano Gobbi. With a raised eyebrow, I took the book in hand and read a random message. "This is true," I thought. "This is absolutely true." It seemed like Mary was speaking directly to me.

The authenticity of these messages shone brighter as I learned that the aforementioned priest, Fr. Gobbi, was a simple man. The Blessed Virgin often chooses childlike souls to convey her messages.

In any case, my interest in these writings faded with time, particularly as one of the messages claimed that the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary would happen by the Jubilee year 2000. That surely didn't happen. As will be explained ahead, this particular message was mistranslated from the Italian—Mary did not say by the year 2000 but by the "Great Jubilee."

First things first, though. What is the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary? What is the Great Jubilee? Why should one live with eager anticipation and not white-knuckle fear?

The conglomeration of messages coming from other Catholic mystics (past and present) is remarkably similar to what the Virgin said to Fr. Gobbi. This article is an attempt to sort through these various messages and help settle several questions. However, let us first place things in an understandable context.

1. What Is the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?

The first explicit mention of this event came from the Virgin Mary herself. She foretold her Triumph to three shepherd children in Fátima, Portugal, on July 13, 1917. The Catholic Church, usually very cautious regarding private revelations, has approved all six of the Fátima apparitions and messages.

What exactly did Mary say? Please note that she conveyed these words several months before the October Revolution in Russia:

If my requests are heeded, Russia will be converted, and there will be peace; if not, she will spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecution of the Church. The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated. In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and she will be converted, and a period of peace will be granted to the world.

The triumph of Mary's Heart, then, involves a victory over the evils afflicting our modern age. But, many questions remain: Will Russia yet cause worldwide trouble? What sufferings may be in store for us? What does she mean by "a period of peace will be granted to the world?" Could these be the end times?

2. Does the Bible Foretell Mary's Triumph?

Have you ever seen a statue or painting of the Virgin Mary stepping on a snake? What's that all about? It is a reference to Genesis 3:15, in which God warns Satan of his ultimate defeat: “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel” (Gen 3:15). While Protestants suggest that the Hebrew text says "he shall crush your head," the Catholic interpretation may be closer to the truth.

In simple terms, one Hebrew translation (the medieval Masoretic text) says "he" and two other ancient manuscripts say "she." St. Jerome (347-420), translator of the Bible into Latin, rendered it as "she." He was not alone in this interpretation; three of the most respected Jewish scholars of all time, Philo Judaeus (c. 20 B.C.-50 A.D.), Josephus (c. 37-100 A.D.), and Moses Maimonides (1138–1204), all insist that it should be interpreted as "she." In other words, a woman will crush Satan's head.

Fast forwarding to the end of the Bible, we find a mysterious confrontation between a woman, 'clothed with the sun,' and a great red dragon in the book of Revelation (Rev 12:1-6, 13-17). The dragon pursues the woman who is to give birth to a child who will rule the nations with a 'rod of iron.' In the end, the woman is victorious and the dragon is cast down to hell.

A 'triumph' suggests a victory over an enemy. These biblical references become more sensible in light of Mary's prediction at Fátima. Furthermore, it is understood that it is the ultimate humiliation for Satan to be defeated by a woman. In his rage, he makes war "on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus." (Rev. 12:17) In the end, the devil is squashed under Mary's heel.

3. Will Mary's Triumph Usher in the Kingdom?

Perhaps by the billions, the following petition wafts to the heavenly throne each day: "Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Yet, how many persons comprehend the full scope of what they are asking for? This petition of the Our Father asks that God's will be perfectly accomplished on earth as it is in heaven.

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What is God's will? Ultimately, it boils down to love—pure, simple, and burning love. In heaven, this love emanates from perfected souls. They love God without restraint and God's love flows into them in varying degrees. The souls in heaven also love each other perfectly. Hence, God's will is perfectly accomplished in heaven. What about Earth? Is God's will being accomplished here in the same manner, despite Christians having begged for it for 2000 years? Well, not quite.

Yet, if God's will were accomplished on Earth as it is heaven, then Earth will be like heaven. In essence, the Triumph of Mary's Heart will establish God's Kingdom on earth, as He intended. Pope Benedict XVI agrees with this interpretation; he says in his book interview, Light of the World, “I said the ‘Triumph’ will draw closer. This is equivalent in meaning to our praying for the coming of God’s Kingdom."

Mary's triumph, then, involves the transformation of hearts, whereby the obstacles to perfect love are removed. "I will give them a new heart and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a natural heart, that they may walk in my statutes." (Ez. 11:19-20) When hearts are capable of perfect love, then the Kingdom will finally have come. The Mother of Jesus (the King) will also give birth to his Kingdom.

4. When Will Mary's Triumph Take Place?

As mentioned previously, some people were disappointed that Mary's Triumph did not take place by the year 2000. Let us first examine the original Italian text of Fr. Gobbi's book. Message 539 has this sentence: Ti confermo che per il grande giubileo del duemila avverrà il trionfo del mio Cuore Immacolato. In English, this may be rendered as: "I confirm to you that the triumph of my Heart will take place for the great jubilee of two thousand."

Mary did not mention "anno," that is, by the year 2000 but by the "grande giubileo," or "great jubilee." What is the Great Jubilee? It is the 2000th anniversary of Christ's death and resurrection. Significantly, close analysis reveals that Jesus was crucified on April 3, in the year 33 A.D. The Great Jubilee of 2000, then, will occur in the year 2033.

Students of the Bible know that numbers matter to God; the number forty is significant (mentioned 146 times in the Bible) and the number 50 is important. In ancient Israel, there was a "jubilee" every fifty years. Slaves were set free and there was a general pardon granted to offenders. What do we get by multiplying 40 x 50? Yes indeed, we have the number 2000. Will the Triumph occur by the year 2033? This is what Mary seems to be suggesting.

Significantly, Jesus explained to the Italian mystic, Luisa Piccaretta, that He purifies the earth every 2000 years:

Every two-thousand years I have renewed the world. In the first two-thousand years I renewed it with the Deluge; in the second two-thousand, I renewed it with my coming upon the earth...now we are around the third two thousand years, and there will be a third renewal. This is the reason for the general confusion; it is nothing other than the preparation of the third renewal. (Book of Heaven, Vol. 12, Jan. 29th, 1919)

In the Genesis account, God created everything in six days. On the seventh day, He "rested." He later gave the command through Moses that humankind should follow the same pattern: six days of work and one day of rest (the Sabbath). According to the Bible timeline, then, we are nearing the end of six thousand years.

St. Irenaeus (140-202 A.D.) along with other Church Fathers, suggests that mankind will participate in a period of universal Sabbath, "The times of the kingdom, that is, the rest, the hallowed seventh day… These are to take place in the times of the kingdom, that is, upon the seventh day… the true Sabbath of the righteous" (Adversus Haereses). Could it be that Mary's triumph will commence the "sabbath rest" for humankind? This would correspond to her promise at Fátima of a time of peace for the world.

5. What Is the Era of Peace?

In the Fátima message, Our Lady said that a "time of peace will be granted to the world." She frequently expands on this subject in her messages to Fr. Gobbi. She refers to it as an "Era of Peace," a "New Era," "a second Pentecost," "a new era of great brotherhood and of peace," "a new, terrestrial paradise," a glorious springtime." Amplifying on this last description, she says:

In this most cruel of winters, it is you who are the buds which are burgeoning forth from my Immaculate Heart, and which I am placing on the branches of the Church, to tell you that her most beautiful springtime is at hand. (Message 172)

The Era of Peace, then, appears to be the coming of the long-awaited Kingdom. Persons will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to love God and each other as He intended. While this sounds too wonderful, what struggles may precede this new era?

6. What Events Will Precede the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart?

The messages to various mystics, including Fr. Gobbi, foretell of terrible birth pangs that will precede the glorious New Era. The powers of hell will rally to make one final assault upon humanity. These trials, known as the 'Tribulation,' include the following:

1) Worldwide communism: Thought to be dead, communism will spread across the globe. "The chastisement of communism will soon come and will deprive everyone of all they possess. Times of great tribulation will unfold." (Message 8)

2) The Reign of the Antichrist: This person, long ago foretold in Scripture, will employ satanic power to lead many astray. In order to buy or sell, persons will be compelled to receive the "mark of the beast." (Rev. 13:16-18) In this regard, Mary says to Fr. Gobbi:

The statue built in honor of the first beast, to be adored by all the inhabitants of the earth and which will seal with its mark all those who want to buy or sell, is that of the Antichrist. You have thus arrived at the peak of the purification, of the great tribulation, and of the apostasy. (Message 407)

3) The Warning: God will illumine the conscience of every person on earth. "What will come to pass is something so very great that it will exceed anything that has taken place since the beginning of the world. It will be like a judgment in miniature, and each one will see his own life and all he has done, in the very light of God." (Message 478)

4) The Great Apostasy: Foretold in Scripture (2 Thes 2:3), this mass rebellion against God will presage the final purification.

5) The Abolition of Mass: The celebration of Holy Mass will be suppressed. "In this abolition of the daily sacrifice consists the horrible sacrilege (Dan 12:11, Mt 24:15) accomplished by the Antichrist, which will last about three and a half years." (message 485) Churches will be boarded up and priests will need to go into hiding.

5) Acts of violence will escalate: World War III will commence; "You are now living in the danger of a new terrible world war which will bring destruction to peoples and nations, a war from which no one will emerge victorious." (message 495)

6) Natural disasters will multiply, including earthquakes, epidemics, floods, drought, and severe famine. (Messages 326, 370, etc.)

7) A bloody persecution of the Church whereby many of the faithful will be martyred. (messages 536, 56, etc.)

8) Extraordinary phenomena in the skies: 'The sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.' (Mt 24, 29) The Sign of the Son of Man [the Cross], will appear in the sky.

9) The Final Chastisement: "There is about to fall upon it [humanity] the greatest chastisement which the history of mankind has ever known. It is a chastisement much greater than that of the flood. Fire will fall from heaven and a great part of humanity will be destroyed." (message 332)

7. End of the World or End of an Era?

We're on the cusp of a New Era, according to various mystics—not at the end of the world. What about the Final Judgment? Again, this appears to be far off in the future. Why? Because the Last Judgment concludes time and human history. If the promised Era of Peace is true, then there must be an intermediate stage before Jesus' Final Coming. This understanding of the "Middle Coming," has many adherents, including Pope Benedict XVI:

Whereas people had previously spoken only of a twofold coming of Christ—once in Bethlehem and again at the end of time—Saint Bernard of Clairvaux spoke of an adventus medius, an intermediate coming, thanks to which he periodically renews His intervention in history. I believe that Bernard’s distinction strikes just the right note. (Light of the World, p.182-183.

In this 'Middle Coming,' Jesus will establish his reign in hearts where He will dwell as He does in the tabernacle. He will make his presence known more tangibly. That's why the New Era is known also as the "Eucharistic Reign of Jesus."

When He has established His eucharistic reign, Jesus will lead you to enjoy this habitual presence of His, which you will sense in a new and extraordinary way, and He will lead you to experience a second, renewed, and more beautiful earthly Paradise. (Message 360)

This spiritual reign of Jesus is not to be confused with the ancient heresy of Millenarianism. This heresy, based on Revelation 20:4-6, thought that Jesus would physically reign on earth for a thousand years. Rather, the glorious reign of Jesus should be understood as a spiritual sovereignty within souls.

8. What Are Ways to Prepare for the Triumph and New Era?

With the warning of sufferings to come, one may be oppressed with anxiety. However, the Virgin does not convey messages to the world to cause undue fear. Rather, as a concerned mother, she implores humanity to store up spiritual provisions ahead of time. She indicates that the pangs preceding the birth of the New Era cannot be exaggerated. Here are four ways to prepare for the Triumph:

1) Return to childhood: "“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) The virtues of childhood—trust, innocence, and love—will keep a person safe when the times become scary. God is always in charge even when it doesn't appear to be so.

2) Consecration to Mary's Heart: By means of consecration, the Virgin is better able to protect the life of the soul. Consecration means the entrustment of one's entire life, past, present, and future, to the Virgin's care. Here is a simple act of consecration.

3) Devotion: The Rosary, Scripture reading, and the Sacraments nourish the soul.

4) Penance: Mary repeatedly asks for penance to help reverse the damage of sin. When Sr. Lucia of Fátima was asked what sort of penances are best, she said to accept the difficulties one may encounter each day and offer them to God as sacrifices.

In the following video, The noted Marioligist, Dr. Mark Miravalle, explains more about the meaning of the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

9. Why Does Mary Request Consecration to Her Immaculate Heart?

The word "consecration" means to make holy or to "set apart." Mary asks that individuals be consecrated to her Heart because she can then exert greater influence upon souls. She is also better able to protect them from the forces of evil. Please note: consecration to Mary always leads to God. In other words, the act of entrustment to Mary is similar to a child raising his arms to his mother. The mother protects the child and carries it to the Father.

10. Why Does Our Lady of Fátima Ask for the Consecration of Russia?

Russia looms on the horizon as a world troublemaker, according to several visionaries. Perhaps this is why the Virgin of Fátima twice requested (in 1917 and 1929) that Russia be consecrated to her Heart by the Pope and the bishops. Unfortunately, it appears that her requests have not been sufficiently fulfilled. Hence, we are warned that Russia will cause much trouble.

For example, Sr. Lucia, one of the seers at Fátima, said "Russia will be the instrument of chastisement chosen by Heaven to punish the whole world if we do not beforehand obtain the conversion of that poor nation."

Our Lady said to Blessed Elena Aiello in 1960,

If we do not pray, Russia will march upon all of Europe, and particularly upon Italy, bringing much more ruin and havoc...Another terrible war will come from the East to the West. Russia with her secret armies will battle America, will overrun Europe.

From the apparitions at Garabandal, Spain (1961-1965), there is frequent mention that communism, led by Russia, will try to dominate the world. For instance, in a 1965 interview, Conchita Gonzalez, one of the seers at Garabandal was asked about the timing of events, such as the Warning. She said, “When communism comes again, everything will happen.” The interviewer asked if communism will go away before that. Conchita responded, “I don't know—the Blessed Virgin simply said 'when communism comes again'.”

Mari Loli, another of the Garabandal seers said, "Russia will unexpectedly and suddenly overrun and overwhelm a great part of the free world."

Finally, Our Lady explained to Fr. Gobbi, that communism is the Red Dragon of Rev 12: "The huge Red Dragon is atheistic communism." (Message 404) "The chastisement of communism will soon come and will deprive everyone of all they possess. Times of great tribulation will unfold. (Message 8)

L.O.V.E. Is the Final Word

While the storm preceding the Triumph appears menacing indeed, the anticipation of a new dawn should beget hope. This latter view held sway for my mother (+2019), who composed an acronym, L.O.V.E., toward this end.

"Lady of Victory, Enter" was a type of prayer and watchword for my mom. She believed in the eventual Triumph of the Immaculate Heart. She likewise understood that evil does not have the last word. God has entrusted the victory over the Red Dragon to the Virgin Mary, the 'Woman clothed with the sun.' If dark days are ahead, then great trust is needed—the trust that understands that after winter comes spring—after night comes the dawn. In the end, Love has the final word.

References

To The Priests, Our Lady's Beloved Sons, 17th Edition, published by The Marian Movement of Priests, 1996

Ai Sacerdoti Figli Prediletti

An article that examines the precise date of Christ's crucifixion

An article concerning the prophecies from Garabandal

An article regarding the writings of Luisa Piccarreta

The Incredible Life Story of Sister Elena Aiello, by Rt. Rev. Francesco Spadafora, published by Kalpaz Publications 2017

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2023 Bede