19th century painting of Our Lady. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

***This post was originally published in 2010. It has been updated to include additional information.***

Traditionally, August is the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s desire to lead people to Christ.

During the month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it would be particularly appropriate to pray a Novena to her:

Immaculate Heart of Mary, full of love for God and mankind, and of compassion for sinners, I consecrate myself entirely to you. I entrust to you the salvation of my soul. May my heart be ever united with yours, so that I may hate sin, love God and my neighbor, and reach eternal life together with those whom I love.

Mediatrix of All Graces and Mother of Mercy, remember the infinite treasure which your Divine Son has merited by His suffering and which he has confided to you for us, your children. Filled with confidence in your motherly heart, and for the sake of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, obtain for me the favor I ask: [Mention your request here].

Dearest Mother, if what I ask for should not be according to God’s will, pray that I may receive that which will be of greater benefit to my soul. May I experience the kindness of your intercession with Jesus during life and at the hour of my death? Amen.

I would also consider consecration to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary as put forth in St. Louis deMontfort’s book, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you haven’t yet started (there is a 33-day preparation to doing so), you can start on the 6th or 13th and make your consecration on either the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Lady (September 8) or the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), respectively.