This was the first book written on the devotion to the Sacred Hearts. As such, it is a basic work in modern spirituality, one of the great devotional treatises which have shaped the history of Catholic prayer life. The characteristic gifts of the devout writer, his elevation of thought and directness of expression, are admirably exemplified in the beloved pages of his Marian masterpiece. The translators are to be warmly thanked for the fidelity and felicity of their English version; it keeps remarkably the spirit and the simplicity of Saint John s original work.
John Eudes, C.J.M. (French: Jean Eudes) was a French missionary and priest, who founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, and was the author of the propers for the Mass and Divine Office of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He has been declared a saint by the Catholic Church.
Better books out there for someone wanting to take a deep dive into the theology of Mary. Some gems for contemplation came out of this book, but would not recommend for most people because of how specifically it attempted to address heresies at the time, the flowery language, and the circular themes.
This is a slightly abridged version from the French original; but as far as I've been able to find it's still the only edition available in English. (Originaly translated in 1947.) It would be great if someone translated the full French text; but even without the missing parts, this was still a lovely book on Mary.
This book is an extended meditation on the heart of Mary and goes into exhaustive, sometimes repetitive detail about her many virutes and the role God has given her to be mother of us all.