Solemnity Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

[cappie]

 For several centuries we have celebrated the love of Jesus for mankind on this day, the second Friday after Pentecost.  Pope John Paul II has added another similar feast day in our modern times when the second Sunday of Easter is now also celebrated as the “Day of Mercy.”  

The feast of the Sacred Heart recalls the miraculous revelation of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a nun of the cloistered Visitation sisters in France.  Her spiritual director was St. Claude la Columbiere, a Jesuit, who helped spread her message of the revelation of God’s love as experienced in a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In her lifetime she saw the response of the faithful to her message revealed by the Sacred Heart.  The most obvious is the reception of the Eucharist for nine consecutive Fridays.  This occurred in an age when it was common practice to receive communion only a couple of times each year.

The revelation continues: “From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly.  The first is the stream of mercy for sinners.”  [From the second reading of the feast of St. Margaret Mary.]  … The second is the stream of charity …and from the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection.”

 

 

Jesus on the cross is a powerful image of this unconditional love of God for us. The image of the Sacred Heart also captures it all wonderfully. Here we see Jesus saying, "See my heart. It is on fire with love for you and for the whole world. My heart bears the wounds of my becoming completely one with you."

 

Jesus shows us his love - in these images of the Sacred Heard - but he shows us his love most clearly in the Gospels, in the Eucharist, and in the community of those on fire with his Spirit. The Gospels show us his tender compassion and mercy, his fearless confrontation of false piety and hypocritical judmentalism, and his joy at being with the poor and marginal. In the Eucharist, we are gathered to celebrate his self-sacrificing love - broken and poured out for us, and we are missioned to share it with the whole world. And, it is his community, enkindled with the fire of his love that we experience and participate in the Holy Spirit's presence among us to make us those whose love renews the face of the earth.

 

Jesus asks us to show the world our hearts. We start by showing our hearts on fire for our family and friends and those who most need our love. We read the news and act with responsible citizenship with hearts transformed by our Lord's love for us. It's a daily offering. It's all about love. When I was a young boy, I used to watch my dad shave in the morning. On the mirror in the bathroom, was "The Morning Offering" prayer, which he said as he began to shave. It still works pretty well today. 

 

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all our associates,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.

 

 

[cappie]

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.

Amen.

. -- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

from the book
Devotion To The Sacred Heart
by Fr. John Croiset, S.J.

 

 

 

[MarysLittleFlower]

it's such a beautiful devotion :) the book by St Margaret Mary's spiritual director is a great description of it.

Edited June 9, 2013 by MarysLittleFlower

[inunionwithrome]

I was going to say that each year, we should do an Act of Consecration to both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. There are many good resources out there. Each one is different to the individual however. So, use the one that applies to you! :)