No devotion can be more acceptable to him because none can better remind us of all he has done and suffered for us. His heart feels as ours do. We are pleased with the gratitude of whoever we serve. Jesus shares this feeling. On the eve of his death, he gave power to his apostles to consecrate bread and wine. He told them twice, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Lk 22:19).
‘Motives drawn from the consideration of Jesus Christ present on our altars.’ We may make reparation for the insults and blasphemies of heretics, and the indifference of Catholics which wound his Sacred Heart.
‘Motives on our part.’ A most efficacious means to 1) nourish the interior life; 2) pay the debt of gratitude which we owe to our Divine Redeemer; 3) preserve and increase our fervor; and 4) obtain for ourselves and for others abundant graces which continuously flow from this Sacred Heart.
What numerous and excellent motives for cultivating this devotion, and promoting it among others!
To renew our fervor, let us recall the words of our Lord to St Margaret Mary Alacoque: ‘Behold this Heart, which has loved men so much, and which is loved by them so little! ... I promise that My Heart shall expand, and shed its love abundantly on all who shall honor it, or cause it to be honored.’ (“Life of St Margaret Mary”)
Ref: cf Practical Meditations by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp316-7
On the nine First Fridays
“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My heart, that its all-powerful love will grant all those who communicate on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my disfavor nor without receiving their sacraments. My Divine heart will be their secure refuge in their last moments.” (“Letter number 86 of St Margaret Mary to Mother Saumaise”)
Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, p20
Devotion to the Sacred Heart: How it began
This devotion flourished only after the first century. From the 2nd to the 6th century, the great fathers of the Church: Irenaeus, Justin, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Tertullian, St Cyril of Jerusalem, Origen -- wrote about Christ and the Church which was born from the wound on his side.
They also interpreted that blood and water from the side of Jesus symbolize the chief sacraments of the Church: Baptism and the Eucharist. This commentary of the Fathers became a major theme in the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
The ‘dark ages’ saw the growth of monasteries where the devotion flowered. The Dominicans and Franciscans gave great impetus to the Devotion. St Francis of Assisi was deeply moved not only by the external sufferings of our Lord, but by the internal sufferings of His Heart.
St Bonaventure clearly expressed this truth throughout his writings especially in ‘Itinerarium Mentis in Deum’ where he explains the perfect union of hearts between the Christian and his God.
The Dominicans united the Heart of Jesus, suffering and wounded with love, with a deep reverence for the Blessed Sacrament. They formed a complete profound spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus centered on the Eucharist.
The Dominicans and Franciscans further strengthened the bond between the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Eucharistic liturgy with Masses of the Passion and Five Wounds which they celebrated in all their churches.
Around this period lived great mystics to whom the Sacred Heart revealed Himself and poured out supernatural graces: St Mechthild of Madeburg, Mechthilde of Hackeborn, Gertrude the Great and St Bridget of Sweden. Also St Catherine of Siena who bore in her body the Wounds of Jesus Christ; and is said to have had the mystical exchange of hearts with Christ.
By the early 17th century, the devotion became widespread in France largely through a lifelong apostolate by St John Eudes to popularize the cult of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He wrote a liturgy to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In his writings a complete spirituality centered around the Sacred Heart of Jesus ‘lovingly and willingly viewed and imitated from the heart of Mary’.
St Francis de Sales emphasized the intrinsic truth that charity is the essence of human perfection; that holiness is both for the consecrated ones and laity. Together with St Frances de Chantal, he founded the religious order, the 'Visitation of the Blessed Virgin' which St Margaret Mary Alacoque joined to become a nun.
It was however, to St Margaret Mary that Jesus specifically entrusted His message. The visions she received did not center upon a personal grace for her own growth in holiness but was directed to the Church.
Ref: A F Makalinao, Op cit, pp28-9
Devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
The heart of the Redeemer enlivens the whole Church and draws men who have opened their hearts ‘to the inscrutable wealth’ of this unique Heart.
I desire in a special way to join spiritually with all ‘who inspire their human hearts from this Divine Heart’. It is a numerous family. This spiritual bond always leads to a great awakening of apostolic zeal. Adorers of the Divine Heart become people with sensitive consciences.
... The Most Sacred heart of Jesus reminds us above all of those moments when this Heart was “pierced by the lance” ... By reciting the litany and venerating the Divine Heart in general, we learn the mystery of the Redemption in all its divine and human profundity.
Ref: cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp449-50
Our Lady -- “O Mother, Mother! With that word of yours, ‘Fiat’ -- ‘Be it done’ -- you have made us brothers of God and heirs to his glory. Blessed are you!" (St Josemaria Escrivá, "The Way", 512)
Dedication of Our Lady du Val, of the Order of Citeaux, seven leagues from Paris, under Louis XIII on the 18th of April, 1616 — Manuscripts of Church. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)
Our Lady of Marienthal (Germany, 13th Century). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Our Lady of the Valley of the Cistercian Order. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
Our Lady, Queen of Apostles. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia, 1991, p630)
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