9 June 2010: ‘Novena or practical devotion’

The Sacred Heart of Jesus -- ‘Novena or practical devotion’

The better we prepare ourselves for great feasts, the more graces we may expect to receive; for God demands our cooperation. Also, preparation strengthens our faith and confidence, the first conditions our Lord requires for any miracle.

To ensure its success, determine now what we will do each day; what prayers we will use, what visits to the Blessed Sacrament, what mortifications.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p317

Three Great Visions of St Margaret Mary

She had many encounters with the Sacred Heart. However, three visions were outstanding which gave her the form Jesus wanted for devotion to His Heart.

1. 27 December 1674 -- On this day, the feast of St John, Jesus chose Margaret Mary to be his special instrument in promoting the devotion to his Sacred Heart.

Jesus appeared to her and permitted her to lean on his breast and said, ‘My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race that it no longer can keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you and reveal my heart to the world, so as to enrich humankind with my precious treasures ... You are the one chosen for this great scheme: you’re so utterly unworthy and ignorant, it will be all my work.’

2. Sometime in 1674, according to St Margaret Mary, she was adoring Jesus before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. Jesus appeared to her ‘... in a flame of glory: his five wounds burning like suns, flames issuing from all parts of his human form, especially from his divine breast which was like a furnace and which he opened to disclose his utterly affectionate and lovable heart, the living source of all these flames ... He revealed to me the indescribable wonders of his pure heart for humankind ... But his eager love had been met only with coldness and rebuffs.’

Jesus asked her, ‘Do me the kindness -- at least of making up for all their ingratitude ... First of all, you are to receive me in the Holy Eucharist as often as obedience allows. Accept all mortification or humiliation that may result as a token of my love. Besides this, you are to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month.

'Then, every Thursday night, you are to get up between eleven o’clock and midnight for an hour-- lying face downwards -- not only to allay God’s anger by asking mercy for sinners but also to soothe in some way the heartache I felt when my apostles deserted me, when I had to reproach them for being unable to watch with me even for an hour.’

3. 16 June 1675, during the octave of ‘Corpus Christi’, Jesus appeared to her and said, ‘I am asking you to have the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi set apart as a special feast in honor of my Heart -- a day in which to receive me in Holy Communion and make a solemn act of reparation for the indignities I have received while exposed on the altars of the world.’

Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, pp23-5

Imagination

The imagination is a mad woman, St Teresa called her, with her usual good humor. And yet how often we choose her, more or less consciously, as adviser in the most delicate problems of our soul!

If you fail to control and guide her, you will never be a supernatural and interior soul. You will never enjoy the serene calm which is so necessary for loving God. It twists our mind, misrepresents situations, and distorts our view of other people. Calm, realism, serenity, objectivity are virtues which are born where the tyranny of the imagination is buried.

Moreover, imagination is the greatest ally of sensuality and self-love. Your life of piety: prayer, presence of God, abandonment into the hands of our Lord, and supernatural joy are threatened by the house madwoman.

Ref: cf Salvatore Canals, “Jesus as friend”, 1981, pp73-6

The imagination in our prayer

Mortification of the imagination brings countless benefits for the soul. First, it purifies the soul and disposes it towards living presence of God better; causes us to make good use of time dedicated to prayer by avoiding distractions.

The imagination often inhibits dialogue with Our Lord when we should be more attentive -- eg, in Holy Mass and Communion. Mortification of the imagination permits us to make better use of our time at work, to do it conscientiously and sanctify it. In the area of charity it facilitates our attention to others instead of being engrossed in ourselves.

“My advice is that, in your prayer, you actually take part in the different scenes of the Gospel, as one more among the people present. ... imagine the scene or mystery you have chosen to help you meditate.

“Next apply your mind, concentrating on the particular aspect of the Master’s life you are considering: his merciful Heart, humility, purity; the way he fulfills his Father’s Will. Tell him what happens to you in these matters, how things are, what is going on in your soul.

“Be attentive, he may want to point something out to you, and you will experience suggestions deep in your soul, realizing certain things and feeling his gentle reprimands.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 252-3)

It is of great help particularly when contemplating the Passion of Our Lord and the mysteries of the Rosary. We shall imitate Our Lady, who kept all the events of Our Lord and “pondered them in her heart”. (Lk 2:19)

Ref: cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:347-8

St Ephrem, deacon and Doctor of the Church: An orator and holy monk, he had a great devotion to Our Lady. (Fr James Socias, et al [Eds], Daily Roman Missal, 1989, p1544)

Our Lady of Ligny, near Bar le Duc in Lorraine. This image is very famous for the frequent miracles wrought there. — Triple Couronne, n. 57. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Our Lady of Ligny (Loraine, France) and Our Lady, Mother of Grace. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p630); (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)

Our Lady of Ligny. Near Bac-le-Duc, Lorraine, France. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Our Lady of Ligny, Loraine, France. (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)
Mother of Grace. [Celebrated May 8 by Augustinians.] (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)

Our Lady, Virgin Mother of Grace. (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

Our Lady of Mentorello, Italy. (“Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic Encyclopedia”, 1991, p630); (http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

‘Madonna della Mentorello’. Italy. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)