1 April 2011: The Two Hearts

‘Devotion for First Friday to First Saturday’

Alliance of the Two Hearts and Communion of Reparation

The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary beat as one in perfect harmony with the Will of the Father. The devotion that has developed from these Two Hearts -- the Communion of Reparation, is very close to the heart of Pope John Paul II. ((Pope John Paul II, “Message”, 22 Sept 1986)

The revelations about the Two Hearts “are not public revelations or part of the apostolic deposit of faith to which we are committed as dogmas for the sake of salvation.
‘... still the devotions inspired by these private revelations draw upon the great mystery of the Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Redemption which are at the very center of our Christian faith’ and which we hold in common with the first disciples of Jesus Christ and with Mary herself. They are at the very heart of the hierarchy of truths in Catholic teaching which Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism mentions.” (“Decree on Ecumenism” no. 11)

The opening of the heart of Christ by the lance is the fulfillment of the prophet Zechariah’s prophecy: “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” (Jn 19:37; Zech 12:10) “We are sinners and thus we pierce the Heart of Jesus. We must go back to that Heart, with sorrow for our sins.” (“1988 Fatima Consensus Document”, 22)

Since Mary intimately shared in the passion and sufferings of her Son due to our sins, our reparation must reach out to her; for her heart is intimately linked with the Heart of Christ Himself. The first act of reparation is our own conversion.

It extends to our neighbors through the means requested by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary every first Friday and first Saturday of the month: the Holy Rosary, Holy Communion, Confession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Love as the essential motivation makes daily living of the spirit of reparation our main preoccupation.

Ref: “Alliance of the Two Hearts”, 1996, pp349-50

The Covenant of the Two Hearts

Let us unite our hearts together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Heart of St Joseph, Protector of the Holy Family and the Universal Church, as we pray:

“Mary, the dawn, Christ the perfect day. / Mary the gate, Christ the heavenly way.
“Mary the rose, Christ the mystic vine. / Mary the grape, Christ the sacred wine.
“Mary the wheat, Christ the living bread. / Mary the stem, Christ the rose-blood red.
“Mary the font, Christ the cleansing flood. / Mary the cup, Christ the saving blood.
“Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord. / Mary the shrine, Christ the God adored.
“Mary the beacon, Christ the haven’s rest. / Mary the mirror, Christ the vision blest.
“Mary the mother, Christ mother’s Son. / By all things blessed, while endless ages run.
“Amen.” (“Morning Prayer”, Liturgy of the hours in the Common of the Blessed Virgin)

In the first joyful mystery (the Anunciation) according to St Luke’s infancy narrative, the intimacy of the Two Hearts from the very first instant of the Incarnation and our Redemption is made abundantly clear to us.

Mary, on proclaiming, ‘Behold the servant of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your Word’, the total surrender of her Immaculate Heart to the Father’s Will, the Holy Spirit overshadowed her and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us for the very first time.

The Word Incarnate upon entering the world offered his very first words to the Father: “Behold, I come to do Your Will. Sacrifices and oblations, thou wouldst not, but thou has fashioned a body for me.” (Heb 10:5-8)

The ‘fiat’ of the virginally conceived Christ in Mary’s womb preceded her ‘fiat’ in the eternal vision and decree since His perfect obedience as Redeemer, including His mother’s Immaculate Conception, “is the cause of her ‘fiat’ as the first fruits of His redeeming love”.

These two objectives of the devotion: the return of love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Communion of Reparation, lead to the other two objectives of practising the devotion-- to adoration of the Eucharist (Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament, praying the Holy Hours, visits before the Tabernacle, etc) and to complete confidence in the merciful love of our Saviour.

Ref: Fr Frederick Jelly, OP, in “Alliance of the Two Hearts”, pp275-8

“Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary”

“Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary, I consecrate my entire self to the Most Holy Love of Your Two Hearts. I wish to make reparation for all the sins of the world including my own. I offer these things to the love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

“I will keep my mind on beauty and turn my thoughts from evil things. I will hold my temper and bear the mistakes of others with love and a forgiving heart. I will admit when I am wrong and ask others to forgive me. I will not show off but remain humble.

“I will offer up all my sufferings, sickness and hurts. I will seek God’s will not my own. I will show appreciation for all the kindness, the blessings that I receive, and thank God for all things. I will do everything in my life for love of God.

“O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary receive the offering and consecration I now make of my self to You. Keep me faithful unto death. Bring me one day to the happy home in heaven. I desire to live forever with God the Father and the Most Holy Spirit and You my Jesus together with your Most Immaculate Mother. Amen.”

The greatest promise of Mary

“The gates of hell will be closed on the First Saturdays of each month. Nobody will go to hell on those days. However, the gates of Purgatory will be open. So many souls will be able to reach heaven. It is the result of the merciful Love of My Son -- It is the reward of these souls who venerate My Immaculate Heart.”

Ref: “Imprimatur:” Local bishop of Hungary. Taken from the “Revue de Coeur Immacule Reine de la Paix”, Vol. I, No. 4

• Octave of the Annunciation of Our Lady (in the Carmelite order). — Balingham on Calend. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com); maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html
• Octave of the Annunciation. List of groups which celebrate this octave. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm
• Polish king Jan Casimir proclaims Mary the Patroness and Queen of Poland. 1656. The proclamation is in recognition of the defeat of the Swedish siege of Jasna Góra; the Polish victory at the "fortress of Mary" was attributed to her miraculous intercession. (For more, see Mark Wegierski, "Letter from Poland," Chronicles, December 2005.) Treated at length in “The Deluge”, by the Nobel Prize-winning Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz. “Appello di Giovanni Paolo II alla Madonna di Jasna Gora, June 19, 1983.” On April 1, 2005, a letter from Pope John Paul II was delivered to the Jasna Góra prior; the Pope also sent new "crowns" for the icon. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Tears. Syracuse, Italy. Statue which wept August 29 to September 1, 1953. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Tears, Sicily (1953). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)