17 June 2012: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

‘The Object of our devotion’ The ‘material’ or ‘sensible’ object is the Heart of the Incarnate Word, inseparably united to his humanity and his divinity, and as much an object of worship as Jesus Christ himself, with whom it is identified. The ‘spiritual’ or ‘abstract’ object is the love of Jesus Christ, of which his Heart is the symbol. In however we consider the ‘object’ of this devotion, it is most worthy of our adoration. It is the Heart of a God who loves us tenderly, Jesus Christ himself, represented by the most noble organ of his humanity, the most beautiful attribute of his divinity: his love. We think ourselves happy if we possess, or even if we only press with our lips -- a relic of the true cross, one of the nails, one of the thorns which pierced the hands and head of Jesus. But what are these compared with the Heart of Jesus? May our devotion be worthy of its great and most sacred object. May it increase a thousandfold our love and devotion to the Sacred Heart! Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp315-6 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 Humility of the Heart of Jesus ‘Humility of heart or of will’, as distinct from ‘humility of mind’ or of ‘intellect’, is a virtue. A habitual disposition and state of the will by which a man forgets himself, and seeks only the glory of God in all things. Dead to himself, the humble man lives only for God, the sole object of his thoughts and intentions. The only motive and end of all he does, desires, fears, or hopes, because to God alone all glory and honor are due. Such was our Lord during the whole of his mortal life: “I seek not my own glory.” (Jn 8:50) Witness also the whole course of his life which St Paul sums up briefly in the words: “He humbled himself.” (Philippians 2:8) Do we find a like humility in ourselves? Do we seek always the glory of God alone, or have we not in the secret depth of our hearts some self-love, or desire for the esteem of men, even in our holiest actions? Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp322-3 Humility “Truth, St Thomas says, lies in the understanding in so far as it is in agreement with the known object; and one could add that, if a man is not humble, he will find it difficult to know and accept the truth just as it is, in all its scope and with all it entails.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, 24 October 1965) The virtue of humility resents its name and all that it implies. In other words, no other virtue is less valued and so little and so badly known; no other Christian virtue is so ignored and so deformed. The virtue of humility is a humiliated virtue. I cannot work out whether more harm is done it by people just forgetting about it and jeering at it or by the inaccurate and embarassing way some people present it. It is very, very necessary for us Christians to get to know this virtue better and have a real grasp of its importance; to strive to acquire and practice it correctly. In this way we can show forth its true features to the eyes of the world suffering from vanity and pride. We ought to feel that Jesus Christ is inviting us to this effective and forgotten apostolate of good example when he says: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart.” (Mt 11:29) That’s how our Lord wants us to be; to have that humility which is born in our heart and makes our actions fruitful. For the other humility, born and dies on our lips, is false: a caricature. Words, actions, manners, cannot in themselves create a virtue; but they can deform one. Our mind can open up for us the road of the heart and help us place there, to good effect, the seed of true humility which, with time and God’s grace, will put down deep roots and yield sweet fruits. True humility begins at that bright point where the mind discovers and admits, sufficiently clearly for the heart to be able to love it, the simple, deep, basic truth that “without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). We ought to learn to break, with our proud hands, the white bread of evangelical truth and spread it out before our clouded eyes, which give so much importance to our ego and our qualities. Look: all our efforts to be better and grow in love for Jesus and in the practice of the evangelical virtues will be in vain if his grace doesn’t help us: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” (Ps 127:1) No amount of vigilance, no matter how attentive and constant, will be of any use without the strong and loving protection of his grace: “Unless the Lord guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain.” (Ps 127:1) A sincere and prudently humble heart will never be upset by anything. The humble soul puts self-esteem and others’ regard into God’s hands. And he knows there they will be safe. Let Mary’s humility be our consolation and our model. Ref: Cf Salvatore Canals, “Jesus as friend”, 1981, pp37-9 • Our Lady of the Forest, near “Boulogne-sur-Mer”. This little chapel is very celebrated in that country. — Triple Couronne, n. 53. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Our Lady of the Forest. “Boulogne-sur-Mer”, France. Shrine in Illinois, USA. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Forest (Near “Boulogne-sur-Mer”). (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html) • Our Lady of the Forest, Britanny, France (1419). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Pious Schools (celebrated by Piarists). Moveable feast -- Third Sunday in June. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); ; (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html) • Our Lady of Pious Schools. Celebrated by the Piarists (also known as Poor Clerks of the Mother of God or “Ordo Clericorum Regularium Pauperum Matris”), an educational Order. Moveable feast -- Third Sunday in June. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)