Though devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was of great antiquity in the Church, yet it was reserved to Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque, of the order of the Visitation, to make this devotion public. During the octave of Corpus Christi, in the year 1690, our blessed Lord appeared to his devoted servant, and disclosing to her his heart, said:
“Behold this Heart, which, notwithstanding the burning love for man with which it is consumed and exhausted, meets with no other return from the generality of Christians than sacrilege, contempt, indifference, and ingratitude, even in the sacrament of my love. But what pierces my heart most deeply is, that I am subjected to those insults by persons specially consecrated to my service.
Wherefore, I require of you to cause the first Friday after the octave of the blessed sacrament to be dedicated to honor my Heart, by receiving the holy communion, and making an act of atonement to repair the many indignities which have been offered to the holy sacrament while exposed on the altars; and in return, I promise that this Heart shall be dilated to pour out in abundance the influence of divine love on all who shall render to it this honor, or cause it to be rendered.”
But what will it avail us to have listened to these so just complaints of our Savior, if we are not moved with compassion, and generously resolved to testify our sorrow for our past indifference by honoring his Sacred Heart, and by repairing, as far as lies in our power, the insults to which his ardent desire to dwell with the children of men daily exposes him in the august sacrament of his love.
If gratitude to the God who suffered such torments for our salvation does not incline us to accept his gracious invitation, and to rank ourselves among the number of his adorers, at least let the recollection of the many spiritual advantages to be derived from devotion to the Sacred Heart induce us to pray fervently and humbly, that he, who has himself declared that it was a last effort of his love for man that induced him to discover to them the treasures of his Heart, may infuse into our souls the great gift of true piety to his most Sacred Heart.
Let us respond to the call of this adorable Heart. It longs to rescue and shield us from the arch-enemy of our salvation. If the recollection of your unworthiness discourages you, call to mind the words of your Savior, “Come to me, all you that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you.”
Remember that the Sacred Heart, which is compassion itself, is ever open to receive and shelter the repentant sinner. If you are bowed down by sin or sorrow, if temptations assail you, or the sight of your many infidelities and frequent relapses induce you to despair, fly with confidence to this furnace of love, for there, and there alone, will you find joy and consolation.
“O sweetest Jesus,” says St. Bernard, “what riches do you not enclose in your Heart! How easy for us to enrich ourselves, since we possess in the holy eucharist this infinite treasure!” If you are anxious to make atonement to the eternal Father for your many acts of ingratitude to him, offer him the merits of his divine Son.
“Honor the adorable Heart of Jesus, by constant acts of fervent devotion.” says Langpergius, “offer all your petitions to God through that divine Heart, unite your intentions and actions to its merits; for it is the rich treasury of heaven.
In your troubles and perplexities seek refuge in the Sacred Heart and be convinced that though all the world should forget and forsake you, Jesus will ever be your faithful friend, and his Heart your secure asylum.”
In the eucharist Jesus bestows on us the most precious gift which even a God can give-his own Sacred Heart; and the only return he requires from us is, that we should give him our hearts in exchange.
“Son give me thy heart.” Determine, then, to respond to the affectionate solicitation of your Savior. Never let a day pass without performing some pious exercise in honor of his Sacred Heart. Our Lord himself directed St. Mechtilde to let her first act when she a woke be to salute his Sacred Heart, and to offer him her own.
Frequently during the day make fervent aspirations in honor of the Sacred, Heart. Assist devoutly at the holy sacrifice of the Mass, and endeavor, as far as lies in your power, to make atonement to Jesus for the many outrages he has received in the sacrament of his love.
As the first Friday of the month is in a special manner devoted to honor the Sacred Heart, be careful to consecrate that day to the love of our blessed Savior. Cause your name to be enrolled in the “Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” which has been enriched by the Holy See with considerable indulgences. The duties are few and easy, and do not bind under pain of sin, but merely under forfeitures of the indulgences.
They are but two in number. First, daily to recite, in honor of the Sacred Heart, the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Creed, with the following aspiration:
“O Heart of Jesus, grant that I may love thee daily more and more.”
Let us respond to the call of this adorable Heart. It longs to rescue and shield us from the arch-enemy of our salvation. If the recollection of your unworthiness discourage you, call to mind the words of your Savior, “Come to me, all you that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you.”
Remember that the Sacred Heart, which is compassion itself, is ever open to receive and shelter the repentant sinner. If you are bowed down by sin or sorrow, if temptations assail you, or the sight of your many infidelities and frequent relapses induce you to despair, fly with confidence to this furnace of love, for there, and there alone, will you find that he, who has himself declared that it was a last effort of his love for man that induced him to discover to them the treasures of his Heart, may infuse into our souls the great gift of true piety to his most Sacred Heart.
Second-To pass one hour before the blessed sacrament on any one day of the year selected by the member on his joining the association; that hour to be spent in prayer, to repair the outrages offered to the Sacred Heart in the holy eucharist. Go to communion on the day of your entrance into the confraternity, in order to gain the plenary indulgence granted on that occasion.
Every associate should have in his home a picture of the Sacred Heart. Our Blessed Lord, speaking on this subject to Margaret Mary, says: “I am much pleased with the devotion the faithful show for my Heart, and for this reason I desire the picture thereof may be drawn and exposed, that by this so amiable a representation the hearts of ‘men may be softened into repentance. I promise that such as, in a more particular manner, honor this picture, shall partake more amply of those graces with which my Heart is replenished.”
I promise that such as, in a more particular manner, honor this picture, shall partake more amply of those graces with which my Heart is replenished.”
We find in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, light, love, fortitude, resignation, zeal, patience, peace, and rest.
SALUTARY PRACTICES.
1. Carefully avoid all sin, for it is the only cause of sorrow to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
2. Perform all your devotions and actions in union with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
3. Beg all graces through their intercession, repeating frequently, and especially in time of temptation, the prayer, “Sweet Hearts of Jesus and Mary, be my refuge.”