“Behold this Heart, that has so loved men, that it has left nothing undone; but has exhausted and consumed itself completely, to prove to them its love.”
(Words of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary.)
First Prelude: Picture our Divine Saviour revealing His Sacred Heart, from which burst forth flames of love.
Second Prelude: Inflame my heart, O Jesus, with the fire of Thy divine love, that for love of Thee I may love my neighbor as Thou desirest it of me.
First Point
THE HEART OF JESUS LOVES US WITH AN INFINITE LOVE
Who can think of the Sacred Heart of Jesus without being at the same time reminded of the infinite love of this Sacred Heart for men! His life on earth was an uninterrupted chain of deeds of love, which, being acts of the Incarnate Son of God, possess infinite value. Every act of our Blessed Lord was prompted by the infinite love of His Sacred Heart. Love drew Him into the chaste womb of His holy Mother; love laid Him into the manger; love marked every one of His steps with favors; love actuated His almighty hand to all the miracles that He wrought; love constrained Him to labor day and night unto exhaustion for our salvation; love smote Him to the ground in Gethsemane, to suffer the agony of death for us; love fastened Him to the Cross, whereon He suffered the most contemptible, most painful death for us; love even now conceals His Divinity and Humanity in the Sacrament of His Love.
Thus has the Saviour loved us, and loves us still. Should we not in return love Him, the infinitely gracious and loving Lord, since the love of all angels and saints combined is but a faint glimmer from the ocean of flames that emanate from the Divine Heart? Let us manifest our love, as Jesus did His infinite love, by sacrifices. Let us observe His commands and counsels with greatest fidelity, and conscientiously discharge our duties, persevering patiently under sufferings and steadfastly in all trials. Then the love of Jesus will grow in us and finally attain a capacity that will consume all earthly affections, so that we can in truth exclaim with the Psalmist: “What have I in heaven? And beside Thee what do I desire upon earth?” (Ps. 72, 25).
By what oblation will I prove my love of Jesus today?
Second Point
LOVE FOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS MUST ANIMATE OUR ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR NEIGHBOR
When we contemplate the love of the Sacred Heart for men, and realize the excess of this love, we dare not remain indifferent but must will that all men love this Heart in return, that the fire be enkindled which Jesus came to bring on earth. Was it not zeal for souls that consumed the Sacred Heart of Jesus? For the love of men Jesus wept over Jerusalem; He yielded Himself up to the most excruciating torments, that men might be preserved from eternal perdition. What other motive than the love of souls impelled Jesus to expose Himself to all manner of insults and revilings in the Sacrament of His Love? Let us unite ourselves with the saints, who staked everything for the interest of the Sacred Heart, and counted not the cost when there was question of gaining souls to Christ. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the glowing furnace in which their zeal for souls was enkindled so that by their prayers, their work, their example and their sacrifices, they saved countless souls.
How pleasing to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was this zeal, which incited them to fulfill His every wish. How generously did Jesus shower down upon them His graces, and how great is the reward which they found! Let us, then, beg Jesus to suffer us to fight under His banner, and with all the means at our disposal, especially by our works of charity, to lead others to a knowledge and love of the Sacred Heart. Then Christ’s promise to St. Margaret Mary shall be fulfilled in us also. His Heart will expand to pour out upon us to excess the treasures of His love.
Dare I presume to belong to the true adorers of the Sacred Heart, if I manifest only slight zeal for the salvation of souls so dear to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Affections: O infinitely loving Heart of my Saviour, deserving of all love, oh, that Thou wouldst conquer all hearts with the flames of Thy love! May I, at least, begin to love Thee earnestly! O Heart of Jesus, Thou Model of love, inflame me with Thy holy ardor, that I may daily grow in Thy love and according to Thy command, love my neighbor in and through Thee. Infuse into my heart great love for the children and the poor, that I may behold Thee in them and through charity, win their souls to Thy love. O Heart, infinitely rich in love and compassion, enrich our poor hearts with virtue and sanctity. Holiest Virgin, thou dispenser of grace and mediatrix with thy Son, obtain for us the grace to love Jesus above all else, and to shun no sacrifice when there is question of gaining souls to the Sacred Heart.
Resolution: For the love of Jesus, I will bestow upon my charges all the love of which I am capable, in order to win their hearts for God.
Spiritual Bouquet: “O loving Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with Thy sacred fire!”
Prayer:
Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, and my whole will.
Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I possess;
I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it according to Thy Will.
Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough,
and will have no more to desire.
(Indulgence of 300 days, once a day — Pope Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.)
(Words of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary.)
First Prelude: Picture our Divine Saviour revealing His Sacred Heart, from which burst forth flames of love.
Second Prelude: Inflame my heart, O Jesus, with the fire of Thy divine love, that for love of Thee I may love my neighbor as Thou desirest it of me.
First Point
THE HEART OF JESUS LOVES US WITH AN INFINITE LOVE
Who can think of the Sacred Heart of Jesus without being at the same time reminded of the infinite love of this Sacred Heart for men! His life on earth was an uninterrupted chain of deeds of love, which, being acts of the Incarnate Son of God, possess infinite value. Every act of our Blessed Lord was prompted by the infinite love of His Sacred Heart. Love drew Him into the chaste womb of His holy Mother; love laid Him into the manger; love marked every one of His steps with favors; love actuated His almighty hand to all the miracles that He wrought; love constrained Him to labor day and night unto exhaustion for our salvation; love smote Him to the ground in Gethsemane, to suffer the agony of death for us; love fastened Him to the Cross, whereon He suffered the most contemptible, most painful death for us; love even now conceals His Divinity and Humanity in the Sacrament of His Love.
Thus has the Saviour loved us, and loves us still. Should we not in return love Him, the infinitely gracious and loving Lord, since the love of all angels and saints combined is but a faint glimmer from the ocean of flames that emanate from the Divine Heart? Let us manifest our love, as Jesus did His infinite love, by sacrifices. Let us observe His commands and counsels with greatest fidelity, and conscientiously discharge our duties, persevering patiently under sufferings and steadfastly in all trials. Then the love of Jesus will grow in us and finally attain a capacity that will consume all earthly affections, so that we can in truth exclaim with the Psalmist: “What have I in heaven? And beside Thee what do I desire upon earth?” (Ps. 72, 25).
By what oblation will I prove my love of Jesus today?
Second Point
LOVE FOR THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS MUST ANIMATE OUR ZEAL FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR NEIGHBOR
When we contemplate the love of the Sacred Heart for men, and realize the excess of this love, we dare not remain indifferent but must will that all men love this Heart in return, that the fire be enkindled which Jesus came to bring on earth. Was it not zeal for souls that consumed the Sacred Heart of Jesus? For the love of men Jesus wept over Jerusalem; He yielded Himself up to the most excruciating torments, that men might be preserved from eternal perdition. What other motive than the love of souls impelled Jesus to expose Himself to all manner of insults and revilings in the Sacrament of His Love? Let us unite ourselves with the saints, who staked everything for the interest of the Sacred Heart, and counted not the cost when there was question of gaining souls to Christ. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the glowing furnace in which their zeal for souls was enkindled so that by their prayers, their work, their example and their sacrifices, they saved countless souls.
How pleasing to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was this zeal, which incited them to fulfill His every wish. How generously did Jesus shower down upon them His graces, and how great is the reward which they found! Let us, then, beg Jesus to suffer us to fight under His banner, and with all the means at our disposal, especially by our works of charity, to lead others to a knowledge and love of the Sacred Heart. Then Christ’s promise to St. Margaret Mary shall be fulfilled in us also. His Heart will expand to pour out upon us to excess the treasures of His love.
Dare I presume to belong to the true adorers of the Sacred Heart, if I manifest only slight zeal for the salvation of souls so dear to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Affections: O infinitely loving Heart of my Saviour, deserving of all love, oh, that Thou wouldst conquer all hearts with the flames of Thy love! May I, at least, begin to love Thee earnestly! O Heart of Jesus, Thou Model of love, inflame me with Thy holy ardor, that I may daily grow in Thy love and according to Thy command, love my neighbor in and through Thee. Infuse into my heart great love for the children and the poor, that I may behold Thee in them and through charity, win their souls to Thy love. O Heart, infinitely rich in love and compassion, enrich our poor hearts with virtue and sanctity. Holiest Virgin, thou dispenser of grace and mediatrix with thy Son, obtain for us the grace to love Jesus above all else, and to shun no sacrifice when there is question of gaining souls to the Sacred Heart.
Resolution: For the love of Jesus, I will bestow upon my charges all the love of which I am capable, in order to win their hearts for God.
Spiritual Bouquet: “O loving Heart of Jesus, inflame our hearts with Thy sacred fire!”
Prayer:
Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding, and my whole will.
Thou hast given me all that I am and all that I possess;
I surrender it all to Thee that Thou mayest dispose of it according to Thy Will.
Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough,
and will have no more to desire.
(Indulgence of 300 days, once a day — Pope Leo XIII, May 26, 1883.)
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