Readings
What a
weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only when He Caresses us, and to be cold
immediately once He afflicts us. This is not true love. Thouse who love
thus, love themselves too much to love God with all their heart.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
The Twelve
Promises of Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary for those devoted to
His Sacred
Heart:
1.
I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2.
I will establish peace in their families.
3.
I will console them in all their troubles.
4.
They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and
especially at the hour of their death.
5.
I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6.
Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of
mercy.
7.
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8.
Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9.
I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed
and honored.
10.
I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened
hearts.
11.
Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in
My Heart, never to be effaced.
12.
The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall
receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace
of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without
receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that
last hour.
from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's vision of Jesus
Look at this
Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in
return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on
earth."
from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's vision of Jesus
The sacred
heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour
itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them
to lead lives according to his good pleasure.
From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream
of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition
and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need
and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of
surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light
for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection; these he wishes
to unit to himself so that they may share his knowledge and commandments
and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his
glory.
This divine heart is an
abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all
their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our
sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss
of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need.
Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the
prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the
altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In
the course of every activity pray as follows: "My God, I do this or I endure
that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it
to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions."
Continue to do this in every circumstance of life.
But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any
treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than
renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine
heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his
glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him.
from a letter by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
