June. The Sacred Heart.
He who meditates on the life of Christ, and is acquainted with it, instinctively strikes upon this trait in the character of Jesus: The sweetness of His human Heart. The entire life of our blessed Lord was one series of most loving acts. We see Him at one time blessing the little children, at another bestowing sight on the blind, loosening the tongue of the dumb, pouring consolation into the aching heart of the mother who has lost her child, and pardoning the repentant sinner. Is it not a beautiful devotion by which we are drawn to view the loving tenderness of His human Heart, by which He won all to His side, so that not only His apostles clung to Him, but even the very pagans loved and revered Him?
Let us then love and practise this beautiful devotion, by offering that Heart the gold of charity and the incense of prayer. Let us go with filial confidence to Him, Who has taught us to lisp like an infant, “Abba, Father.” Let us repay Him love for love, and make reparation for the injuries He daily receives in that most kind Heart. Jesus in His turn will comfort us in all our pains and afflictions. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the source of all charity and love; and through this devotion we will learn to love our neighbor and to sacrifice ourselves for his benefit.
Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love.
Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.
Considerations and prayers for Every Day.
First Day. The Love of the Sacred Heart for Us.
The love of the Sacred Heart for us is at once the tender affection of a brother, and the infinite [pg 238] love of the Son of God, with which, from all eternity, Our Redeemer looked forward eagerly to the salvation of mankind. He saw us doomed to everlasting death, He saw us, and each one of us individually among the number, unable to atone for our sins. Then He offered Himself to satisfy the justice of the Father. Thou didst implore mercy for us, and it was granted Thee, only on condition that Thou shouldst satisfy for us. And what satisfaction was required! Torments the most cruel, insults the most humiliating, death on the cross—that was the price at which Thou wast permitted to redeem us. Thou didst accept all, and wast even ready to suffer more if necessary. Ah, Lord! What then shall I do for Thee? What return can I make for such great love? O generous, O incomprehensible Friend! How can I ever repay the debt I owe Thee, Heart of my Jesus? I abandon my whole being to Thy sweet love, to live and die therein.
Prayer.
Adorable Heart of my Saviour, I adore Thee, praise Thee, and offer Thee my whole self. O divine Jesus, I beseech Thee to receive me to-day into Thy Sacred Heart! Pour into my heart the light, help and graces I need to conquer my enemies, and to surmount all obstacles that will hinder my salvation, and the Christian perfection required to please Thee. Amen.
Second Day. The Heart of Jesus My Friend.
Oh, what folly, what delusion can be worse than to set one's heart on anything save Thee [pg 239] alone, O God! How poor is he who seeks not his whole good in Thy sweet friendship alone! Heart of my Jesus, wounded for love of me, permit me to draw nigh to Thy open side, and confess to Thee a thousand times over that I love Thee. O Heart of Jesus, forgive my past foolishness! O beloved and adorable Redeemer, who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes, that I may weep day and night for the contempt shown to Thy love, and the ingratitude with which Thy benefits are repaid! O ye angels, who crowd the sanctuaries in which dwells the divine Spouse of our souls, cease not to pour forth at the foot of His altars the most profound homage. One of the usual duties shown by people towards those whom they respect are visits. Jesus Christ is our Friend, our Father. He is in our midst: we know it, and yet He is the only One Whom we forget. Whoever thinks of visiting Jesus Christ? We frequent the church and fulfil our other religious duties, but do we always go through motives of love or gratitude, and with the expected intention of rendering homage to Our Lord? O Jesus, could a more cruel wound be inflicted on this loving Heart? O Sacred Heart of my Jesus, forgive me, and vouchsafe me the blessing of remaining forever Thy child.
Prayer.
Prostrate before Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I humbly pay Thee all my homage, and my profound adoration. I adore Thee, O Sacred Heart, destined from all eternity to be God's masterpiece and the prodigy of His power, wisdom and goodness. Amen.
Third Day. The Heart of My Jesus the Heart of My Father.
Heart of Jesus, Thou art my Father! All I have is from Thee; at every step I meet with proofs of Thy infinite love. Even when I strayed away from Thee, Thou didst entreat me to return, assuring me of pardon and love. If I shed tears of sorrow, Thy love wiped them away, and Thy sweet voice gave courage to my sinking soul. O my sweet Jesus, be forever a Father to me! What an amount of gratitude do I not owe to my Lord, when after so much love and care, He reappears among us in the Sacrament of the Altar? In thus dwelling among us, He willed to unite Himself with us, in a way as intimate as it is incomprehensible; shutting Himself up under the appearance of bread, He enters into our hearts and makes His own flesh our nourishment. What a source of happiness for me, O my sweet Jesus! My eyes do not see Thy divine face, but my heart feels Thy comforting presence. When I receive Thee, O Father, into my breast, I feel my soul gladdened with the wine of heaven, “which maketh virgins.” And since love causes lovers to resemble each other, if we love let us form our life on the model of Jesus. Let us therefore, belong forever to the Beloved of our souls. Let us give Him our whole heart, our love, our affections, inclinations, and desires.
Prayer.
Allow me, O my Saviour, to offer Thee my heart, and grant that I seek only to please Thee in all things. From this moment I consecrate [pg 241] my heart to Thee; take possession of it, destroy its indifference, purify its affections, and give a new life to its inclinations. O sweet Jesus, take possession of me and consume me in the flames of Thy love. Amen.
Fourth Day. In Thy Heart I Shall Find Peace.
Thee, Thee alone, O Heart of my God, will I love! Heart most pure, Heart most holy, never tiring of my insults, ever forgiving and forgetting, and, if I do but love Thee sincerely, admitting me as a chosen friend to Thy sweet company. “Come unto Me, all you that labor, and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.” Seek not elsewhere for relief in sorrow: come to the Heart of One Who loves you. Never will you meet with a more generous giver, never will you meet a kinder friend, never will you meet one who will bear with you more patiently in your trials and temptations. Be comforted, then, my heart, in having this God of love, Who will not abandon you; Who has no sweeter choice than to hearken to your prayers. Well, dear Lord, behold how my poor soul is chained down, what billows of sorrow buffet it and all but wreck it. Come then, O Heart of my Jesus, come to me or I perish. In Thee alone do I find relief. Be Thou a thousand times blessed, O sweetest Heart, for all Thy mercy! O admirable Heart, forgive my guilty wretchedness. Henceforth Thee alone will I seek, Thee alone will I love. I shall serve Thee and Thee only till my dying gasp, in hope of praising and loving Thee forever more in heaven.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, be Thou praised and blessed forever as the source of supernatural life, the nourishment of the soul, and the sustenance of the spirit! From Thy fulness all good is poured out upon us. Fill my heart, I beseech Thee, with the sentiments that inspired Thy adorable Heart. Amen.
Fifth Day. The Sacred Heart of Jesus Teaching Charity.
Thy Heart, O my Jesus, is a mystery of charity; mine is a mystery of malice. I am ashamed and confounded when I consider attentively Thy Heart, O my Jesus! Thou, the Creator and Master of all things—Thou art meek and lowly of heart, and I, a poor outcast, am full of pride and presumption. How often have I not outraged Thy love and despised Thy law, and still Thou art silent and forgivest me! Thou art ever ready to welcome back Thy lost sheep, no matter how far they have strayed, nor how deeply they have wounded and insulted Thy loving Heart! And can it be that after that I would dare violate the charity I owe my neighbor? That I would, for a slight offence, allow proud and revengeful feelings to take possession of my heart? Oh, what a contrast to Thy gentleness and patience! I cannot forget the least insult received, whilst Thou, O my God, at the first sincere prayer for pardon wilt forget all the injuries that I have offered Thee. Could I then fail to choose Thy Heart as a model for my own? But how can this cold heart of mine ever resemble that kindest Heart [pg 243] of Thine? Thou alone possessest the remedy. Behold me then, O sweet Jesus, and mercifully regard a misery so profound. “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.” I will extol Thee, O God my King, and I will bless Thy name forever and ever.
Prayer.
Be Thou praised and blessed forever, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who in the fervor of Thy charity, hast devised a miraculous means of filling hearts with the holy flame of Thy divine love. Impress my heart so deeply with this divine seal, that nothing may ever enter into it, or proceed from it, that is not in conformity with Thy Sacred Heart. Amen.
Sixth Day. The Heart of Jesus My Comforter.
To whom can I more confidently tell my many needs and frailties than to Him Who knows them more clearly than I do myself? Thy voice, O Jesus, alone has the power to console and comfort the heart that loves Thee. They are blind indeed who go in search of consolation and happiness from creatures. Why did I not fly to Thee when I felt the first onset of this world? I turned hither and thither, seeking on all sides for aid and comfort, but I turned not my glance to Thee, Who alone canst rescue the soul from sin. Heart of Jesus, oh, what manner of love is Thine! Forgive my past foolishness, and now that I return again to Thee, give me grace never to leave Thee. Let my soul, like Magdalen, rest at Thy sacred feet. Stay with me, O Jesus, stay with me forever. Teach me what I must [pg 244] needs do to live with Thee, and I shall trample under foot all the joy and gain this world can offer me. I shall embrace with gladness for Thy sake all afflictions and all sorrows. But, O my God, shelter beneath the wings of Thy love every instant of my life, and encourage and strengthen my poor weak heart.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore the admirable impulse which made Thee all Thy life a victim of love, and led Thee to consummate it by a death of perfect love. Grant that by Thy holy grace, my heart may become a living sacrifice, desiring only to be offered up and to offer up all things for Thy greater glory. Amen.
Seventh Day. The Heart of Jesus My Helper in Trials.
How few are there who love God alone for His own sake, and bless Him alike in sorrow and in joy! Why, O my God, do I fear to travel on the royal road of the cross—the only road that Thou hast travelled, and the shortest and surest way to heaven? Do I forget that Thy cross sanctified and redeemed the world, and formed the bliss of Thy elect in heaven? Why, then, do I shrink from carrying it with courage? Let us remember that our union with Jesus crucified will be the measure of our union with Him in glory. That in suffering for Jesus we show our true love for Him. Oh, a thousand times blessed are all who clasp the cross to their hearts and follow Jesus. Be not sad, my soul, when thou art in pain: the Heart of Jesus was [pg 245] crushed far more than thine. That sweet Heart of my Jesus was overwhelmed with sadness at the sight of our sins, pierced with a thousand deadly shafts, humiliated, abandoned by His Father: finally cruelly wounded on the cross, shedding His blood, even to the last drop. Compare such sorrow with thine, and yet thou darest complain! Jesus, forgive me, forgive such a vile wretch, and crown Thy mercy and love.
Prayer.
O almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son, and the praise and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of poor sinners. Have mercy upon them, since they ask it through this same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Eighth Day. In the Heart of Jesus I Shall Find Rest.
O Heart of my Jesus, I will cast myself with sweetest confidence into Thy bosom, and I will rest on Him Who is the everlasting rest of the elect in heaven. I will draw nigh unto Him Who can sweeten all the bitterness of my weary pilgrimage here. I will rest, as John the beloved disciple did, on the Heart of Jesus, and tell Him a hundred times over that peace and comfort cannot be found elsewhere but in that sweet Heart. The Heart of Jesus is the city of refuge, in which we are safe from the pursuit of the enemy. It is the city of refuge, which defends us from the wrath of an angry Judge. Give thy heart to Him, for He has opened His [pg 246] Heart to thee. Give not thy heart to the world, but to Christ thy Lord. O Heart of Jesus! Thou givest to the heart that loves Thee perfect peace, great joy of spirit, and a foretaste of heaven's delight. My God, make me love Thee, not coldly but with a passionate love. All for Thee, O my God, all for Thee alone—let this be my watchword, and then only will I find true rest and peace. May heaven and earth praise and bless Thee forever.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I unite my heart to the spirits of the blessed, that with them it may sing to Thy glory before the throne of God. The Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive power, and divinity, and wisdom, and strength, and glory, and benediction. By Thy virtue guard my heart, and preserve it from the stains of its own sinful desires. Amen.
Ninth Day. The Heart of Jesus an Ocean of Love.
O Heart of Jesus! Thou hast, in the greatness of Thy love, come down to put on the garb of humanity, and to take into Thy breast man's heart—to make him a source of Thy delights: to soothe the pain that sin inflicts on his wretched soul. O God of love, what then shall I do for Thee Who hast loved me with such an excess of love? What return can I make for such great graces? Ah, yes! I will address Thee with the sweet name of “Father,” a God so generous and so great, and how easy will it be for me to love Thee, O Jesus, my best Friend. In thus dwelling among us He willed to unite Himself [pg 247] with us in a way as intimate as it is incomprehensible. And to bring about this, He instituted the Sacrament of the Altar, and shutting Himself up under the appearance of bread, He enters into our hearts and makes His own flesh our nourishment. This gift of the Eucharist, O my God, is of all Thy wonders the very crown. In this banquet of love, Thou hearest all our sighs and complaints, and Thou forgivest all our sad errors and foolishness. O happy Christians, what a source of happiness we possess! Let us then give Him all the love and gratitude He has a right to expect from us. Let our love be as unlimited as the love Our God has shown unto us. O Jesus, how sweet it would be to live for Thee and Thee only!
Prayer.
O my good Jesus, within Thy Heart, with sweetness overflowing, I place myself; hide me deep therein that I may never stray away. In life my joy, in death my guide, be Thou unto me my bliss in heaven. This I ask for every one, and I ask it by Thy tears, Thy sweat, Thy sacred blood. Amen.
Tenth Day. The Ingratitude of Men to the Heart of Jesus.
Wherever we cast our eyes we meet with sad proofs of the ingratitude of men to the Heart of Jesus. A large portion of the Christian world is plunged in heresy, denying Christ's presence in the mystery of the Altar, and not satisfied with refusing to recognize this great benefit they have lifted their sacrilegious hand against the sacred Host. But, O [pg 248] divine Jesus, behold a still more grievous source of sorrow to Thy Heart! It is not from Jews or heretics that Thou receivest these insults, but from Thine own chosen people, the people who profess to believe in Thy real presence. Jesus is in our midst, we know it, and yet He is the only One Whom we forget, the only One Whom we treat with careless indifference. It is thus that Christians respond to the love of Our Lord; it is thus they repay all His benefits. O sweet Jesus, pardon my base ingratitude! Angels of heaven, you who know so much better than I the full extent of the love of Jesus' Heart towards me, praise Him for me, and bless Him. O my God, grant that I may live poor, unknown, and hidden in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, my divine Master, forgotten and despised by creatures, so that Thou mayest establish Thy reign of love upon my nothingness. I hope that Thou wilt mercifully hear my request, and grant it.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, my Lord! O noblest, greatest, and most generous of all hearts! I adore the divine impulses which led Thee, from the moment of Thy conception, to love me who was nothing, who would offend Thee in so many ways, and so often misuse Thy graces. O holy Friend of hearts, change my heart, and make it choose Thee for its only Friend. Amen.
Eleventh Day. The Gratitude Due to the Heart of Jesus.
If it were in my power, I would return Thee unceasing acts of thanksgiving, and they would [pg 249] still be too little to praise Thee for Thy boundless love. I thank Thee and bless Thee for having poured out Thy most precious blood to wash away my sins. Thou didst reserve nothing for Thyself, Thou didst become dry and barren as a grape trodden in the wine-press. O ardent love, that is never extinguished! would that I burned with this fire Thou hast sent on the earth, and which Thou dost so fervently desire to see kindled in souls! O most sweet Jesus, open to me, I humbly beseech Thee, the door of Thy Heart, the door of love and mercy. There only will my troubled soul find sure refuge, my crimes pity and forgiveness. To Thee alone, O Heart of Jesus, I have recourse; assist Thou me. Thou hast sought for me so painfully and so long, O my God, when I strayed from Thy loving care. Behold me here now; I give myself to Thee. With the help of Thy grace I will be faithful to Thee, and will keep my soul in spotless purity and deepest humility. O Heart of my God, prevent me from ever abandoning Thee again! May my heart be always open and ready to admit Jesus, my well beloved. Let me cling to Thy feet, like Magdalen, and give Thee love for love.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, my Saviour, I adore Thee, shedding tears over my sins. Would that I had a fountain of tears in my heart, that I might weep as I ought for the sorrows I have caused Thee! Give me grace to bring forth worthy fruits of penance. I adore Thee, O King of hearts, Who art the delight of heaven and earth! Amen.
Twelfth Day. In the Heart of Jesus is Found the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
O my Jesus, I have never found truth save in Thee, and aside from Thy paths I have never met but vanity and wrong. If Thou dost not guide me in all things, I shall stray about forever, and will quickly perish through fatigue and want. Speak, then, O Lord, speak to Thy servant, and grant him to comprehend Thy wonderful love. Heart of my God, give me to see that Thou art the only way in which I must walk, if I wish to walk aright. What would ever become of me if Thou wert not my life, principally in the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, where Thou dwellest actually, corporally, and perpetually, waiting to receive my homage and ever ready to give me all graces and blessings. Oh, how boundless is my need of Thee, my God; draw me unto Thee and dispel the darkness which surrounds me. Deign to accept, O Heart divine, this poor desire. My God, Thou art my Father; have pity on me according to the greatness of Thy mercy. I abandon myself to Thee: do not reject me; make me love Thee and nevermore separate Thyself from me.
Prayer.
O sacred Heart of Jesus, Thou art the heavenly light! Thou dispellest the darkness of the soul, and fillest it with sweetness. Thou art the Heart of hearts, and worthy of the greatest love. Thou art the source of that heavenly fire that enlightens and burns. Inflame my heart with Thy divine ardor, that it may burn with love of Thee to all eternity. Amen.
Thirteenth Day. To the Heart of Jesus Alone I Turn.
We are made for God alone, nor can we find peace elsewhere save in God alone. But who can kindle in us Thy love, if not Thou Thyself, O Lord? Oh, then, sweet Heart of Jesus, I will not cease to knock at the portal of Thy Heart, with tears and true contrition! Let others seek the perishable goods of this world. For my part I ask but Thee alone. Forgive my past unfaithfulness, and unite me so closely to Thee that I may never be able to forsake Thee. Yes, my Saviour, I will leave creatures and all earthly pleasures to run after Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love. But I am ashamed to appear before Thee, O my Jesus, I, who am so naked and so devoid of all virtues. What then am I to do? Am I to appear no more before Thee? Ah, no! this would not please Thee. Thou dwellest in the Sacrament, not only to reward Thy lovers, but also to provide for the poor out of Thy riches. I adore Thee, then, King of my heart! O Shepherd, loving Thy sheep beyond all bounds, to this throne of love I now approach, and having nothing else to give I offer Thee my poor heart. Mercy, O Heart of God, I implore Thee a thousand, thousand times, and pardon for all my sins; grant that this may be the day of my entire conversion, so that I may nevermore cease to love Thee.
Prayer.
Heart of my Jesus, Thou knowest what is wanting in me: Thou knowest that without Thee I can do nothing. Thou knowest my weakness: have [pg 252] pity on me, give me humility, purity of heart, love, and conformity to Thy holy will, strength against my bad habits, remission of my sins, and grace nevermore to commit them. Amen.
Fourteenth Day. The Heart of Jesus Asks for Our Hearts.
“My child, give Me thy heart.” Oh, let me print on my memory such a phrase of love! “My child!” Oh, how sweet it sounds when uttered by the lips of a God! He wishes to dwell in our hearts, not for a certain time, but forever; not as a guest only, but as its Master and its Lord. Jesus says the heart He asks of me is mine: “Give Me thy heart,” instead of claiming it as His right, as a matter of strictest obligation, since all that I am and have comes from Him. Oh, why should it be so difficult for me to yield up my heart to that sweet Lord Who so endearingly says, “My child, give Me thy heart”? The name of friend being insufficient to tell all Thy love, O dear Jesus, Thou dost employ the loving name of child to sweetly compel me to grant Thy fond request. Why is it, my Jesus, that Thou wishest my love? Why dost Thou, by every means, try to gain, by permission, that love which is Thine by every right and title? Oh, how many years Thou hast followed me, and I ever fled away from Thee! How hardened my heart was! It is true I have often returned to Thee for a little while, and Thou didst welcome me, and gave me Thy very self as my food. But too soon I fled away from Thee again. O my dearest Jesus, what favors and benefits I have abused! Pardon me, sweet Jesus: behold me at last here at Thy feet, never to leave Thee more. Take my heart, [pg 253] sweet Lord, and clasp it tightly to Thy Sacred Heart even to the hour of my death; never let me stray from Thee again.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, with my whole soul I adore Thy impulses of goodness and mercy towards sinners, the effects of which I have most singularly experienced! Thy loving kindness is so desirous of mercy, that it threatens to show no mercy to him who is not merciful. And what mercy can I exercise towards my neighbor? What can be compared to those mercies I have received, and every day receive from Thee? O Heart of Jesus, loving fountain of mercy, teach me to know and worthily imitate Thy mercy. Amen.
Fifteenth Day. The Heart of Jesus at the Hour of Death.
The life of man passes away as a shadow. Time passes by as a swift flowing river, bearing on its bosom, onward to the grave, old and young, rich and poor, without any distinction. Oh, how happy is he who has laid up treasures in heaven, who has gathered for himself a hoard of merit before God. Happy, a thousand times happy, is he who in that dread hour can turn to God with all confidence, and feel God present in his heart. O my sweet Jesus, I will cling to the hope that Thou wilt forget all my past iniquities, and remember only Thy love. O merciful Jesus, who would not hope from Thee a mercy without end? It is true Thou art a God of justice and purity, and Thou seest in me sins beyond [pg 254] compare. But yet can it be that the same God, Who every instant of my life yearns to be near me, Who begs so pleadingly for my heart: can it be that He will condemn me to hell? Oh, no, tender Heart of my Jesus! it will never be so if I am truly sorry. My sweet Jesus will never abandon me, if with a truly repentant heart, I have recourse to Him. Why should I fear death when I look upon my God agonizing in the throes of death? His death was to help me in my dying hour, so that seeing the pain that I have inflicted I might bear mine without complaint. O sweet Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my death. I am willing to suffer all the pains Thou wishest to send me. Let me suffer as much as Thou pleasest, only let me die clasped close to Thy loving Heart.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore the admirable impulses which made Thee all Thy life a victim of love, and led Thee to consummate it by a death of perfect love. Grant that, by Thy holy grace, my heart may become a living sacrifice, desiring only to be offered up and to offer up all things for Thy greater glory. Amen.
Sixteenth Day. The Heart of Jesus for all Eternity.
Eternity is Thine, O my God, and Thou givest it to Thy elect, that they may love Thee without any doubt or fear. Life is short: the last hour may toll for me when I least expect it. O thou city of God, when shall I behold thy beauty? Oh, the grace and blessing of dying at peace with Thee, great [pg 255] God; of closing our eyes in a holy death, to open them amid the splendors of eternal joy! Meanwhile Thou givest me a pledge of this bliss in the admirable Sacrament of the Altar. Where can love like Thine be found? Thou givest me Thy body and blood, Thy soul and divinity, as a pledge of eternal happiness. If then, Thou art wholly mine, can I be otherwise than wholly Thine? A thousand thanks to Thee, O my sweet Jesus, Who art so loving to me. Thou didst call me to Thy service, but I have responded weakly. I often disappointed and displeased Thee, yet, O Heart of my God, Thou art all mercy, and Thou wilt not turn away Thy face from Thy poor child, who casts herself down before Thee in contrition and shame. I will clasp Thy feet and remain there until Thou wilt once more say “thou art forgiven: go in peace.” Thou art just, O Lord; nevertheless be moved to pity me. I promise that I will always serve and love Thee, and avoid anything that could in any way separate me from Thee.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore Thy death of complete charity that placed Thee in the grave. Let me enter into the wound of Thy Heart, made by the lance, and may I die there for love of Thee. O heart of Mary, Mother of the Heart of Jesus, I have recourse to thee, that thou mayest speak to me in its stead. The Heart of Jesus and thine are but one, and what thou dost for me He will approve.
Seventeenth Day. The Heart of Jesus Sorrowful unto Death.
No one can be a true follower of Thee, O sweet Jesus, who travels by any road save that of Thy cross. For what trouble, what trial or affliction can we meet with, which has not been suffered by Thee? What were the agonies and pains Thy Heart bore for me! I am poor, but am I poorer than Thou, Who hadst not whereon to lay Thy head? I may be reviled and persecuted, but what are my persecutions in comparison to Thine, O my Jesus? Thou wast abandoned in Thy hour of agony even by Thy apostles, and betrayed into the hands of Thy enemies by one whom Thou hadst made Thy friend and companion. Thy whole life, O my Jesus, was one unbroken series of crosses, borne sweetly and patiently through love of me. Take courage, then, my soul, from the example of our dear Lord, and bear with noble strength all the trials and afflictions that may be sent to thee. I will keep my eyes fixed on Thee, cursed and buffeted, insulted and spat upon, scourged and crowned with thorns, a heavy cross laid upon Thy poor, mangled shoulders, and Thy dreadful crucifixion—all for love of me. Surely then, my God, the desire will grow in my heart to be ready and willing to make some return to Thee. Yet without Thy help, dear Jesus, I am utterly helpless to bear the little trials Thou so lovingly dost send me. Thou hast said clearly, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” And again, “Whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” I understand then, dear Jesus, [pg 257] that if I wish to claim the name of follower of Thee, I must imitate Thee in carrying the cross. I throw myself into Thy loving arms, my sweet Jesus; do with me as Thou choosest, only give me strength and courage to abide with Thee forever.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore Thy impulses of charity, which made Thee wish to fill my heart and my soul with Thine, my spirit with Thy spirit, and to feed my body with Thy sacred flesh. I adore Thy divinity, concealed from my sight under the symbols of Thy mystery of love, and I beseech Thee, of Thy mercy, to use my soul, my mind, my heart, and my body as a temple consecrated to Thy honor. O Sacred Heart, I adore Thee as a victim sacrificed by the ascendancy and power of its own pure love. Amen.
Eighteenth Day. O Heart of Jesus, Thou Art All Mine and I Am All Thine.
Heart of my God, Thou art for me light, hope, heaven, eternity, all. I thank Thee, sweetest Jesus, for all Thy generosity towards Thy unworthy creature. I scarcely know myself when I feel Thee so near my heart in holy communion. Oh, let that love of Thine fill my heart; do not leave me till Thou grantest me the comfort I hope and claim of Thee. Lord, were I to ask of Thee temporal things, Thou mightest well refuse them, but I ask that which thou Thyself art pleased with—Thy holy love. I cannot love Thee unless Thou grantest me power to do so. Heart of my Jesus, where shall I find Thee if [pg 258] not where Thou art really present—in the Adorable Eucharist? Be Thou blessed a thousand times, my Jesus, Who hast provided so sweet a source of comfort for us poor exiles in this vale of tears. I behold Magdalen approach Thee, her heart full of shame, and I behold her leaving Thee, her heart full of peace and love. I see Augustine filled with the malice of sin, and all at once he becomes one of Thy brightest saints. Is, then, Thy power shortened? No, no, Thou never failest in coming to those who in lowliness of heart cry to Thee for help. Let me, then, O my sweet Jesus, show Thee all my sorrow and reveal to Thee all my need. If I had loved Thee as warmly as I have loved myself and my sins, I would have been a saint long ago. Now once more I return to Thee; let my hope never be confounded.
Prayer.
Be Thou blessed and praised forever, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, hidden under the mystical veil of the consecrated Host! Grant that I may worthily praise Thy ardent love. Thou art all in all to the saints in heaven. Give me Thy grace, that to me also Thy Sacred Heart may become all things, and that I may love and adore Thee in spirit and in truth. Amen.
Nineteenth Day. God is Charity and He Who Lives in Charity Lives in God.
The Heart of Jesus, a great saint has said, is the abode of every virtue, the source of every blessing; always filled with love for us, it is ever ready to receive, to shelter, and to comfort us. O [pg 259] you who are bending under the burden of sorrow or want, or who are forever struggling against temptation, fly to this sweet Heart; there you shall find that God is love, that He is ever attentive, and ever prepared to hear our slightest prayer. Oh, then, merciful Heart of my Jesus, be with me everywhere, even when I do not ask Thee, because then the peril is much greater. Stretch out Thy hand to me and draw me unto Thee. Thou hast told Magdalen that much was forgiven her because she had loved much; but was it not Thyself, sweet Jesus, that gave her such love? Give me the same love, my Jesus, and I shall love Thee as much. Ah, my Jesus, my heart is no longer mine—I give it to Thee without reserve. Let it live for Thee and Thee only; keep it, O Lord, and guard it as Thine own. If the angels rejoice over the returning of the repentant prodigal, wilt Thou not find greater delight in that prodigal's sincere desire of thanking Thee and loving Thee more and more? I resolve that my heart will henceforward bear Thee company by visiting Thee in Thy tabernacles, and by fidelity to prayer.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left us a memorial of Thy Passion and a pledge of Thy love, grant us, I beseech Thee, grace so to venerate the mysteries of Thy body and blood, that we may ever feel within us the fruits of Thy redemption, Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God forever and ever. Amen.
Twentieth Day. The Sacred Heart is a Most Patient Rewarder.
Thou, O sweet Jesus, possessest all wealth and bounty; we know that Thy riches are inexhaustible, and that Thy desire to impart them in Thy generosity is without limit and immeasurable. Thy rewards are always far greater than our merits. For a very slight service, Thou givest so amply that the greatness and depth of Thy rewards will be equal to their duration. Jesus, light of my life, shine on my poor, wretched soul, and plant in it the precious fruits of hatred of sin, deep contrition, and a firm, lasting resolution of amendment. Make this poor heart of mine gladly embrace and bear all the crosses that Thou mayest send me as aids to the attainment of my only end—that of abiding safe in Thy bright home forever, sweet Jesus, with Thee. However great the sufferings of this life may be, we can all have recourse to God, and obtain strength and courage in the thought that Thou, dear Lord, hast been the first of all great sufferers, and that Thou wilt never permit our troubles to exceed our limited strength. Oh, how sweetly and lovingly dost Thou receive the soul who, notwithstanding temptation and trials, hast always served Thee faithfully, and hast persevered to the end in Thy service! O my sweet Love, aid me by Thy grace to bear all afflictions with loving patience, so that I may one day receive my everlasting reward.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, which from all time wast inflamed with love for the glory of Thy [pg 261] heavenly Father, and for our salvation, be Thou praised and blessed forever! Kindle in our hearts that divine fire Thou hast brought upon the earth, and grant that we may never, on our side, oppose it, but that by Thy holy grace it may ever burn there. Amen.
Twenty-first Day. The Heart of Jesus will Glorify us in Heaven.
My Jesus, when will that moment come, when having followed faithfully the path of crosses and tribulations, I shall hear Thee say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I shall place thee over many. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” Oh, the joy the soul will feel when, on reaching heaven, she shall find herself in the company of the angels and saints; of Mary, her good Mother, and shall recognize all her friends and relatives! What joy will it not be to find one's self safe in port, free from all danger, safe forever in the arms of God! The happiness of heaven once insured is ours forever more; it cannot be lost. There will be no more sorrow nor trouble. Thou, O my sweet Jesus, wilt wipe away all tears from our eyes, and with Thy sweet voice, Thou wilt gladden our hearts. My soul, enter into thyself, and reflect that thou wert made for this glory if thou wilt only struggle to the end. How foolish then is he, who for a brief passing moment of pleasure, would fling away all claim to that glory, which as St. Paul says, “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Take courage, my soul, and [pg 262] do not murmur against those trifling tribulations, which God in His mercy sends for our own true weal. Most loving Jesus, give me grace to welcome them, to embrace them eagerly, and to bear them according to Thy good pleasure, and with sincere resignation to Thy holy will. O my sweet Jesus, grant that I may one day reach that joyful kingdom, there to unite my voice to those of the ever blest ones who, with ceaseless transports of joy, cry out before Thy throne, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts; heaven and earth are full of the glory of Thy majesty.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Victim of love, consecrated Altar where all sacrifices are completed, Thou art the glory of the Holy Trinity, the joy of the angels and all the blessed, and the unfailing hope of mortals. Be Thou the sole Master of the desires and affections of my heart. O Heart of Jesus, that lovest me so tenderly, make me love Thee fervently in this world, so that I may love Thee eternally in heaven. Amen.
Twenty-second Day. The Heart of Jesus Opened.
Jesus, even after His death, allowed His sacred side to be opened by a spear-thrust, in order that we might see with what good-will He had suffered, and how ardently He was inflamed with love of us, and with desire for our salvation. This opening of the side of Jesus, and the wonderful shedding of blood and water, should fill us with a sweet gladness, tempered with tears of sorrow for our [pg 263] evil. The only time in which we wounded not His Heart was that time in which we had not yet been furnished by nature with that dangerous weapon, our natural liberty, the origin of all our offences against God. He could have deprived us of that free will which has been the instrument by which we have offended Him so often; but no, He comes unto us with all love, disclosing to us all the sweetness of His kind Heart. O my Saviour, Thou never ceasest to renew Thy loving assaults! Thou didst wait on me, yearning to enfold me in Thy divine embrace. O peerless mercy of my Jesus' Heart, how can I ever repay Thee? Heart of my Jesus, I shall endeavor to prove my love for Thee by atoning as far as is in my power for the many insults offered Thee. I shall adore and love Thee to the utmost of my power, I shall visit Thee, hidden as Thou art in the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, and delight in holding sweet converse with Thee. Thy side is open wide: for whom, if not for poor sinners? O my sweet Jesus, I can enter therein at will. In Thy Sacred Heart I can find true sorrow, and contrition for all my ingratitude and thanklessness. Oh, give my heart steadiness and fidelity, that so these resolutions may be effectual and practical.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who with incomparable love didst vouchsafe to be crowned with thorns, blindfolded, and struck with a reed, stripped of Thy garments, nailed to the cross, and lifted up thereon between two thieves: to have gall and vinegar given Thee to drink, to be wounded with a spear: I beseech Thee, O Sacred Heart, by all these [pg 264] pains, and by Thy cross and death, to deliver me from all that displeases Thee and in Thy mercy to lead me whither Thou didst conduct the penitent thief. Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Twenty-third Day. The Heart of Jesus the Source of All Happiness.
There is one thing for which every heart craves, after its own manner. We all long for happiness—that is the one great desire that lives in every soul. Hast Thou not, sweet Jesus, given us that longing? And when Thou hast given so much surely Thou wilt not refuse the accomplishment of this desire also. Tell us, dear Lord, what souls are happy, and we will learn from their example. Let us look at the faces of those who serve Thee, and we will see them growing brighter and brighter as they draw near Thee, and they will tell us. When we love Thee sincerely, then we shall be happy; when we make Thy will the centre around which we move, then we shall be happy; when Thy sweet Heart, hidden under the sacramental species, is more beautiful in our sight than all else, when we shape and mould our lives according to the example of that Sacred Heart, then peace and joy and happiness will be ours. Teach us, sweet Heart of Jesus, from Thy tabernacle, to serve Thee as Thou deservest, to love Thee above all things, to work for Thee bravely and generously, solely because of Thy love and not for Thy gifts. Oh, what happiness may I not promise myself if I but cling to Thy most generous Heart, and use my best endeavors to faithfully serve, [pg 265] adore, and love it. Inflame my heart, O Jesus, with the fire of love with which Thine is ever inflamed. With St. Ignatius I will say, “Jesus, Lord, give to me Thy love and grace divine, and I shall be rich enough.” Henceforth I accept the remainder of my life and all its events, whether bitter or sweet, from Thee; fixing my eyes on the tabernacle alone, I will serve Thee because it is Thy will I should do so. Help me, my Jesus, unto the end; let me find no happiness but in Thee.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, how blessed is he whose only hope and confidence is in Thee, Who alone canst satisfy the yearnings of his heart! Thou art indeed the light of our true heavenly land, the delights of which surpass all that our human senses can experience. Too late have I known Thee, O ancient beauty! Too late have I loved Thee! But if I have begun so late, make me now love Thee perfectly. Amen.
Twenty-fourth Day. The Love of the Saints for the Heart of Jesus.
What a contrast there is between my conduct and that of Thy saints—between my indifference and their love towards Thy sweet Heart in the Blessed Sacrament! St. John Francis Regis, when worn out with labor, would retire to the church and would there find repose and rest at the feet of Jesus. St. Francis Xavier used to pass the night and take his repose in the sacristy, so as to be near Jesus. Leopold, Duke of Austria, would dismount from his horse, and falling on his knees would [pg 266] adore his Saviour as the procession of the Blessed Sacrament passed him by. It is true that I cannot, nor does Jesus expect me to imitate these bright examples; yet if I have the will and the desire I can do much. Could I not often think of Jesus, lonely in the Blessed Sacrament, waiting and watching for me, His poor creature, to visit Him? Could I not, like St. Alphonsus, visit the Blessed Sacrament every day? Could I not, when I bend my knee before Him, say “Blessed and praised be the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar?” Could I not refrain from useless talk in church? Could I not easily assist at Benediction as often as it takes place in church? All this I could do, O loving Heart of Jesus, if I only cared for Thee, if the love of Thee had taken full possession of my soul. But I am weak, O Jesus, and ever prone to thwart Thy adorable intentions; still I am comforted by the thought that Thou wilt aid and sustain me. This urges me to pray, in fullest hope of obtaining all things conducive to my sanctification here, and my salvation hereafter. Perfect my desires, I implore Thee, and let the example of Thy saints stimulate me to love Thee in the Blessed Sacrament more and more.
Prayer.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thou art the source of the joy and holiness of the saints, and from Thy fulness we receive all that we can have or wish for in heaven and on earth. Through Thy charity, and through that of the heart of Thy holy Mother, I beseech Thee to bestow on me the sweet peace of charity, and to make my heart ever yielding and obedient to the impulses of Thy divine grace. Amen.
Twenty-fifth Day. The Agony of the Heart of Jesus.
The Heart of Jesus is filled with terror at the sight of the torments that await Him. He seems to forget what He is and why He came into this world. He prostrates Himself on the ground, and beseeches His Father to remove from Him, if possible, the chalice of suffering which He sees in store for Him. His agony is so intense that He is covered with a sweat of blood, which oozes out in great drops and trickles down to the ground. O my soul, hast thou ever beheld a sight like this? Only Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has loved man, has suffered like this. O my Jesus, my sweet Jesus, Thou hast willingly suffered the divine vengeance which should have fallen on me. What more couldst Thou have done for me? Surely if our hearts are human, if there is one fibre of pity or gratitude in our souls, the memory of Thy agony would never be obliterated. By Thy presence on the altar, Thou has made me acknowledge the enormity of my sins. Thou hast compelled me to own that my sins have, as far as they could, reacted every scene in Thy Passion. And yet do I linger under the shadow of Thy tabernacle? Do I weep over the wounds I have made in Thy body? Oh, no, dear Jesus! I have forgotten Thee, and like the Jews, with Thy blood on my hands, I have eaten and made merry. O tender Heart of Jesus, let it be so no more. Let my heart be filled with sorrow on account of my iniquities. Let my repentance be like Magdalen's; then I shall be happy and I shall be saved, because Thou wilt never despise a truly contrite heart. O [pg 268] loving Jesus, make my heart so just, so upright, and so conformable to Thy Heart, that between Thee and me there may be nothing to offend Thee.
Prayer.
I adore Thee, Sacred Heart of Jesus, suffering in the Garden of Olives. It is I who deserve all the pains Thou endurest, for I am the cause of them. O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through Thy sorrow my soul finds consolation, and by Thy agony my death is made sweet. Give me a contrite and humble heart, that can participate in Thy pains and sorrows. Teach me how to offer up the prayer of suffering and patience. Amen.
Twenty-sixth Day. The Heart of Jesus in the Tabernacle.
The home of Jesus is the tabernacle. Our dear Lord and Saviour dwells among the poor as well as among the rich. He lives in the noisy, crowded city, as well as in the lonely, quiet country; in magnificent cathedrals, as well as in the poorest churches and the most dilapidated chapels. There He remains, that all may be able to come to His dwelling-place, to lay before Him all their wants, to converse with Him and to obtain from Him all the graces they need, whether for soul or body. Can we imagine anything more loving or generous? The soul that truly loves Jesus need not go far to find Him. He can be found in every church in which the Blessed Sacrament is kept, and there the King of kings, Our Lord and Saviour, is content to remain, shut up in a tabernacle of wood, with no one to keep Him company. Well has He been called a “Prisoner of [pg 269] love.” O sweet Heart of Jesus, because Thou art always with us, we forget Thee; because we are accustomed to Thy continual presence we heed it no more. Because Thou never leavest us, we grow tired of Thee and value Thee not. O loving Heart of Jesus, what ingratitude! Yet surely it ought not to be difficult to visit Thee and to converse with Thee. How many afflictions, how many troubles of mind and body, are there to tell Thee; how many graces and blessings to supplicate; how many sins and transgressions are there to weep for; how many acts of love and thanksgiving to be poured forth for all Thy numberless mercies; how many petitions ought to ascend for the conversion of those who neither know nor love Thee! O compassionate Jesus, grant that we may ever remember Thee in Thy loving Sacrament, and let Thy dear words ever sound in our ears: “Come to Me, all you that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you.”
Prayer.
I adore Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, the joy, the satisfaction, and the supreme Ruler of all hearts. With the same loving kindness that led Thee to take the hand of St. Thomas, and carry it Thyself into Thy side, make my heart seek no joy but in Thee, O Sacred Heart. May my heart be ever subject to Thy gentle sway, for out of Thee it will find but labor and tribulation, and all the consequences of its unhappy bondage. Amen.
Twenty-seventh Day. The Heart of Jesus is My Hope.
In the Heart of Jesus we live, and move, and have our being. O Jesus, Thy care of me is so wise [pg 270] and gentle, that nothing can harm me so long as I leave myself in Thy hands. I know the trials which Thou sendest me are irksome, that my passions goad me on to rise up against Thee, and the demon also whispers in my ear, “Thou hast Jesus no longer, He has abandoned thee for aye.” But no, never will I lose my hope in Thee; I shall not be affrighted; remembering the loving lessons Thy Heart has taught me, I will fear no evils. Too powerful in the strength, my God, that comes to me from the assurance that Thou, sweet Love, rulest my life and art a sharer in all my sorrow. No, I will not fear, for Thou art with me. With Jesus, my God, by my side, my hope acquires new strength. I have with me a Father Who loves me and Who is ever intent on blessing me. My eyes behold Thee not, yet through the wondrous agency of Thy grace, Thou art near to me at every place and at every moment. Be Thou then, sweet Jesus, my comforter, my delight, my crown. My senses will murmur, it is true, my passions will arise in rebellion, but fortified by Thy grace and strength, I will fight against sin with a fortitude invincible. Aid me then, O divine Heart, for Thou art my only hope. Let me rest and repose on Thy bosom and forget my wanderings. Let me learn that there and there only, I am in my true home, where alone I can be happy.
Prayer.
O most compassionate Jesus! Thou alone art our salvation, our life and our resurrection. We implore Thee, therefore, do not forsake us in our needs and afflictions, but by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart and by the sorrows of Thy immaculate [pg 271] Mother, succor Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy most precious blood. Amen.
Twenty-eighth Day. All Graces Come from the Heart of Jesus.
All virtues are found in the Heart of Jesus. His Heart is the furnace of divine love, always burning with the fire of the Holy Spirit, purifying, kindling, and transforming into Himself all who yield themselves to Him, or who wish to be His. “My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready.” I will extol Thee, O God, my King, and I will bless Thy name forever. Since all good flows from Thy most sweet Heart, O Jesus, I should not attribute to myself anything of the good I may have done, nor regard with self-satisfaction the gifts of God, but ascribe all to Him, and return all to their original source, which is the Heart of Jesus. Place all your sins in the Heart of Jesus. Through that Heart you should ask for grace and pardon, and praise and bless Him for all His mercies. I acknowledge, O my God, Thy supreme dominion over me, and all created things. I bow down before Thy infinite sanctity, perfection and excellence, which entitle Thee to the fullest love, service, and praise of all Thy creatures. In Thy presence I protest my detestation of my countless sins, with which I have outraged Thy love, and deeply repentant, I implore of Thee a full pardon. Open wide Thy Heart of love, and let stream on my heart all the full sympathy of Thine. I know Thou canst not trust me, as I am ever prone to break my word and betray Thee. Hence I need all Thy care, all Thy grace to persevere in the good resolutions Thou formest in my soul. O sweet Virgin Mother of my [pg 272] Jesus, help me to praise and bless the Lord for all the benefits He has bestowed on me, and for all those He will grant for all eternity.
Prayer.
My sweet Jesus, I give Thee my soul, my body, and my will, resigning myself in all and forever to Thy most holy grace. Do with me what Thou pleasest. Make me ever love Thee in this life and in the next; do this, and then dispose of me and of everything I have as Thou wilt. Tell me what Thou askest of me; for with Thy grace I will execute it, be it what it may. Amen.
Twenty-ninth Day. The Heart of Jesus the Source of Sanctity.
This adorable Heart offers to us at once the motive, the example, and the grace of holiness. What could be more of an incentive to keep ourselves from sin, than the remembrance of Our Lord's Sacred Heart, which was saddened by sin to such an excess as to cause His sacred body to sweat drops of blood? What more calculated to inspire us with zeal for our sanctification than the study of this Heart, which calls us to it with so much love, and by so many sacrifices? St. Bernardin of Sienna speaks of this divine Heart as a furnace of the most ardent love, capable of setting the whole world on fire. We find in the Heart of Jesus the grace of holiness, for as Blessed Margaret Mary says, “Nothing is better calculated to raise the soul in a very short time to the loftiest degree of holiness than devotion to this dear Heart.” She also says that those who labor for the salvation of souls will find in this devotion the gift of touching the [pg 273] hardest heart. It is because this divine Heart is the throne whereon mercy is seated, that invocations made to it are never in vain. It is the strong tower against which all temptations are powerless. It is the source of all benedictions. Oh, we should love with all our strength the amiable Heart of Jesus, no matter what it may cost us! We should sanctify ourselves at any cost, and to do this we should love and burn incessantly in the furnace of the pure love of God, which will purify and sanctify us at one and the same time. Let us, then, abandon ourselves into the hands of God, and we shall soon see that He will employ every means to make us perfect. He who loves perfectly makes no resistance. My Jesus, take unto Thee my heart; I give myself wholly to Thee. May I ever be scrupulously faithful and unflinchingly constant in loving Thee, this day and every day of my whole life.
Prayer.
O beloved One of my soul, would that I had always loved Thee! Alas, there was a time when I not only did not love Thee, but despised Thy grace and Thy love. I am consoled by the sorrow which I feel for it, and I hope for pardon through Thy promise to forgive him that repents of his sins. To Thee, O my Saviour, do I turn all my affections; help me, through the merits of Thy Passion, to love Thee with my whole strength. Amen.
Thirtieth Day. The Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion.
Oh, how shall I dare to approach Thy heavenly banquet, that mystery which is the greatest and most stupendous work of even Thy almighty [pg 274] love? that banquet of which the noblest and purest spirits are in no sense truly worthy? Yet I feel myself comforted, when I read in Thy Gospel that Thou sendest forth Thy servants in quest of the poor, the blind, the lame, and the wretched, to invite them to Thy bounteous feast divine. O goodness of God! O Heart of Jesus, truly loving art Thou, and truly worthy of all love. Not only willingly, but eagerly do I accept Thy sweet and merciful invitation. What a consolation to be allowed to enjoy the loving embraces of the divine Spouse of my soul! As the hart panteth after the fountains of water, so my soul panteth after Thee, O God. Oh, come then, Heart of my Jesus, come to Thy poor servant. I desire to tell Thee all my needs, to protest to Thee my love, to clasp Thee to me. Come, and as Thou enterest my heart, let me hear Thy sweet, consoling words, “Peace be to thee.” Oh, fortify me with Thy light and strength, that I may no more lose Thee or drive Thee from me. But as long as I live, I am in danger—my resolution may become weak and I may betray Thee as I have done before. O Love unbounded, do Thou help me; from Thee and from Thy Heart, I hope all good. Let not that hope grow weak at any time, nor waver for a single instant. This I implore of Thee through the same love which has made Thee remain with us day and night, and which has induced Thee to give Thyself for our food in the Blessed Sacrament.
Prayer.
Remember, O most loving Jesus, that it is unheard of that any one ever had recourse to Thy Sacred Heart, implored its help without obtaining [pg 275] relief. Confiding in Thy infinite goodness and mercy we cast ourselves before Thee, and do most humbly supplicate Thee to hear our prayers, and to take upon Thyself the care of our salvation. Show, divine Jesus, that Thou hast the Heart of the best of Fathers. Shelter us therein, and let it not be said that we have perished, where no one ever found but mercy, grace and salvation. Amen.
Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
(For Private Devotion Only.)
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity one God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hypostatically united with the Word of God, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sanctuary of the divinity, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, temple of the Holy Trinity, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of wisdom, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, ocean of goodness, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, throne of mercy, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, treasure inexhaustible, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, whose plenitude is diffused in us, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, model of all virtues, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, infinitely amiable and most worthy of being loved, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fountain of living water springing up to eternal life, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, love of the celestial Father, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of bitterness for our sakes, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sad unto death in the Garden, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, wrung with ignominy, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, wounded from love, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, drained of Thy blood on the cross, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, broken with grief on account of our sins, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, still outraged by ungrateful men in the Most Holy Sacrament of love, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, refuge of sinners, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, strength of the weak, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, comfort of the afflicted, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, perseverance of the just, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, sweet support of Thy adorers, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, Have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, help in our afflictions, Have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Hear us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us, O Jesus!
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make my heart like unto Thine.
Let Us Pray.
O Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, cast Thine eyes upon Thy beloved Son; accept, we beseech Thee, the satisfaction He offers Thee; be appeased by His divine homage, and mercifully protect us, through the same Christ, Thy Son, Who, being God, livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Mass in Union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Introibo.
O divine Jesus, Thou art the Victim laden with all the iniquities of the world: Thou didst [pg 277] shed bitter tears for them; Thou didst expiate them by the most dreadful torments, and by the most cruel of deaths. I come to mingle my tears with Thine; I confess to Thee, in the presence of Mary, ever Virgin, and of all the saints, that I have sinned exceedingly; that it is my ingratitude that pierced Thy Heart, and put Thee to a cruel death. O God, my Saviour, through Thy tears, through Thy agony in the Garden of Olives, through Thy precious blood and the wound in Thy Sacred Heart, I beseech Thee to pardon me, and to grant me the remission of all my sins. Amen.
Introit.
Let us adore the Heart of Jesus, which has loved us so much; let us prostrate ourselves before Him, and bewail the sins of which we have been guilty. Grant us, O Lord, a contrite and humble heart; let the homage of our adoration be as acceptable to Thee as if we offered Thee thousands of victims. Amen.
Kyrie.
The days of propitiation have arisen upon me; I may call Thee by Thy name, O God of majesty; I may call Thee my Saviour and my Father. Thou art present on our altars, that Thou mayest heap Thy favors upon us. I will draw nigh, therefore, with confidence unto the throne of mercy, and I will say unto Thee: Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. Amen.
Gloria.
Glory be to God, Whose justice is satisfied by the perpetual sacrifice of so noble a Victim. Peace and happiness on earth to men of good-will, who [pg 278] behold a God annihilating Himself daily to save them, and to feed them with His own substance. I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I adore Thee, O Lord, and I stand amazed at the sight of the wonders of Thy love. Shall I suffer them to be of no avail to me through the evil dispositions of my heart? Shall I reject that peace which Thou offerest me? Shall I not labor to acquire that good-will by which it comes? O my God, allay the strife which is so often excited in my heart, making the flesh rebel against the spirit. Amen.
Collect.
O Divine Jesus, inexhaustible fountain of all good things, open unto us, we beseech Thee, the interior of Thy Heart: that, having entered by pious meditation into this august sanctuary of divine love, we may fix forever there our hearts, as the place wherein is found the treasure, rest and happiness of holy souls; Who livest and reignest forever and ever. Amen.
Epistle.
“Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewed her out seven pillars. She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table. She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city: Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said: Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you. Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence” (Prov. ix. 1-6).
Gospel.
Praise, honor, and glory be to Thee, O Jesus, Saviour of the world! Who, thirsting for the [pg 279] salvation of souls, didst endure for them so much labor and fatigue; Who for their sakes didst pass entire nights in prayer, and didst weary Thyself going from city to city, from village to village. Grant, I implore Thee, that Thy love may also make me prompt and apt in every good work, and that I may never grow tepid in Thy service. Help me to know and practise the holy counsels contained in Thy Gospel, and grant above all that I may penetrate the divine wisdom contained in Thy words: “If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross and follow Me.”
Credo.
I believe, O my God, the truths which Thou hast revealed to Thy Church. I desire to live and die in this faith. Grant, O Lord, that my life may be conformable to my faith; that my faith may be animated by good works; that I may never be ashamed to declare myself a Catholic, and may constantly maintain the interests of Thy holy religion. O holy Roman Catholic Church, the persecutions which thou hast endured, far from weakening my faith, do but strengthen it the more, since thy divine Spouse foretold them. Sweet Heart of Jesus, draw close the bonds that bind me to Thy holy Church; put into my heart a spirit of perfect obedience to my lawful pastors. In its bosom I became Thy child, and in its bosom I wish to live and die. Amen.
Offertory.
O Jesus, we draw near with confidence to Thy sweet Heart: cast upon us, we beseech Thee, a look of pity, and make our hearts a perpetual offering [pg 280] consecrated to Thy glory. O Heart of infinite goodness, I offer Thee my heart; vouchsafe to change it, to bless and sanctify it. O my soul, how Jesus Christ hath loved us! At what a price He hath redeemed us! Not with gold, nor with riches, but by the voluntary shedding of His blood. He hath sacrificed Himself for us: let us then live only for Him; let us sacrifice ourselves together with Him. But, O my God, my heart is not full enough of love and fervor to be an offering worthy of Thee. What then shall I give Thee? I will give Thee Thy Son. That Son, the most worthy object of Thy complacency, will supply my inability. O Lord, look not on me, but on this divine offering. Amen.
Preface.
Lift up, O Lord, do Thou Thyself lift up my heart to Thee. Take from it all unholy thoughts, all earthly affections. Lift it wholly up to heaven, where Thy Heart is worthily adored, and to the altar, where it is about to manifest itself to me. Through Thy most kind Heart, I beseech Thee to draw my heart wholly into Thine. Bury it in Thine, so that it may be so absorbed into and united to Thy Heart, that I may no longer have any heart but Thine. Suffer me, then, to join my feeble voice with the voices of all the heavenly spirits, and in union with them to say, in transports of joy and admiration: Holy, holy, holy is the Heart of Jesus! the worthy object of the divine complacency, and of the homage of heaven and earth! The whole earth is full of Thy glory; let my heart be full also of its love. Amen.
Canon.
O God infinitely holy, if my sins provoke Thee, and make me hateful in Thy sight, look upon the Lamb without spot, Who is going to immolate Himself to take away the sins of the world, and beholding His merits, remember not my ingratitude. Remember only that I have been graciously admitted into the Heart of Thy divine Son. This Heart infinitely merciful prayed for me on Calvary, and will soon renew the sacrifice of itself for me. O my sweet Jesus, how many times have I sinned against Thee? How many times have I despised the interior graces Thou hast bestowed upon me? Oh, how earnestly I now desire a perfect contrition, equal to the greatness of the love that I have offended. But, since it is impossible for my sorrow to equal Thy goodness towards me, I offer the loving contrition of the Heart of my Lord Jesus Christ to supply my insufficiency. Amen.
Consecration.
O my soul, behold thy God, thy Saviour, thy Judge! My God, I adore Thee! My Saviour, I love Thee! My sovereign Judge, I am sorry for ever having offended Thee! O Heart of my Jesus, Whom I believe to be here really present, suffer me not to be separated from Thee during life. Grant that my heart may ever find repose in Thine, that I may die in Thy love, and thus go to contemplate and praise Thee for all eternity. Amen.
After The Consecration.
The heavens are opened: the Holy of holies has descended on the earth: this altar is now the throne where dwells the majesty of the Most High; the angels surround Him, and with the most lively homage of reverence and love, make reparation to Him for the contempt, the neglect, and the indifference of men. O divine Lord, I lay all my petitions at Thy feet; vouchsafe to present them to Thy Father. I pray for the conversion of sinners, the perseverance of the just, and the triumph of our holy religion. O Jesus, Who didst die for all men, bring back to the fold of Thy Church those who are separated from it. Enlighten all infidels and heretics, bless the efforts of those who labor to convert them. Have pity on the souls of the faithful departed; remit to them their debts, and grant them a place of refreshment, light, and peace. I beseech Thee particularly to have compassion on (name them).
Pater Noster.
O my Father, if it be permitted that a guilty child call by so tender a name a God Whom he hath so often offended, grant that I may ever labor for the glory of Thy holy name, that in all things I may do Thy will, and sigh unceasingly for Thy heavenly kingdom. Let the forgiveness which Thou didst grant Thy murderers be my example in forgiving those who have injured me: give me superiors, both spiritual and temporal, that love Thee, and friends that serve Thee faithfully; and if ever I expose myself to sin, do Thou deliver me from the [pg 283] danger, that I may never outrage Thy loving Heart. Amen.
Agnus Dei.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world! Pure and spotless Victim, Who alone canst satisfy the justice of an offended God, vouchsafe to make me a partaker of the merits of Thy sacrifice! What lessons of humility, meekness, charity and patience dost Thou give me! Impress these virtues upon my heart, that it may be to Thee a pleasant habitation, wherein Thou mayest repose, as in an abode of peace. Amen.
Communion.
O Christ, mighty Lord, most sweet Jesus, my strength and my refuge, defender of my soul, God of my salvation! O Thou in Whom I believe and hope, Thou Whom I love, behold I draw near to Thy throne of grace, I knock at the door of Thy mercy, and beseech Thee to open it for me. Thou Who didst promise entrance into paradise to the penitent thief, bring me, through the most holy wound of Thy side, to the centre of Thy breast, and let me drink at the fountain of wisdom that flows from Thy Heart. O God of infinite mercy, receive me, enclose me, hide me in the bosom of Thy mercy. Amen.
After Communion.
I have found Him Whom my soul loveth: I possess Him, and will nevermore leave Him. What have I to desire in heaven, and what can I henceforth love upon earth, but Thee, O my God, the God of my heart! O most loving Jesus, were it [pg 284] possible, I would fain praise Thee as perfectly, love Thee as ardently, serve Thee as faithfully, please Thee as completely, and contribute to Thy glory as efficiently as do all angels and men collectively and as each one does in particular. O most merciful Lord, God of holiness, vouchsafe to cleanse my heart from all self-love and all sinful affections. Make it a pleasing abode for Thee. Let it become like unto Thy Heart, that Thou mayest delight to dwell in it forever. Amen.
Benediction.
O loving Heart of Jesus, I will not depart till Thou hast blessed me. Bless me in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost! and let Thy blessing descend upon all those for whom I ought to pray. Amen.
Last Gospel.
O eternal Word, Who wast made man that Thou mightest make men the children of God, I thank Thee for this unspeakable grace. How great is the blessing I enjoy, not only of hearing the name, but of being indeed the child of God! Grant, O my sweet Jesus, that I may preserve this blessed title, by faithfully imitating Thy Sacred Heart, and showing myself always filled with love for Thy holy law. If I remain faithful Thou assurest me that I shall be co-heir with Thee, and shall enjoy the happiness which Thou hast purchased for us with Thy precious blood: and this I hope to obtain through Thy infinite mercy. Amen.
After Mass.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me:
Body of Christ, save me:
Blood of Christ, inebriate me:
Water from the side of Christ, wash me:
Passion of Christ, strengthen me:
O good Jesus, hear me:
Within Thy wounds hide me:
Permit me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy defend me:
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come to Thee;
That, with Thy saints, I may praise Thee
Forever and ever. Amen.