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The Church has dedicated the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and it also has its own special feast day on June 16th, the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. A devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has long existed in the history of the Church but was revitalized through St. Margaret Mary.
sacred heart, liturgical living, June dedication
What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
The symbol which many of us have seen before is one that profoundly expresses Jesus’ undying love for the Church. The heart, a universal symbol for love, is wrapped in thorns to express the self-sacrificing nature with which He offers us redemption. According to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the thorns also represent the sins that we commit which prick the heart of Jesus. The lance pierced side depicts the outpouring of His blood which nourishes and gives life to us all. The significance of this calls to mind the Blessed Sacrament, our spiritual sustenance given to not only enliven us but draw us into an intimate relationship. Not to forget about the flames, a biblical symbol of divinity but also an expression of passionate and all consuming love. The Church highly values this devotion as a way of fighting off the evils of the world and emboldening us in faith, morals, and piety. We can always take refuge in the heart of our Savior who will not forsake His children.
"Consider often that it is only the humble of heart that can enter into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ and converse with Him, Love Him and be Loved by Him." St. Margaret Mary
Getting to Know St. Margaret Mary
She was born to a prosperous French country family in 1647 and as a little girl she loved spending time with them as well as her godmother. Sadly, her father died of pneumonia early on in her life and it left the family in very difficult financial times. As a result, she was sent to school with the Urbanist Sisters of Charolles. She adored life at the convent and was even able to make her first communion early. However, Margaret had to come home after she became very sick and was bed-ridden for about four years. After some time for healing she led a fairly normal life as a teenager but received a vision after coming home from a dance. It was of Christ being scourged, she interpreted that as having betrayed Jesus for worldly pleasures. At that point she decided to enter the convent at only 22 years old. After a few years there she began to have a series of visions that lasted a year and a half. The core message of these visions was Jesus asking her to spread a devotion to His Sacred Heart. The explanations of her visions were not received well, but a priest by the name of Father Claude de la Columbiere, now a saint, wrote them down and helped her spread the devotion. Over time, Margaret Mary was able to lead her convent in many ways to the Sacred Heart of Jesus until she became very sick at the young age of 43. Her final words were, “I need nothing but God, and to lose myself in the heart of Jesus.”
12 Promises from the Sacred Heart
In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus promised abundant graces to those who devote themselves to His Sacred Heart.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will give 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 death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my heart the source and 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 in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their name written in my heart and it shall never be effaced.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence: they will not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving the Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Lived Devotion to the Sacred Heart
1. Consecrate yourself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
2. Engage in the First Fridays novena. In an apparition to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Jesus requested that people go to confession, attend mass, and receive the Eucharist on the first Friday of 9 consecutive months.
3. Strive to imitate Jesus self-sacrificing heart in your daily life. Maybe it’s less complaining, more service work, helping a friend or family member, or praying more regularly. Take time discerning this in your prayer life.
4. Enthrone your home, if you have this booklet you’ve already made a step!
5. Pray for the reparation of sin and grace to live out a vocation of love.
Try These Prayers
Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer
O most holy Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing,
I adore you, I love you and with a lively sorrow for my sins.
I offer you this poor heart of mine.
Make me humble, patient, pure, and wholly obedient to your will.
Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you.
Protect me in the midst of danger; comfort me in my afflictions;
give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs,
your blessings on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.
Within your heart I place my every care.
In every need let me come to you with humble trust saying,
Heart of Jesus, help me.
Amen
Prayer from St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
For whom it is impossible not to have
Compassion on the afflicted,
Have pity on us miserable sinners
And grant us the grace
Which we ask of you,
Through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
Your tender mother and ours.
Amen
Prayer of Gratitude to the Sacred Heart
Lord, you deserve all honor and praise,
because your love is perfect
and your heart sublime.
Me heart is filled to overflowing with
gratitude for the many blessings and graces
you have bestowed upon me
and those whom I love.
Forever undeserving, may I always be
attentive and never take for granted
the gifts of mercy and love that flow
so freely and generously from
your Sacred Heart.
Heart of Jesus, I adore you.
Heart of Jesus, I praise you.
Heart of Jesus, I thank you.
Heart of Jesus, I love you forever and always.
Amen
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Pray for 9 Consecutive Days
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.”
Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of…
(Mention your Intention Here)
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of… (Mention your Intention Here)
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of…
(Mention your Intention Here)
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Amen.
Serve This Up
Out of all the ideas I recommend picking a few that fit your personal or family Catholic culture. For us, we partake in the First Friday devotion, we enthroned our home so we regularly pray in front of our Sacred Heart image, and I make flaming strawberries on the feast day as a fun dessert. What would you pick?
Can't wait to see how you live closely to Jesus' merciful and loving heart! You can share with me in the comments or on social media.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!
