Part 18

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

JULY. THE PRECIOUS BLOOD.

Our Lord shed His blood for our ransom, to buy us from the slavery of the devil and of sin. Not one drop of blood did He reserve for Himself; He shed it all most generously in our behalf. He was the Lamb of God without blemish, Who, according to God’s designs for the redemption of mankind, was to be sacrificed. His blood was to be shed on the cross; from five great wounds it was to flow upon the earth, like the sacrifices of the Old Testament. These sufferings were precious in the sight of God, the Father, and gained for us the remission of our sins, the ransom from the slavery of Satan. Every drop of this blood was all powerful, because it represented the sacrifice of a God‐man.

How precious are those drops of blood in the chalice on the altar at Mass, when the sacred blood of Christ is offered daily to God for our salvation! How we desire to drink that blood, that we may have life in us, for the Lord has said, “Unless you drink of My blood, you shall not have life in you.” How this blood flowed in the Garden of Gethsemani, at the scourging, at the crowning with thorns, and at the crucifixion! Precious blood of my Jesus, I adore thee; pour thyself over my soul that I may be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Considerations and Prayers for Every Day.

First Day.

Unhappy mankind was bound in the slavery and tyranny of Satan, in the shadow of death, without being able to free itself. Jesus, the Victor over death and hell, came into the world to destroy the kingdom of the prince of darkness, and to set the human race free, so that it might look up once more to God the Father. This great work, so beneficial to our souls, was effected by the shedding of the blood of Christ at the circumcision, and the completion of the sacrifice when He shed the last drop of His blood on the cross. In this sacred blood we have received the power to co‐operate with the graces of God, which are to free us; for certainly we must do something on our part to keep this newly‐acquired privilege of children of God. Let us, then, feel in our hearts the necessity of a devotion to the precious blood of Our Lord, the cause of our salvation; and continue during this month of July to adore it, and to conceive an unbounded confidence in the almighty power of its intercession.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood of Jesus in satisfaction for my sins, and for the wants of holy Church. Blessed be the precious blood of Jesus, which renders bearable the thorns of earth, redeems our souls, purifies them from their iniquities, and prepares for them an eternal crown. Amen.

Second Day.

When Constantine had become a Christian, he found himself confronted by many enemies of his kingdom, and of our holy religion. He was told to have confidence in the cross, because in this sign “Thou shalt conquer.” We, too, will conquer by this sacred symbol of our salvation, stained with the blood of Our Lord; we, too, have the enemies of our liberty and religion before us; we have to fight against the world, that is full of deceits and vanities; we have to make war against the flesh, that rises frequently against the spirit; we have to fight against the prince of darkness, that goes about like a roaring lion seeking to tear us to pieces. Yes, my dear Jesus, I see that my enemies have great power and activity; give me also the power and activity to oppose my will and intellect against them, so that I may conquer. Thou didst come upon the earth for the purpose of giving me this victory; let me not be conquered and led back into slavery.

Prayer.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the precious blood, etc., etc.

Third Day.