A review of two books on the Sacred Heart: “Healing Promises: the Essential Guide to the Sacred Heart” and “A Little Book of Reparation: First Friday Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus;” both by Anne Costa

Posted on March 10, 2023 by paulcoholic

For this Sacred Heart Friday I am reviewing two great books on the Sacred Heart Devotion. Both of them are by Anne Costa, of Revive Hope and Healing Ministries.

I wish Anne had written these years ago. Waybackwhen I’d always wanted to have a greater insight into the Sacred Heart Devotion, but for some reason just couldn’t get it. I don’t know why; I was never taught much about it “growing up Catholic” except that it’s important to go to Mass for nine consecutive first Fridays of the month and there were also those twelve promises. But what’s that all to do with Jesus’ Heart? I always felt I was missing out on some key piece to a puzzle. That, in itself, may not be too surprising: try and show me any alcoholic or addict that didn’t think they missed something keenly important that they’re supposed to know! These two books by Costa fill in the details; together they comprise an invaluable handbook to the Sacred Heart! Read these and you’ll ‘get it;’ not only that, you’ll be wanting more!

First up is “Healing Promises: the Essential Guide to the Sacred Heart”

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If you know nothing about the Sacred Heart Devotion, or just the basics, like it involves a statue of Jesus pointing to His Heart, or going to Mass for a bunch of Fridays, and that it inspired generations of Catholic parents until the 1950s to name their daughters “Margaret Mary,” then this book is for you! In a very accessible style Anne introduces you to everything you need to know to make it a part of your devotional and sacramental life.

Part One has a basic history of where and when the devotion started and a biography on St. Margaret Mary.

Part Two gets into the nitty gritty of various aspects of the devotion, such as consecration and reparation, the centrality of the Blessed Sacrament, its Solemnities and Feast Days – including saints associated with the devotion, and Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in your home (and this is a major theme of the book.) Part Two finishes up with chapters connecting the Blessed Mother to the Sacred Heart and (and this is what I particularly enjoyed) putting the Sacred Heart Devotion in context with the Divine Mercy Devotion. I personally have long held that the Divine Mercy devotion according to St. Faustina Kowalska was like a 20th Century update or ‘reboot’ of the centuries older Sacred Heart. Costa’s chapter connects the two. In my devotional life, the two will from now on become intertwined!

Part Three goes into the Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart. There are actually many more promises that Jesus told to St. Margaret Mary for those who work out the Devotion, and they are detailed in the classic book by Fr. Croiset. The Twelve that are popularly listed in virtually any book on the Sacred Heart are a summary of most of the promises. Anne has one chapter for each promise!

Each chapter in Part 3 also has testimonials or inspiring stories which illustrate how that Promise was fulfilled in the life or family of someone. I love testimonials. Just reading about how someone’s life was changed for the better by something greatly moves me.

Throughout the book are little ‘Heart Notes,’ brief asides ‘to encourage further reflection and practical ways to bring the Sacred Heart devotion to your life.’

After Part Three are appendices which serve as wonderful references and collections of prayers, including ceremonies for Enthronement along with additional resources on the Sacred Heart.

Next up is a nice little book that can easily serve as a companion to Healing Promises: A Little Book of Reparation: First Friday Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It focuses on one of the more critical parts of the Sacred Heart Devotion, the Nine First Fridays. The Kindle edition is also free at the link above!

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The book tells you everything you need to know about the First Friday Devotion: where it came from, its purpose, the dispositions needed, and much on acts of reparation one can do. It includes suggested approaches for reparation, along with excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and a selection of prayers.

It is a wonderful companion to take with you to Mass on the First Friday of every month!

Costa has written other books, including the excellent “Praying for Those with Addictions”

“Anne Costa is a devoted wife, proud mother, inspired writer and impassioned speaker on all things related to faithful living, authentic womanhood and healing the soul. Her books are written to encourage, affirm and inspire Christians and Catholics with practical messages of hope-“ from her Amazon Author Page.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Contemplate the loving gentleness of the humanity of the Lord

Posted on March 3, 2023 by paulcoholic

This excerpt from the Second Reading of the Office of Readings of the Liturgy of the Hours for today is “From the Mirror of Love by Saint Aelred, abbot.” It is quite suitable for Sacred Heart Friday and as a daily Lenten meditation!

…If someone wishes to love himself he must not allow himself to be corrupted by indulging his sinful nature. If he wishes to resist the promptings of his sinful nature he must enlarge the whole horizon of his love to contemplate the loving gentleness of the humanity of the Lord. Further, if he wishes to savor the joy of brotherly love with greater perfection and delight, he must extend even to his enemies the embrace of true love.

But if he wishes to prevent this fire of divine love from growing cold because of injuries received, let him keep the eyes of his soul always fixed on the serene patience of his beloved Lord and Savior.

The first line of the excerpted passage is the essence of conversion during Lent (or anytime) combined with the Sacred Heart. The gentle humanity of the Lord is His profound and deep love for us, as expressed through His Sacred Heart. You just go beyond yourself and your self will and try to love as He loves. Be merciful to yourself and your weaknesses and consign them to the mercy of God; and love others as He does. Furthermore, you must love your enemies (quite a Gospel truth!) and in keeping with the Devotion to the Sacred Heart, make reparations for those who have sinned against you and the Lord.

The last line should be studied and carried with us in our hearts: ‘keep the eyes of your soul always fixed on the serene patience of your beloved Lord and Savior.’

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Apostle of the Sacred Heart

Posted on February 24, 2023 by paulcoholic

It’s Sacred Heart Friday! St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is known as the Apostle of the Sacred Heart Devotion. Her feast day is October 16 and I’ll probably write something more then, but this will provide an introduction.

She was born at Lhautecour, France, 22 July, 1647; and died at Paray-le-Monial, 17 October, 1690. From her childhood she was given to a devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and underwent severe personal mortifications, many of which would seem like self-torture today. She suffered from a paralysis for about four years until she made a vow to the Blessed Virgin Mary to consecrate herself to religious life. She was healed and recovered completely.

Her childhood and young adulthood continued to be marked by austerity and devotion. She entered the Visitation Order at the age of 24. It was not long after she took her final perpetual vows when Our Lord appeared to her in private revelations, teaching her about His Sacred Heart and establishing the principles of devotion to it. He wanted His love for the human race to be made known to all, since the Church had become unduly influenced by Jansenism (not to mention the related heresy of Calvinism running rampant in Reformation circles.) By encouraging devotion to “the heart that so loved mankind” and how acts of reparation to it on behalf of sinners, many souls will be saved.

You can read more about her in the book I’ve recommended numerous times, found in this post: “The Manual on the Sacred Heart Devotion.”

In March, 1824, Leo XII pronounced her Venerable, and on 18 September, 1864, Pius IX declared her Blessed. St. Margaret Mary was canonized by Benedict XV in 1920.

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Sacred Heart Devotion as a recovery method

Posted on February 17, 2023 by paulcoholic

The idea of using the Devotion to the Sacred Heart as a way to keep clean and sober isn’t strange to anyone familiar with the Matt Talbot Way. The Sacred Heart is central to the Way. It is essentially transferring your love for your favorite chemical onto Jesus. You ‘give’ your love for your addiction to Jesus and relapsing means you are taking it back. This is all done while being mindful of the reparative nature of the Sacred Heart.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus has special significance to sober alcoholics, especially to those who are familiar with AA. If you know your AA history, back in its early days one of the co-founders of the movement, Dr. Bob Smith, was greatly assisted in his treatment of alcoholics by a Catholic nun by the name of Sister Mary Ignatia Gavin, an administrator of St. Thomas Hospital in Akron, Ohio. After an alcoholic completed his stay at the hospital, Sister Ignatia would “award” him with a Sacred Heart Badge, sort of a “graduation” gift. This eventually developed into the practice of AA’s recieving medallions or coins representing whatever sobriety anniversary they were celebrating.

But the Devotion as a recovery method in and of itself, apart from the connection to the Matt Talbot Way? The essential part of the Devotion is Love and Mercy. Love of Jesus and acceptance of His Mercy. You love Jesus so much that you are willing to sacrifice for Him, and your love isn’t restricted to just loving Him, but also to love Him in the place of others who do not. This is reparative love. Loving Him in the place of those who do not means that your are making reparations for their sins. Sounds like a making of amends? But not just for your own sins and character defects, but for those of others, too. This is perfectly in keeping with St. Paul’s doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ; where one suffers, all suffer; there one rejoices, all rejoice. Making reparations for others is an act of mercy and this can only have beneficial results for ourselves. We obtain mercy for others and it gets lavished on us.

The Gospel of John 15:13 “No one has a greater love than this: that he lay down his life for his friends.” While we are not literally ‘laying down our lives’ for others, figuratively we are when we sacrifice and make reparations for the sins of others.

So, the basic workingnout off the devotion to the Sacred Heart, if done with a mind to keeping clean and sober, is a working out of our own recovery. It turns our attention off of ourselves and limits our self-will. If doing unto others what we would have done to us, charity is strengthened and we lose the need to drink and drug.

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Acts of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Posted on February 10, 2023 by paulcoholic

Can’t have a Sacred Heart Friday without a post on consecration to the Sacred Heart!!!

There are several. These are the important ones:

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.

I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.

Amen.

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Final Act of Consecration by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

O Jesus, Infinite love, I wish to consecrate myself to Thee with all the fever of my soul. I offer Thee all my being on the alter of Thy Heart where Thou dost sacrifice Thyself for love of me. I offer Thee my body which I will respect because it is the temple in which Thou dwells; my soul, which I will cultivate as a garden where Thou mayest come to take Thy rest; my senses, which I will guard because they are the door which the tempter comes in; the powers of my soul, which I will open to the inspirations of grace; my thoughts, which will no longer fasten themselves on worldly illusions, my desires , which will reach towards the happiness of Heaven; my virtues, with will flourish under the shadow of Thy protection; my passions, which I will submit to the yoke of Thy commandments; may very sins, and which I will detest as long as my heart is capable of hatred and which I will unceasingly weep over as long as I have tears to weep. From today on my heart wishes to be all Thine, forever, without fault or lukewarmness as Thou, divine Heart, willed to be all mine. I will serve Thee for sacrifice myself for all those who blaspheme Thee. Thou know the sincerity of my desires, according me the grace which in the battles of life, and place on my brow, one day , an immortal crown in the dwellings of Thy glory. Thou wilt be my reward, and the Wound in Thy most lovable Heart will be my eternal Paradise. Thy Kingdom come!

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From Pope Leo XII in his Encyclical Letter “Annum Sacrum,” published May 25, 1899:

Act of Consecrating the Human Race to the Sacred Heart:

Most sweet Jesus, redeemer of the human race, look down upon us, humbly prostrate before your altar. We are yours and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your most sacred heart. Many, indeed, have never known you, many too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your sacred heart. Be you king, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be you king of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd. Be you king also of all those who sit in the ancient superstition of the Gentiles, and refuse not you to deliver them out of darkness into the light and kingdom of God. Grant, O Lord, to your Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever.

The book, “The Devotion to the Sacred Heart,” by Fr. John Croiset contains many, many, more.

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

First Fridays and the Sacred Heart

Posted on February 3, 2023 by paulcoholic

Today is the First Friday of February. It is also “Sacred Heart Friday” That means it’ll be a basic primer on the First Friday Devotion, one of the ‘pillars’ of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Jesus made the following 12 promises to St. Margaret Mary in favor of those who consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart and who attend Mass and receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. This to be done in a spirit of reparation for sins committed against the Sacred Heart (basically, any sin committed against the love of Jesus, such as blasphemy and sacrilege against His Name, the Sacraments and the Church.) Although, as is written in The Devotion to the Sacred Heart, by Fr. John Croiset, these 12 promises are but an abbreviation of a much longer list of promises. To find out those, either purchase the book (link in that post) or you can download a public domain version here: Devotion To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus. By Father John Croiset Of The Society Of Jesus

1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.

2. I will establish peace in their homes.

3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.

5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.

6. Sinners will find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

9. I will bless every place in which an image of My Heart is exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.

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 Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

The Church grants a Plenary indulgence to those who attend Mass and receive Communion in honor of The Sacred Heart of Jesus on the First Friday of each month for nine consecutive months.

I’ve done this numerous times; although once is probably enough. However it is recommended that if you can do so, keep on doing it multiple times. It can’t hurt!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Surrender Novena

Posted on January 27, 2023 by paulcoholic

On Wednesday Morning I was rummaging through a box containing incense packets and I found a prayer card for something called the The Surrender Novena: Let Jesus Take Care of Everything.

It is a Sacred Heart Devotion and hence qualifies for Sacred Heart Friday. Why is is a Sacred Heart Devotion? Because of this image that is on the cover of the novena:

The Surrender Novena grande

The link in the first sentence takes you to an article where you can read all about it and say the prayers. It’s quite easy and given the source, Servant of God, Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo, the confessor of St. Padre Pio, no less) it is powerful and is a must to be added to your spiritual toolkit. Here is the novena in full (read the article anyway; oh, and don’t forget to say the prayer to Mary everyday which is listed at the end):

The Surrender Novena

Day 1

Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations.