Category Archives: Sacred Heart

The Sacred Heart and the Little Way

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For this Sacred Heart Friday, I’d like to post a little thought-piece on a relationship between the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Little Way of St. Therese of Lisieux.

The Sacred Heart is, as you must know by now, the intense love that God has for humanity.  A love so great that He gave up His only Son so that we would be redeemed from our sins and be restored to His friendship. A key part of that is our response to that love: we return it by offering sacrifices and prayers in reparation for other people’s sins. God died for us, He suffered for our sins even though He was sinless Himself. We ‘pay it forward’ so to speak in this manner. In making reparations for the sins of others (as well as our own, but it’s important to recall the ‘otherness’ of the act) we extend Christ’s sacrifice. Although He died so that all may have life and have it abundantly with Him in Heaven, by making reparations we participate in what St. Paul mentioned in Colossians 1:24,

‘For now I rejoice in my passion on your behalf, and I complete in my flesh the things that are lacking in the Passion of Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church.’

So essentially the practice of the Sacred Heart Devotion helps us to work this out.

Now, the Little Way of St. Therese is the act of doing little things with great love. Her Little Way is described as the ‘easy’ path to Heaven. We needn’t worry about doing mighty deeds or being great evangelists and so forth. If we just focus on doing our daily tasks but doing them with love, that may go a great way toward sanctifying ourselves and others. How? By doing ‘little things’ with great love, be it sweeping the floor, picking up something a person dropped, or whatever, we conquer our pride and self-love. These are the great sources of sin. 

Working out the Little Way can augment the Sacred Heart practices. It’s like a devotional ‘two-for,’ two sanctifying or reparative practices in one!

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Sacred Heart and the Feast of Mother Most Admirable – October 20

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For this Sacred Heart Friday post I did a search for “October 20 and the Sacred Heart,” and not expecting to find much, perhaps a feast day for a saint dedicated to it. I didn’t, but the first hit was this:

Feast of Mater Admirabilis – Academy Of The Sacred Heart (LA):

On October 20 every year (unless a weekend), the Sacred Heart community celebrated the Feast of Mater Admirabilis, which translates to “Mother Most Admirable” and is the title of a representation of Our Lady as a young girl wearing pink. Each year, a senior, chosen by her classmates, represents Mary in a tableau at the traditional Mater Liturgy.

The Academy of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic, Independent All-Girls school Grades 1 – 12 in New Orleans, Louisiana. They have roots dating back to post-Revolutionary France and count as their founders St. Rose Philippine Duchesne and St. Madeleine Sophie Barat.

There is more information here: The Feast of Mater Admirabilis: A Special Day for the Society of the Sacred Heart

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!!)

Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

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Today is the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alaocoque, the Apostle of the Sacred Heart.

I found a few prayers that are relevant to this blog and some of the topics I’ve been writing about. In this article by Anne Costa, (whom I’ve reviewed her before, please check out: “A review of two books on the Sacred Heart” and “Praying for Those with Addictions”) are two prayers. One is by St. Margaret Mary and another is a Sacred Heart prayer for the addicted.

First up is a prayer that is well-known to those who pray the daily “Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart” It concludes each part, but it can be said on its own:

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.

Say the “Hail, Holy Queen” and add: “Saint Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.”

—St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

And now the prayer for the addicted:

Prayer to the Sacred Heart for Someone Who Is Addicted

Lord, my heart is filled with concern for____________, who is addicted. You know and see the disorder and chaos that the addiction is causing, and your heart grieves over the distortion of personality and danger to the soul that results when someone is in the throes of addiction.

I pray that you will please give me the wisdom and spiritual fortitude to detach with love and trust in your tender mercies and that you will give _______________ the humility and strength to seek recovery. I ask this through the saving grace of your Sacred Heart.
 Amen.

 Courtesy: Prayers to the Sacred Heart | Franciscan Media

by Anne Costa of REVIVE Hope and Healing Ministries, Inc.

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!!)

St. Michael the Archangel and the Reign of the Sacred Heart

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Today is the feast day of St. Michael the Archangel (technically, it’s for all three Archangels, Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, but since I just completed a Novena to St. Michael, this post is focused on him. I promised Gabriel and Raphael that they’ll get their own post someday. Incidentally, this was originally just St. Michael’s Day, “Michaelmas,” in the pre-Vatican II liturgical calendar. Gabriel and Raphael had their own days before 1962.)  

In coming up with today’s Sacred Heart Friday post, I ran across this prayer:

For the Reign of the Sacred Heart

O Mary Immaculate, great Queen of Heaven and earth and our gentle advocate, we beg Thee to intercede for us. Pray God to send St. Michael and the holy Angels to ward off all the obstacles contrary to the reign of the Sacred Heart in our souls, our families, our country and in the whole world.

And thou, O holy Michael, Prince of the Heavenly hosts, from our hearts we beg thee to come to our aid.

Defend us against the rage of Satan. Through the Divine power bestowed on thee by God, after securing victory for the Church here below, guide our souls to our eternal home. Amen.

St. Michael, first champion of the Kingship of Christ, pray for us!

Source: Catholic Tradition

It beautifully combined devotion to St. Michael with fighting for the reign of the Sacred Heart in the souls of everyone. It is a prayer very pertinent to what’s going on today.

 

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!!)

St. Padre Pio and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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I am going to ‘cheat’ a little for today’s Sacred Heart Friday and tomorrow’s Immaculate Heart Saturday posts and direct your attention to two articles posted on the EWTN Library on St. Pio of Pietrelcina, popularly known as ‘St. Padre Pio.’ His feast day is tomorrow, September 23.

For today, please read “Padre Pio and the Sacred Heart.”

Thank you!

NOTE: I may do this from time to time, rather that write something of my own, direct you to a useful resource or article from elswhere. 

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!!)

Our Lady of Sorrows: the Alliance of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary! Part 10

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For this Sacred Heart Friday, I bring up the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. It recalls Mary’s seven painful sorrows throughout her life; I believe she often ‘pondered them in her Heart.’ 

  1.  The Prophecy of Simeon  (Luke 2:34)

  2. The Flight into Egypt by the Holy Family (Matthew 2:13)

  3. The Loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:43)

  4. Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother along the Way of the Cross (Luke 23:26)

  5. Mary stands at the Foot of the Cross (John 19:25)

  6. Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms (Matthew 27:57)

  7. Jesus is Laid in the Tomb (John 19:40)

Sorrows unite the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The Sorrowful Heart of Mary was pierced in particular by the sufferings of Jesus during His Passion and Death. How could they not? 

Jesus was sorrowful even unto death, yet he endured His Passion for our sake. As I have mentioned in previous posts in this series, several approved private revelations have spoken of the closeness of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: as she was how Our Lord came into this world, then she certainly would have been attuned to the pains endured by His Heart during the tortures of Good Friday. 

This lends a sublime empathy for Our Lady. She suffered for Him, and since we are the adopted sons and daughters of God the Father, we are siblings to Our Lord; with Mary being our Mother. Therefore, just as Mary was united with Our Lord in His sufferings; she is united to us in ours. Recall all the sufferings you endured (and caused) during your drinking and drugging days. Mary was there. You were not alone. 

 

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!!)

The Angel of Peace at Fatima: the Alliance of the Two Hearts of Jesus and Mary! Part 9

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For today’s Immaculate Heart Saturday post, I will bring up something from the Apparitions of the Angel of Peace to the young shepherd children of Fatima in the Spring of 1916.

In the first apparition of the Angel, he taught them what was to be the first of the “Fatima Prayers:” “My God, I believe, adore, hope and love You! I ask pardon of You for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.”

They were told to recite it three times. 

The Angel then said, “Pray thus. The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive to the voice of your supplications.” (Emphasis mine.)

This means that the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary are united in listening to your prayer requests, but especially in regards to practicing the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity of which this first prayer recalls. 

Ponder that. “The Hearts of Jesus and Mary are attentive…” They are united (‘allied’ as per the title of this series) in their attentiveness to our prayers. This brings me tremendous comfort. Which brings up another point I thought of after Confession earlier this week.

“The Power of the Hail Mary in the Alliance of the Two Hearts” 

When you pray the Hail Mary; it seems to me that you’re not just asking for Our Lady’s help. Because Mary is the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, and remains so for all eternity, the Holy Spirit is also the recipient of the prayer. And then when you add the whole Hypostatic Union of the Trinity, meaning where one member is the other two are present, the entire Trinity is listening in on the prayer. 

Now, keeping that in mind, take another look at the “Hail Mary:”

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you. 

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus,

 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, 

Now, and at the hour or our death,

AMEN

The first section of the Hail Mary closely links Mary with Jesus. She is referred to twice in relation to her Son in words that strongly imply that Jesus is the cause of her blessedness and grace-filledness. Or rather, her union (‘alliance’) with Jesus! So, when you pray the Hail Mary, you’re praying to Jesus, too. (Just recall the Hypostatic Union reference a few paragraphs up. You’re essentially praying  to the entire Trinity, and not just our Blessed Mother.)

On the next two lines in the prayer, I wrote these a few years ago: On the meaning and impact of prayers (re: ‘Pray for us sinners) and   Now and at the hour of our death, amen, both posts highlight the importance of a prayer that because of its frequent repetition by faithful, its significance may be surprisingly overlooked.

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!!)

Have you made your Sacred Heart Consecration yet?

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I have completed eight months of Sacred Heart Friday posts! Some fine, some perhaps not so much; those latter were typically during a week where despite all the reminders I set up, I forgot to get a Round Tuit and write something. But even those were hopefully edifying in some. You never know how something will be received.

Or, as in the case of these past few weeks, distracted because of a major project I’m working on that I’ll tell you about soon.

On this day, the First Friday of September, I offer a simple post that’s a reminder for you of self-consecration to the Sacred Heart. The following is a prayer written by “The Apostle of the Sacred Heart,” St. Margaret Mary Alacoque expressly for that purpose:

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

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.


 from “The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: How to Practice the Sacred Heart Devotion” by Fr. John Croiset 

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!!)

Creativity and leading souls to Jesus

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Creativity can be a divine grace; with it we participate in the divine act of creation. The ultimate act is procreation, of course, but the art of writing fiction and poetry, painting and making music can also be a grace if it leads people to God. 

Creativity can be therapeutic, it can also be redemptive in that its inspiration can convert souls.

For this Sacred Heart Friday, think about ways any creative aspirations you might have can lead people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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!!)

St. Maximilian Kolbe and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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For this Sacred Heart Friday, I bring to your attention that St. Maximilian Maria Kolbe, founder of the Militia of the Immaculata, had as the focus of Marian Consecration the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here is a portion of the Consecration prayer that he wrote:

 Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you enter, you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

All Marian roads lead to Jesus. 

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!!)