Fr Ed Homily 6-19-20

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Something to consider. I think everyone has something of an image of God. It should not just be an old man with a white beard. God is all spirit. He is three persons in one God. And that makes it very hard to understand. But today’s solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us that even though our God is all spirit, He has a human heart. The heart of Jesus. A heart that loves, that feels pain, knows joy, knows rejection, knows all the human emotions we do. I do believe that this is why we have a feast day for the Heart of Jesus. To remind us that God has a heart.

I would encourage people to check out this website: https://welcomehisheart.com/12-promises

The site is dedicated to instructing people about the solemnity, what it is, what you can do.

Our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to St. Margaret Mary between 1673-1675. Among the words spoken to her, she heard Jesus make 12 promises to those who would respond to the pleading of His Heart and make an effort to return His love.

St. Margaret Mary once said, “I do not know of any other exercise in the spiritual life that is more calculated to raise a soul in a short amount of time to the height of perfection and to make it taste the true sweetness to be found in the service of Jesus Christ.”

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Authored 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.

I find these devotions fascinating. While they may not appeal to everyone, they are worth the time and effort to know more about them. I imagine that in everyone’s life different devotions have different impact meanings. An old tradition is in every home to have the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary displayed in a prominent location.

May the Lord bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen