Posted on 06/01/2006 8:27:34 PM PDT by Knitting A Conundrum
"And He showed me that it was His great desire of being loved by men and of withdrawing them from the path of ruin into which Satan hurls such crowds of them, that made Him form the design of manifesting His Heart to men, with all the treasures of love, of mercy, of grace, of sanctification and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him and procure for Him all the honor and love possible, might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which this Heart is the source.Invocations to the Heart of Jesus
For Private Use Only.
Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist,
I adore Thee.
Sweet Companion of our exile,
I adore Thee.
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, etc.
Heart solitary, Heart humiliated,
Heart abandoned, Heart forgotten,
Heart despised, Heart outraged,
Heart ignored by men,
Heart, Lover of our hearts,
Heart pleading for love,
Heart patient in waiting for us,
Heart eager to hear our prayers,
Heart desiring that we should pray to Thee,
Heart, Source of fresh graces,
Heart silent, desiring to speak to souls,
Heart, sweet Refuge of the hidden life,
Heart, Teacher of the secrets of union with God,
Heart of Him Who sleeps, yet ever watches,
Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Jesus Victim, I wish to comfort Thee; I unite myself to Thee;
I offer myself in union with Thee. I count myself as nothing before Thee;
I desire to forget myself in order to think of Thee, to be forgotten and despised
for love of Thee, not to be understood, not to be loved, except by Thee.
I will hold my peace that I may listen to Thee; I will forsake myself that
I may lose myself in Thee.
Grant that I may quench Thy thirst for my salvation,
Thy burning thirst for my sanctification, and that, being purified,
I may bestow on Thee a pure and true love. I would no longer weary
Thine expectations; take me, I give myself to Thee. I entrust to Thee all my actions-----
my mind that Thou mayest enlighten it, my heart that Thou mayest direct it,
my will that Thou mayest establish it, my misery that Thou mayest relieve it,
my soul and my body that Thou mayest feed them.
Eucharistic Heart of my Jesus, Whose Blood is the life of my soul,
may it be no longer I who live, but Thou alone Who livest in me. R. Amen
Vatican, May. 23 (CWNews.com) - Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) strongly encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart, as a safeguard against self-absorption, in a message to the Society of Jesus.
The Holy Father's letter of Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the superior general of the Jesuit order, marked the 50th anniversary of Haurietis Aquas, the encyclical by Pope Pius XII extolling devotion to the Sacred Heart. Pope Benedict noted that Jesuits "have always been very active in promoting this fundamental form of devotion," and encouraged renewed efforts today.
Contemplation of the "pierced side of the Redeemer," the Pope wrote, is an apt way of "fixing our gaze on Him," and recognizing his love. The mystery of Christ's love, he continued, is "the content of all true Christian spirituality and devotion." Pope Benedict added: "In fact, being Christian is only possible with our gaze fixed on the cross of our Redeemer."
Recognizing and accepting God's love, the Pontiff continued, leads to an inner transformation. "The experience of God's love is lived by man as a 'call' to which he must respond." Thus contemplation of the Sacred heart "safeguards us from the risk of closing in on ourselves, and makes us open to a life lived for others." Devotion to the Sacred Heart, the Pope concluded, "cannot then be considered as a passing form of veneration or devotion." Rather, it is "irreplaceable for a living relationship with God."
http://www.my.homewithgod.com/gertrude/
The Life and Revelations of Saint Gertrude, The Great.
Saint Gertrude, the Great was possibly the first Saint to whom the "Sacred Heart of Jesus" had appeared in the early Middle Ages telling her about his boundless love for Souls and for Humanity in general.
Thank you for posting that!
There is an Orthodox Catholic Lady I know, who runs that site that I just posted.
Her name is Marianne Eichhorn. She is a Dutch Catholic living in Israel.
She is in the process of transcribing the last few chapters of this fourth Book of Saint Gertrude, The Great and uploading it on the Internet.
She and another Catholic Friend from the United Kingdom have transcribed and uploaded the Entire Diary of Divine Mercy on the Internet.
The Entire Diary of Saint Faustina is available online.
Let me know if you want a link to it.
Please do post the link...
Here are two Links.
1) Divine Mercy in My Soul, The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska.
http://our.homewithgod.com/divinemercy/
2)This is another interesting Link that you might be interested in.
The Sorrowful and Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, according to the Visions of Blessed and Venerable Anne Catherine Emmerich.
This Entire Book is online now. It is also known as "The Life of Jesus Christ".
http://my.homewithgod.com/israel/acemmerich1/
Blessings to you and to your Family for "Pentecost Sunday" which I believe is the Birthday of the Birth of the Church.
Seeking and Finding His Heart of Love
http://www.sacredheartdevotion.com/loving_him.htm
We are commanded to: "Love the Lord Thy God, with thy whole mind, thy whole heart and thy whole soul…"
Notice the use of the word "whole" in each command! This means that, to truly love Him, our entire lives are to be, day by single day, a continuing Act of Love, for Him, in which we offer every action, every care, all our joys and sufferings and good works for the intentions of His Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, the conversion of sinners, and the release of the souls in Purgatory.
This is what He means by our whole mind, whole heart and whole soul! Love beyond ordinary human love: "Love me more-oh, much more!-than human beings love one another." (M.T. no.134). Why does He ask this? Because, as He says, "A love that does not exaggerate is not love; it is affection." And our greatest effort cannot even approach the suffering of His Sacrifice.
Two more reasons He wishes to be loved: "I desire to be loved; I crave the love of my creatures! When they will come to love Me, they will no longer offend Me. When two people really love each other, they never offend each other." (C.B., p.98)
"Nothing is wanting in my heavenly beatitude, which is infinite, but I yearn for souls….I thirst for them, and want to save them." (J.M., p. 377)
There is an old saying applied to good people: "To know him is to love him." How true this is in Our Lord's case! Yet, hear now Our Lord's complaint and yearning:
"Ah! If only they [souls] knew my Heart….mankind is ignorant of Its mercy and goodness; that is my greatest sorrow." (J.M., p.32)
Again: [Mary:] "O! If only souls knew Him better, they would love Him so much more." (J.M., p.322)
The best way to learn to know Him is by offering Him acts of love and through fervent, unceasing prayer expressing the desire to truly know Him so that we may love Him better. "Your actions will have more value in proportion as you increase in love." (C.B., p. 99)
We then wait as He grants us the graces to come closer to His Heart. Over time this may produce the fruit we desire. HE wants this communication as much as we desire it:: "Ah, if souls only understood how ardently I desire to communicate Myself to them! But how few do understand….and how deeply this wounds My Heart." (J.M. p.109)
"They [souls] have not understood My Heart. For it is their very destitution and failings that incline My goodness toward them. And when acknowledging their helplessness and weakness, they humble themselves and have recourse to Me trustfully, then indeed they give me more glory than before their fault." (J.M., p.208)
If we can learn to love Him more than a wife, husband , children, brothers, sisters, grandparents, we will approach total unity with His Sacred Heart. Who among us loves Him to that degree now?
We are not to be discouraged, however, if we do not achieve all we wish in desiring and loving Him. He only expects us to do the best we can. As He has said to another holy nun, another victim soul of the 20th century, Sister Josefa Menendez: “I want souls so much to understand this! It is not the action in itself that is of value; it is the intention with which it is done.” (Emphasis added) (J.M., p.213)
He will supply whatever is lacking from His bountiful, loving Heart and thus perfect our desire and love for Him. Begin today to desire Him with your whole heart. May He grant you the grace to find Him and love Him as He wishes to be loved.
“To fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.”
St. Augustine
(Quotations above are from the book, Words of Love by Fr. Bartholomew Gottemoller, O.C.S.O., TAN Books and Publishers, Rockford, IL. 1-800-437-5876)
1 Words of Love, Father Bartholomew Gottemoller, Tan Books and Publishers, 1985 1-800-437-5876
2 M.T. - Sister Mary of the Trinity; J.M. - Sister Josefa Manendez; C.B. - Sister Consolota Bertone
The Sacred Heart Prayer for Total Conversion to
His Sacred Heart
The following prayer of St. Anselm of Canterbury succinctly summarizes the entire process of conversion in a few words for those desiring a total and complete unity with His Sacred Heart. We should all desire this unity. Regardless of whether we attain it completely, we should, at least, desire it and should say the prayer (or our own formula) daily as fervently as we can, so that He will grant us the graces needed to achieve it, as He grants His graces to each one:
Lord our God,
Grant us the grace to desire you with our whole heart,
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding you, we may love you;
and loving you, we may hate those sins
from which you have redeemed us.
As you can see, everything starts with desire.
In the book, Words of Love, by Father Bartholomew Gottemoller, O.S.C.O., TAN Books and Publishers, in which He compiled and quotes the words of Our Lord to three holy nuns, all victim souls of the twentieth century, on various subjects, Our Lord has said:
“I so much want souls to understand this! It is not the action in itself that is of value: it is the intention with which it is done.” (J.M., p. 213)
So if we don’t achieve all we desire in His behalf, do not be concerned or frustrated, because, as He said, it is the desire and intention to do so that has the merit, in His eyes.
Seeking and Finding His Heart of Love
We are commanded to: “Love the Lord Thy God, with thy whole mind, thy whole heart and thy whole soul…”
Notice the use of the word “whole” in each command! This means that, because we love Him, our entire lives are to be, day by single day, a continuing Act of Love, for Him, in which we offer every action, every care, all our joys and sufferings and good works for the intentions of His Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, the conversion of sinners, and the release of the souls in Purgatory. This is what He means by our whole mind, whole heart and whole soul! Love beyond ordinary human love:
“Love me more—oh, much more!—than human beings love one another.” (M.T. no.134).
“I desire to be loved; I crave the love of my creatures! When they will come to love Me, they will no longer offend Me. When two people really love each other, they never offend each other.” (C.B., p.98)
“Love that does not exaggerate is not love, it is affection.” (M.T. no. 544)
"Love is good actions freely performed. I never refuse love to someone who asks for it—but it is your will, your actions that will develop it in you.” (M.T. no.204.)
“I prefer an act of love and a Communion of love to any other gift….I thirst for love.” (C. B., p. 75)
“Nothing is wanting in my heavenly beatitude, which is infinite, but I yearn for souls….I thirst for them, and want to save them.” (J.M., p. 377)
There is an old saying applied to good people: “To know him is to love him.” How true this is in Our Lord’s case! Yet, hear now Our Lord’s complaint and yearning:
“I am not known, and because I am not known, people do not know how to love me, I who have so loved men!” (M.T. no. 361)
“Ah! If only they [souls] knew my Heart….mankind is ignorant of Its mercy and goodness; that is my greatest sorrow.” (J.M., p.32)
Again: [Mary:] “O! If only souls knew Him better, they would love Him so much more.” (J.M., p.322)
The best way to learn to know Him is by offering Him acts of love and through fervent, unceasing prayer expressing the desire to truly know Him so that we may love Him better. “Your actions will have more value in proportion as you increase in love.” (C.B., p. 99)
We then wait as He grants us the graces to come closer to His Heart. Over time this may produce the fruit we desire. HE wants this communication as much as we desire it: “Ah, if souls only understood how ardently I desire to communicate Myself to them! But how few do understand….and how deeply this wounds My Heart.” (J.M. p.109)
“They [souls] have not understood My Heart. For it is their very destitution and failings that incline My goodness toward them. And when acknowledging their helplessness and weakness, they humble themselves and have recourse to Me trustfully, then indeed they give me more glory than before their fault.” (J.M., p.208)
The Greatest Proof of Love In Practicing the Devotion
Suffering
Everyone at various times in life experiences physical and/or mental suffering be it great or small. Everything, from the pain of loss of a loved one, surgery, cancer, psychological problems of addiction and dependency, broken bones, down to headaches, arthritis, even a cut finger.
Unfortunately, for the most part, suffering’s spiritual merit, as an offering to His Sacred Heart in reparation for sins and as an Act, and proof, of our love for Him, is lost forever, simply because the sufferer does not think to offer the suffering to Him as an Act of Love. One prays only to be free of it.
Yet Our Lord has said: “I loved suffering, I the Man of Sorrows; I chose it because it makes reparation for sins when it is offered with love…. when suffering is joined to love, the proofs of love given through suffering are a true reparation offered to God. It is giving God something that He does not have in His Heaven. Therefore, I chose suffering so that all My creatures, even the most miserable, like yourself, might have something precious to offer to God.” (M.T., no. 109) (Emphasis added)
[Josefa] “It is blindness to avoid pain, even in very small things, for not only is it of great worth to ourselves, but it serves to guard many from the torments of Hell.” (J. M., p.230)
“When suffering is accepted with love, it is no longer suffering, but is changed into joy.” (C.B., p.108)
“Be persuaded, that if your self-denial and suffering bear fruit but late or bear no fruit at all, they have not been in vain or useless. Some day you will bear abundant sheaves and reap a great reward.” (J.M., p. 299)
“I am always more sensitive, more active where there is suffering, because there I am welcomed, I am listened to…..” (M.T., no.64
One nun quoted St. John the Evangelist on suffering:
“Suffering is the life of the soul, and the soul that has understood its value lives the true life.” (J.M., p.212)
The words of Our Lord leave no more that need be said on the merits of offering our sufferings to Him. Resolve, today, to offer Him ALL of them, great and small, as continuing proof of our love and as reparation for our sins and sinners of the world. This is how we can unite ourselves more closely to His Heart, offering Him what HE desires. Your reward will be His closer unity with your heart!
Sacrifices
As children, Catholics “give up something for Lent”, a time of sacrifice and self-denial for past sins. As adults, this practice gets lost, especially at other times of the year, thus depriving ourselves of a lifetime of graces and blessings that come with offering sacrifices to Him.
Prayers and loving Him with our whole hearts are important parts in the practice of the Sacred Heart Devotion, but there is much more that can be done to please His Sacred Heart, each and every day.
NOTHING pleases Him more than making little sacrifices, depriving oneself, out of love for Him, of some licit pleasure or good thing, and offering it to Him for His Heart’s intentions. His goal, always, is to save souls!
He has said, “Nothing indeed is wanting in my heavenly beatitude, which is infinite, but I yearn for souls……I thirst for them and want to save them.” (J.M., p.377)
“There are sacrifices which I desire but do not ask—so as to leave to souls the joy of offering them to me of themselves.” (M.T. no. 289)
“The more you give me the more I will increase your capacity for giving.” (M.T. no. 40
“Love me more—oh, much more!—than human beings love one another.” (M.T. no.134).
________
1 Words of Love, Father Bartholomew Gottemoller, Tan Books and Publishers, 1985 1-800-437-5876
2 M.T. - Sister Mary of the Trinity; J.M. - Sister Josefa Manendez; C.B. - Sister Consolota Bertone
Just a ping to this ongowing thread on the Sacred Heart
The Lumberjack and the Sacred Heart
TAKEN FROM "Trésor d'Histoires sur le Sacré-Coeur"
by Father Millot, 1914
EVERYONE in the area knew Jean-Marie Duclos the lumberjack. An old soldier, a sapper, he had taken part in every campaign during the Second Empire: Mexico, Crimea, Italy, the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Finally he had returned to his native mountains with decorations on his chest and a Prussian bullet in his right thigh. Jean-Marie had taken up his ax again at once, but he had never married.
When anyone asked him why he had not, he would mumble between his teeth, "I wouldn't want to see any woman in such poverty!"
He was not a bad fellow, and he was certainly no enemy of priests. True, he didn't go to Mass on Sunday, having abandoned that habit on the battlefield, but he had a well-founded respect for priests. No one was going to make him believe that the priests had paid the Germans to come in and shed French blood and steal Alsace. He had seen too many good priests risking their lives to help soldiers die, or not die at all. It was something you just never forget. That very memory had been haunting him like a reprimand for the past two days. But why?
First of all, the previous Monday, after he had just finished felling an old oak tree, the three little Brothers from the Catholic school had come walking by the edge of the forest. Seeing the sweat streaming from his brow and his old hand trembling a little from fatigue, one of the Brothers, the oldest one, had said to him, "Here, Jean-Marie, let me have your ax," and picked it up without waiting for a reply. The second one picked up his hatchet and the third his saw, and in no time at all they had trimmed all the branches off that big oak. Oh, the strapping fellows had worked heartily and struck true! Surely they were the sons of lumberjacks!
Then, that very evening the parish priest had come to his cabin to call on him with a Capuchin Father. That Capuchin, a magnificent man with a sapper officer's beard, had asked him straight on, holding out his hand like a friend, "So, Jean-Marie, will you be coming to the mission this evening?"
Instead of answering, he looked for a moment at the gray robe, the bare feet, the manly face, the bright, clear eyes, and asked in his turn, "You were a soldier, right?"
"Yes, my friend, I was with the Western Volunteers. I was at Patay and Le Mans."
"I was at Patay and Le Mans, too. What time is the mission?"
"Eight o'clock every evening, all week long."
"I'll be there."
He had gone that evening and every other. But what was he to do after that? It wouldn't be very nice to stop going to church again. That wouldn't be very logical. This problem kept churning around in his old lumberjack's head. At the men's meeting on the third day of the mission, Jean-Marie took a place up against the big pillar in the nave facing the pulpit, for he was very proud to be listening to an old comrade in arms who spoke so well. That evening the Capuchin Father surpassed himself: his warm words-----even clearer, more vibrant, more incisive than usual-----penetrated the souls of those mountain folk like an ax biting into the core of a tree. He spoke about fidelity to religious duties:
"What would you think about a son who abandoned and denied his father? A servant who betrayed his master's interests? A soldier who deserted the battlefield and passed over to the enemy?
"Jesus is here in the Tabernacle, hidden but alive. He is our God and consequently the Father of us all, our sovereign Master and King. We owe Him love, obedience and fidelity. We must fight for Him against Hell, and against ourselves and our vices. What would you say about someone who falls back in such a battle?"
"That man's a coward!" a voice replied, hammering out the syllables with savage energy.
It was Jean-Marie Duclos the lumberjack. With pale face and trembling lips he stood up, his hand stretched out towards the altar in an almost tragic gesture, and continued, "Yes, that man's a coward. And that coward is me. But all of that is finished!"
You can imagine the rest. Ten minutes later he followed the missionary into the sacristy -----grace had done its work.
Now, the next time New Year's came around, Jean-Marie the lumberjack went to pay his respects to his parish priest and wish him a Happy New Year. Actually, he had been coming often to the rectory ever since the unforgettable mission that had turned him into the most faithful man in the parish, the one with the deepest conviction. He even came every Sunday after High Mass to pick up "La Croix" (a religious newspaper) that he brought to his cabin. He read it from one end to the other, starting with the Sunday Gospel and turning to the news from Morocco. It was certainly a better way to pass the time than going to the cafe.
So then, as we were saying, on New Year's Day he came to pay his respects to his pastor and to the priest's sister Mariette.
"It's very good of you to come, Jean-Marie, even though the weather's not very good up on the Wolf Trail, is it?"
"No, by thunder, it's not, Father! There's a North wind blowing . . ."
"Mariette, please bring us a bottle of rum."
With this request the lumberjack gave a start: "Rum? Oh no, Father, not for me! I promised the Lord I would never drink again. I did too much drinking in the past."
"Good for you! Now, tell me what you'd like. A cup of coffee or some tea?"
"Not really, Father. But there is something (as he said this, Jean-Marie started tugging at his ear), there is something . .. but you'll probably think it's sort of . . ."
"No, not at all! What is it?"
"Well, I would like it if you gave me a beautiful picture."
The priest was certainly not expecting such a request, and he could not help but laugh.
The old sapper went on:
"I knew you'd think it was childish. Even so, Father, a picture of the Lord or Our Lady, His Mother, would be a lot better than wood shavings for marking the pages of the Mass in my missal! Besides, Jesus says that we have to be like little children."
The good shepherd was no longer laughing. Admiring the man's faith-----simple and naive, but strong and active, too-----he was deeply moved. The priest stood, went to his breviary, took out some beautiful pictures and laid them on the table in front of the lumberjack, inviting him to choose one of them. The man took a magnificent Sacred Heart of Jesus.
When he got home, the old soldier lit his candle, put on his thick glasses and read all that was printed on his picture. These words in particular impressed him: "Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to Blessed Margaret Mary: I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who go to Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance. They shall not die in My disfavor, nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their secure refuge at that last hour."
He thought about it all night long. The next day, Sunday, he had a little conversation with the priest on the subject, the practical conclusion being that as of the next Friday, which was the First Friday of January, Jean-Marie would receive Communion every First Friday of the month, no matter what. To do otherwise would be imprudent: there had been too many escapades in his life!
And have no fear, he did not forget! Besides, his heart was so content that he even began to look younger, and his hand had never been so steady with the ax. February, March, April, May, June, July, August went by like a dream. It was now the day before the ninth Communion, and that morning he said to himself as he got up, "Tomorrow, Jean-Marie, victory is yours. Oh, what a great day!"
All day long he chopped and cut and sawed so energetically and so well that by evening time he was chopping down his sixth oak, a colossal tree that would have given more than one young man quite a battle.
The iron of his stout ax bit deep into the thick roots; one by one they gave way, and already the enormous head was beginning to tremble and sway. Four more blows and the mountain giant would fall.
Before dealing them, since the tree was close to the road, the old man stopped and looked to see if anyone would be passing by. No one was coming, so there was no danger. Again, the heavy ax rose and fell, and suddenly the mighty oak fell to the ground with a tremendous crash. But unfortunately, the terrific sound of its fall was answered by a horrible cry of pain. Stepping back rapidly, the old lumberjack had slipped: both his legs were pinned to the ground, crushed beneath the enormous trunk.
Was he going to die like this, all alone in the approaching night without help, without a priest, before making his ninth Communion? He called out for help a long time, but the only reply was his answering echo. He felt his life ebbing away; his suffering was atrocious. For a moment he despaired. No, God had not been able to forgive him for all his sins, they were too great. That was why He had permitted this accident before he had made his last Communion of the nine First Fridays. He was damned. The thought of it tortured him far more cruelly than his injuries.
But as the moon rose slowly in the sky, calm and radiant, escorted by thousands of stars, the dying man began to hope again. Wasn't the Heart of Jesus infinitely good? Wasn't He almighty? Wasn't He the One who had sent that Capuchin Father last year and who had inspired him to ask the priest for a holy picture?
Suddenly the injured man gave a start, lifted his head, looked down the road and listened . . . Yes, there it was: someone was coming! The sound of steps came closer. Gathering his fading strength, he called out with unspeakable anguish in his voice: "Help! Help! I need a priest!"
Finally-----thank You, O Lord!-----a shadow materialized and made its way straight for him. The poor lumberjack thought he was dreaming when he recognized his pastor.
"Oh, Father, is it really you? God is so good!"
"I just gave the Last Sacraments to old monsieur Hugon."
"Father, it's the Sacred Heart Who sent you!"
As he spoke, the priest attempted to move the tremendous trunk and free the lumberjack's legs.
"Let it be, Father. It's too heavy, you won't be able to move it. Besides, I can feel it: I'm finished. I don't have more than two hours left. Please hear my confession."
The priest knelt down, heard his last accusations, gave him absolution and followed it with Extreme Unction, for he had the holy oils on his person.
Then the dying man murmured:
"Tomorrow is my last First Friday. I would be so happy if . . ."
Yes, of course. I understand. I'll be back in three quarters of an hour."
"Thank you."
And the priest dashed off down the road that led to the village. As he passed the sacristan's house, he woke him with a cry:
"Quick, Mr. Lucas! Send your boy to church for me, and go tell the doctor that Jean-Marie the lumberjack is injured in the hills, up at the bend near Great Rocks!"
Then he went to get Holy Viaticum. His altar boy arrived and they climbed quickly back up to Great Rocks. It was half past midnight when he arrived. The lumberjack was still alive and praying. When he heard the little silver bell, he raised himself painfully and made the Sign of the Cross, a big tear running down his pale cheek. He received Holy Communion, and a few minutes later he passed away gently in the peace of the Lord.
In his sermon on Sunday, the pastor told the people of the man's predestined death. The entire parish turned out for his funeral. And on the little cross over his grave, they inscribed the following words:
HERE LIES JEAN-MARIE DUCLOS
THE LUMBERJACK Of THE SACRED HEART
O Victim of Love
Tune:
http://www.contemplator.com/sea/sladies.html
O Victim of Love, sent here by the Father,
O Victim of Love, who chose to give all,
O Thou Saving Victim who purchased our freedom,
Who calls me to follow - may I answer your call.
O Jesus I watched in the Garden of Olives,
As you wrestled with grief so hard and so deep,
You cried out in anguish your yes to the Father,
You sweat tears of blood while your men were asleep.
Was any night darker than the night in the Garden
As you cried out and waited for what was to be?
And yet though you prayed in your grief and in anguish,
You stayed out of love and thus set us all free.
O Victim of Love, sent here by the Father,
O Victim of Love, who chose to give all,
O Thou Saving Victim who purchased our freedom,
Who calls me to follow - may I answer your call.
And when they came and took you on that last road,
And when they beat you and mocked you and lied,
Your love was a torch that shone out in the darkness
A beacon of hope as you suffered and died.
Beneath the cross where they thought they could kill you
You gave your best gift to the world full of sin,
The wellspring of heaven broke through in your last cry,
The waters of life through your death flooded in.
O Victim of Love, sent here by the Father,
O Victim of Love, who chose to give all,
O Thou Saving Victim who purchased our freedom,
Who calls me to follow - may I answer your call
Your yes has unlocked all the glories of Heaven,
Your yes has undone our first parent's no
In blood you have broken the shackles they wrought us
In death you have triumphed and defeated the foe.
O Victim of Love, sent here by the Father,
O Victim of Love, who chose to give all,
O Thou Saving Victim who purchased our freedom,
Who calls me to follow - may I answer your call.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Savior, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is aflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.
Saint Gertrude
Lord Jesus,
let my heart never rest until it finds You,
who are its center, its love, and its happiness.
By the wound in Your heart
pardon the sins that I have committed
whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart,
continually under Your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good and in fleeing evil until my last breath.
Amen.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Memento
WHOSOEVER you are, Christian soul, remember, how greatly Jesus Himself has recommended the devotion to His most Sacred Heart. For, appearing to the Blessed Margaret Mary, He said: "Recommend this devotion to ecclesiastics and religious, as an efficacious means of attaining to sanctity, the perfection of their state: recommend it to those that labor for the salvation of souls as a sure help to move even the most obdurate hearts: recommend it, in fine to all the faithful, as a most solid devotion, one best calculated to overcome their passions, to secure peace, to root out defects, to obtain a fervent love of God, and to reach in a short time a high perfection. My Heart will abundantly pour out Its riches upon all that devote themselves to the same."
"This devotion," says St. Alphonsus, "consists wholly in the practical love for Jesus. Now, this love is the devotion of devotions. It is truly to be lamented, that many Christians perform various exercises of piety, but neglect this devotion; it is deservedly to be regretted, that there are many preachers and confessors, who inculcate many practices of piety; and never, or almost never, mention this devotion, which yet ought to be the chief one of every Christian. From this neglect it comes that souls make so little progress in virtue, continue to live in the same defects, and relapse even into grievous sins."
Justly, therefore, does that Spouse of the Sacred Heart exclaim: "Why cannot I make known to the whole world those treasures of graces, which are stored up in the Heart of Jesus, and which He is willing to pour out so plentifully, upon them that are devoted to Him! By means of this devotion, He intends to preserve souls from destruction, and to establish in them the reign of His love, which will suffer no one of those consecrated to It to perish."
Chaplet to Obtain a Great Confidence
The ordinary prayer beads may be used. On the large beads repeat the prayer See where, etc. [below]. On the small beads repeat the aspiration Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!
Our Lord has for some time deigned to work many wonders through the invocation:
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!
See where Thy boundless Love has reached, my loving Jesus! Thou of Thy Flesh and Precious Blood hast made ready for me a banquet whereby to give me all Thyself. Who drove Thee to this excess of love for me? Thy Heart, Thy loving Heart! O adorable Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of Divine Love! Within Thy Sacred Wounds take Thou my soul, in order that, in that school of charity, I may learn to love that God Who hast given me such wondrous proofs of His great love. Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, etc. [Ten Times].
Spiritual Communion
ETERNAL FATHER! I offer up to Thee my intellect, that it may learn to know Thee alone. Sweetest Jesus! I offer up to Thee my memory, that it may remember Thee alone. Holy Ghost, Spirit of charity! I offer up to Thee my will, that Thou mayest enkindle and warm it by Thy Divine love. Adorn my soul with Thy seven gifts, and let me become Thy pure temple. Fill me with Thy grace, and prepare my heart to receive spiritually my God.
Jesus, my God! as my sins render me unworthy to receive Thee into my heart, do Thou receive me into Thine, and unite me so perfectly with It that nothing may ever be able to separate me even for a moment from Thee. Engulf my misery and my nothingness in the abyss of Thy mercy, that I, changed into Thee, may henceforth live only for Thee, by Thee, and in Thee. Come, therefore, Thou, my only satisfaction, come to take possession of this heart, which belongs to Thee, and cannot live one moment without Thee.
O Sacred Heart,
so burning with the fire of love.
O Heart of my Savior,
Sanctuary of all grace,
all love,
all truth,
I adore you, I praise you, I bless you,
and I love you with all the strength and love
my poor heart has to give.
O Heart above all hearts,
forgive this poor, scarred heart of mine,
so often choosing not to love,
not to listen to your call,
cold when you would fill it with fire,
rebellious when you would lead me beside the still waters,
unfaithful wihen you wiould fill it full with your grace.
Forgive me, O Fount of endless mercy,
I who deserve to be cast out of your presence and into the endless darkness,
but who through your mercy find myself here,
at the fount of the Living Water.
O Bridegroom beyond all others,
by your cross,
by the very act of your choosing to be the Victim of love,
by your loving self-sacrifice in the Eucharistic Presence
that feeds my very soul with your own loving self,
I beg you, O Heart of Divine Mercy,
to forgive me for all those times,
all those sins
of ingratitude,
forgetfulness,
lack of faithfulness,
and all the other wrongs I have done to you,
whom I should love with an undivided heart.
With tears of contrition and grief for what I have wrought,
I come before you
longing to make whatever reparation I can,
token of my love for you,
knowing that truly they could never make up for what you are willing to give,
but yet, Lord, here I am.
Let me bear whatever griefs,
whatever suffering you should send my way
willingly as a reparation to thee,
for the wrongs I have done,
for the wrongs others do,
and for the conversion of hearts who do not love you.
Let each beat of my heart
be a prayer of love you you,
each breath I take,
a rememberance of Him who gives me breath,
each day granted
another chance to speak to you of my love,
each hour a celebration of the hope you give me,
each minute passing,
a thanksgiving of my joy at having been touched
by your love.
O Ocean of mercy,
whose love is big enough to embrace the whole world,
hide me in the depths of your heart forever.
Amen.
An Act of Hope and Confidence in God
MY GOD, I believe most firmly that Thou watchest over all who hope in Thee, and that we can want for nothing when we rely upon Thee in all things; therefore I am resolved for the future to have no anxieties, and to cast all my cares upon Thee.
"In peace in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest; for Thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope."
Men may deprive me of worldly goods and of honors: sickness may take from me my strength and the means of serving Thee; I may even lose Thy grace by sin, but my trust shall never leave me. I will preserve it to the last moment of my life, and the powers of Hell shall seek in vain to wrest it from me.
"In peace in the self-same I will sleep and I will rest."
Let others seek happiness in their wealth, in their talents: let them trust to the purity of their lives, the severity of their mortifications, to the number of their good works, the fervor of their prayers; as for me, O my God, in my very confidence lies all my hope. "For Thou, O Lord, singularly hast settled me in hope." This confidence can never be vain. "No one has hoped in the Lord and has been confounded."
I am assured, therefore, of my eternal happiness, for I firmly hope for it, and all my hope is in Thee. "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded."
I know, alas! I know but too well that I am frail and changeable; I know the power of temptation against the strongest virtue. I have seen stars fall from Heaven, and pillars of the firmament totter; but these things alarm me not. While I hope in Thee I am sheltered from all misfortune, and I am sure that my trust shall endure, for I rely upon Thee to sustain this unfailing hope.
Finally, I know that my confidence can not exceed Thy bounty, and that I shall never receive less than I have hoped for from Thee. Therefore I hope that Thou wilt sustain me against my evil inclinations; that Thou wilt protect me against the most furious assaults of the evil one, and that Thou wilt cause my weakness to triumph over my most powerful enemies. I hope that Thou wilt never cease to love me, and that I shall love Thee unceasingly. "In Thee, O Lord, have I hoped; let me never be confounded."
-------REV. CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIÈRE, S.J.
wow, what a thread.
Happy Solemnity of the Sacred Heart! Since this is a first class feast, we are dispensed from observing today (Friday) as a day of penance. Steaks all around.
Here is a prayer from Venerable John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890), one of the great Anglican converts:
Most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus, You are concealed in the Holy Eucharist, and You bear for us still. Now, as then, You say: "With desire I have desired." I worship You with all my best love and awe, with fervent affection, with my most subdued, most resolved will. For a while You take up Your abode within me. O make my heart beat with Your Heart!
Purify it of all that is earthly, all that is proud and sensual, of all perversity, of all disorder. So fill it with You, that neither the events of the day, nor circumstances of the time, may have the power to ruffle it; but that in Your Love and Your fear, it may have Your peace. Amen.
Great thread - God bless you.
Physician Tells of Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano
Edoardo Linoli Verified Authenticity of the Phenomenon
ROME, MAY 5, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Dr. Edoardo Linoli says he held real cardiac tissue in his hands, when some years ago he analyzed the relics of the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy.
The phenomenon dates back to the eighth century. A Basilian monk, who had doubts about the real presence of Christ in the sacred species, was offering Mass, in a church dedicated to St. Legontian in the town of Lanciano.
When he pronounced the words of the consecration, the host was miraculously changed into physical flesh and the wine into physical blood.
Later the blood coagulated and the flesh remained the same. These relics were kept in the cathedral.
Linoli, a professor of anatomy and pathological histology, and of chemistry and clinical microscopy, and former head of the Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy at the Hospital of Arezzo, is the only doctor who has analyzed the relics of the miracle of Lanciano. His findings have stirred interest in the scientific world.
At the initiative of Archbishop Pacifico Perantoni of Lanciano, and of the provincial minister of the Franciscan Conventuals of Abruzzo, and with authorization from Rome, in November 1970 the Franciscans of Lanciano decided to have the relics examined scientifically.
Linoli was entrusted with the study. He was assisted by Dr. Ruggero Bertelli, retired professor of human anatomy at the University of Siena.
Linoli extracted parts of the relics with great care and then analyzed the remains of "miraculous flesh and blood." He presented his findings on March 4, 1971.
His study confirmed that the flesh and blood were of human origin. The flesh was unequivocally cardiac tissue, and the blood was of type AB.
Consulted by ZENIT, Linoli explained that "as regards the flesh, I had in my hand the endocardium. Therefore, there is no doubt at all that it is cardiac tissue."
In regard to the blood, the scientist emphasized that "the blood group is the same as that of the man of the holy Shroud of Turin, and it is particular because it has the characteristics of a man who was born and lived in the Middle East regions."
"The AB blood group of the inhabitants of the area in fact has a percentage that extends from 0.5% to 1%, while in Palestine and the regions of the Middle East it is 14-15%," Linoli said.
Linoli's analysis revealed no traces of preservatives in the elements, meaning that the blood could not have been extracted from a corpse, because it would have been rapidly altered.
Linoli's report was published in "Quaderni Sclavo di Diagnostica Clinica e di Laboratori" in 1971.
In 1973, the Higher Council of the World Health Organization (WHO) appointed a scientific commission to verify the Italian doctor's conclusions. The work was carried out over 15 months with a total of 500 examinations. The conclusions of all the researches confirmed what had been stated and published in Italy.
The extract of the scientific research of WHO's medical commission was published in New York and Geneva in 1976, confirming science's inability to explain the phenomenon.
Today, Linoli participated in a congress on Eucharistic miracles organized by the Science and Faith master's program of Rome's Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University, in cooperation with the St. Clement I Pope and Martyr Institute, on the occasion of the Year of the Eucharist under way.
"Eucharistic miracles are extraordinary phenomena of a different type," Legionary Father Rafael Pascual, director of the congress, told Vatican Radio. "For example, there is the transformation of the species of bread and wine into flesh and blood, the miraculous preservation of consecrated Hosts, and some Hosts that shed blood."
"In Italy, these miracles have occurred in several places," he said, "but we also find them in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain " and some in North America.
http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=70440
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.