Quote/s of the Day – 26 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of Our Lady of Czestochowa, Queen of Poland
O Pure and Immaculate Blessed Virgin By St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
O Pure and Immaculate and likewise Blessed Virgin, who art the sinless Mother of thy Son, the mighty Lord of the universe, thou who art inviolate and altogether holy, the hope of the hopeless and sinful, we sing thy praises. We bless thee, as full of every grace, thou who didst bear the God-Man: we bow low before thee; we invoke thee and implore thine aid. Rescue us, O holy and inviolate Virgin, from every necessity that presses upon us and from all the temptations of the devil. Be our intercessor and advocate at the hour of death and judgement, deliver us from the fire that is not extinguished and from the outer darkness; make us worthy of the glory of thy Son, O dearest and most clement Virgin Mother. Thou indeed art our only hope most sure and sacred in God’s sight, to Whom be honour and glory and majesty and dominion forever and ever, world without end. Amen
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“You have guarded the integrity of the temple [of your body]; you have kept your tabernacle free from all sin, so that the Father becomes your guest, the Holy Ghost overshadows you and the Only-begotten Son Incarnate is born of you.”
St Hesychius of Jerusalem (Died c450) Priest, Exegete, Father
“O Mother blest! And chosen Shrine wherein the Architect Divine, Whose Hand contains the earth and sky vouchsafed in hidden guise to lie; Blest in the message Gabriel brought; blest in the work, the Spirit wrought; Most blest, to bring to human birth, the long desired of all the earth!”
St Venantius Fortunatus (c530 – c609) Bishop, Poet, Theologian, Father
“It is through the most Blessed Virgin Mary that Jesus Christ came into the world and, it is also through her that He will reign in the world.”
Our Morning Offering – 24 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”and Feast of Our Lady Health of the Sick
O Mary, Immaculate Virgin Prayer for Health of Soul and Body
O Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our salvation lies in thy hands. Cleanse our souls, we beseech thee, from the leprosy of sin and assist us in our corporal infirmities. And, if it be the will of God that we must be acquainted with sickness and suffering, obtain for us, at least, perfect patience and resignation, in whatsoever God may dispose. Amen.
Quote/s of the Day – 22 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Octave Day of the Assumption – Ecclesiasticus 24:23-31, John 19:25-27 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Woman, behold thy son. … Behold thy mother.”
John 19:26-27
“And from that hour, the disciple took her to his own.” John 19:27
“ As His last will and testament, He committed, to His beloved heir, the care of His Mother… The Church fell to Peter, Mary to John. This bequest belonged to John, not only by right of kinship but too, because of the privilege, love had bestowed and the witness, his chastity bore… It was fitting that none other than the beloved of her Son, should minister to the Mother of the Lord… Providence too arranged, very conveniently that he who was to write a Gospel, should have intimate conferences with her, who knew about them all, for she had taken note from the beginning, of everything that happened to her Son and “treasured all the words concerning Him, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).”
Blessed Guerric of Igny O. Cist. (c1080-1157) Cistercian Abbot
“In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I trust. Look to the Star, call upon Mary! In danger, in difficulty or in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Keep her name on your lips, never let it pass out of your heart.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
O Immaculate Heart of Mary By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I have nothing in myself to offer thee which is worthy of thee but what thankgiving I ought I to pay thee, for all the favours which thou hast obtained for me from the Heart of Jesus! What reparation ought I to make thee for all my tepidity in thy service! I desire to return thee love for love, the only good which I possess, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which thou, thyself hast given me. I offer thee this Treasure of Infinite Price, I cannot do more and thou dost not deserve less, at my hand but, receiving from me, this Gift most Precious in thy sight, be pleased, I beseech thee, to accept too, my poor heart which I here offer to thee and I shall be forever blessed! Amen.
St Timothy and Companions – they were + St Hippolytus of Porto and + St Symphorian of Autun. The three died at different times in different places – Martyrs
St Anthusa of Seleucia St Antoninus of Rome St Arnulf of Eynesbury St Athanasius of Tarsus Bl Bernard Perani St Dalmau Llebaría Torné St Epictetus of Ostia St Ethelgitha of Northumbria St Fabrician of Toledo St Felix of Ostia
St John Kemble (1599 – 1679) Martyr, Priest. Ordained in 1625, he returned to Monmouthshire and served more than 50 years as an itinerant Priest, winning admirers even among Protestants. After being dragged on a hurdle to Widemarsh Common, Kemble declared on the scaffold that he died for the religion that had made this country Christian and that he forgave all his enemies. He was then obliged to encourage the executioner, who had no stomach for his task. Life and Death: https://anastpaul.com/2018/08/22/saint-of-the-day-22-august-st-john-kemble-1599-1679-martyr/
St John Wall St Josep Roselló Sans St Julio Melgar Salgado St Maprilis of Ostia St Martial of Ostia St Maurus of Rheims St Philibert of Toledo Bl Richard Kirkman St Saturninus of Ostia Bl Simeon Lukach St Sigfrid of Wearmouth + St Symphorian of Autun
Our Morning Offering – 19 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of St John Eudes (1601-1680) Confessor, “The Apostle of Two Hearts”
A Magnificat By St John Eudes (1601-1680) A Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Holy Heart of Mary
My soul doth magnify the admirable Heart of Jesus and Mary And my spirit rejoices in Thou great Heart. Jesus and Mary have given me their Heart, This immense Heart, in order that all in me May be performed in its love.
Infinite praise to them, for their ineffable gift. This Heart infinitely merciful, has done great things for me. It has possessed me from the womb of my mother. Infinite thanksgiving for Thou ineffable gifts.
The abyss of my misery has called on the abyss of His Mercy. Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts. This Heart infinitely meek has presented me With blessings of its sweetness. Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 18 August – Pentecost XIII – Galatians 3:16-22; Luke 17:11-19 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“Were not ten made clean? And where are the other nine?”
Luke 17:17
“While He is judged, Wisdom remains silent and the Word says nothing. His enemies despise and Crucify Him … Those, to whom yesterday, He gave His Body as food, watch from a distance as He dies. Peter, the first of the Apostles, is the first to flee. Andrew also took flight and John, who rested at His side, did not prevent the soldier from piercing that side with a lance. The Twelve fled – they did not say one word in His favour, they, for whom He is giving His Life. Lazarus is not there, he, whom He called back to life. The blind man did not weep for Him Who opened his eyes to the light and the crippled man, who could walk thanks to Him, did not run to Him. Only a bandit who was crucified next to Him confessed Him and called Him his King! O thief, precocious blossom from the tree of the Cross, first fruit of the wood from Golgotha!””
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“ For man’s lowliness, is his gratitude and, God’s greatness, is His Mercy.”
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
Daily Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayers to the Sacred Heart 1936 – 15th Edition, Dublin
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, filled with infinite love, broken by our ingratitude and pierced by our sins, yet loving us still, accept the Consecration we make to Thee, of all that we are and all that we have. Take every faculty of our souls and bodies, only day by day draw us, nearer and nearer to Thy Sacred Heart, and there, as we shall hear the lesson, teach us Thy Holy Way. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 16 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – St Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Ecclesiasticus 31:8-11, Matthew1:1-16 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary and of her was born Jesus, Who is called Christ.”
Matthew 1:16
“That anyone could doubt the right of the holy Virgin to be called the Mother of God, fills me with astonishment. Surely she must be the Mother of God, if our Lord Jesus Christ is God and she gave birth to Him!”
St Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Having confidence in thee, O Mother of God, I shall be saved. Being under thou protection, I shall fear nothing. With thy aid, I shall give battle to my enemies and put them to flight, for devotion to thee, is an arm of Salvation.”
St John Damascene (676-749) Father and Doctor of the Church
Hail to Thee, Forever Virgin, Mother of God, By St Methodius of Olympus (Died c311)
Hail to thee forever-Virgin Mother of God, our unceasing joy! for unto thee do I again return. . . . Hail, thou fount of the Son’s love for man. . . . Wherefore, we pray thee, the most excellent among women, who boast in the confidence of thy maternal honours that thou wouldst, unceasingly, keep us in remembrance. O holy Mother of God, remember us, I say, who make our boast in thee and who, in august hymns celebrate thy memory which will ever live and never fade away. Amen
Quote/s of the Day – 14 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Vigil of the Assumption
“And some seed fell on good ground” Luke 8:8
“Rejoice, O Mary, House of the Lord, earth trodden by the Footsteps of God… Rejoice, O Paradise more happy than the Garden of Eden, where every virtue has been seeded and where the Tree of Life has grown.”
St Theodore the Studite (750-826) Father, Abbot, Theologian, Writer
“May the Blessed Virgin, unique in her merits, stand in the presence of her Creator interceding always in our favour. She will be radiant in the fullness of glory, she who brought forth, from her virginal womb, the King of glory.”
St Amadeus of Lausanne (1108-1159)
O Mary, Mother of God By St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
O Virgin most pure, wholly unspotted, O Mary, Mother of God, Queen of the universe, thou art above all the Saints, the hope of the elect and the joy of all the blessed. It is thou who hast reconciled us with God; thou art the only Refuge of sinners and the safe harbour of those who are shipwrecked; thou art the consolation of the world, the ransom of captives, the health of the weak, the joy of the afflicted and the salvation of all. We have recourse to thee and we beseech thee to have pity on us. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 13 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”
O Immaculate Heart of Mary By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
O Immaculate Heart of Mary, I have nothing in myself to offer thee which is worthy of thee but what thanksgiving I ought I to pay thee, for all the favours which thou hast obtained for me from the Heart of Jesus! What reparation ought I to make thee for all my tepidity, in thy service! I desire to return thee love for love, the only good which I possess, is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which thou, thyself hast given me. I offer thee this Treasure of Infinite Price, I cannot do more and thou dost not deserve less, at my hand but, receiving from me, this Gift most Precious in thy sight, be pleased, I beseech thee, to accept too, my poor heart which I here offer to thee and I shall be forever blessed. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 7 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”
O Purest of Creatures, Sweet Mother, Sweet Maid By Fr Frederick W Faber C.Orat. (1814-1863)
O Purest of creatures, sweet Mother, sweet maid, The one spotless womb wherein Jesus was laid! Dark night hath come down on us, Mother! and we Look out for thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Deep night hath come down on this rough-spoken world, And the banners of darkness are boldly unfurled; And the tempest-tossed Church,— all her eyes are on thee; They look to thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
He gazed on thy soul, it was spotless and fair, For the empire of sin—it had never been there; None ever had owned thee, dear Mother but He. And He blest thy clear shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Earth gave Him one lodging; t’was deep in thy breast, And God found a home where the sinner finds rest; His home and His hiding-place, both were in thee, He was won by thy shining, sweet Star of the Sea!
Our Morning Offering – 5 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” – Feast of the Dedication of Our Lady of the Snows
O Mary, Immaculate Virgin Prayer for Health of Soul and Body
O Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our salvation lies in thy hands. Cleanse our souls, we beseech thee, from the leprosy of sin and assist us in our corporal infirmities. And, if it be the will of God that we must be acquainted with sickness and suffering, obtain for us, at least, perfect patience and resignation, in whatsoever God may dispose. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 3 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary” and Mary’s Saturday
Hail Mary! Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary By St John Eudes (1601-1680) “The Apostle of Two Hearts”
Hail Mary! Mother of God the Son. Hail Mary! Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary! Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity. Hail Mary! Pure Lily of the Effulgent Trinity. Hail Mary! Celestial Rose of the Ineffable Love of God. Hail Mary! Virgin pure and humble, of whom the King of Heaven willed to be born and, with thy milk to be nourished. Hail Mary! Virgin of Virgins, Hail Mary! Queen of Martyrs, whose soul a sword transfixed. Hail Mary! Lady most blessed! unto whom all power in Heaven and earth is given. Hail Mary! My Queen and my Mother! my Life, my Sweetness and my Hope, Hail Mary! Mother Most Amiable, Hail Mary! Mother of Divine Love, Hail Mary! Immaculate! Conceived Without Sin! Hail Mary! Full of Grace! The Lord is with Thee! Blessed art thou among women! And blessed is the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus! Blessed be thy spouse, Saint Joseph, Blessed be thy father, Saint Joachim, Blessed be thy mother, Saint Anne, Blessed be thy guardian, Saint John, Blessed be thy holy Angel, Saint Gabriel, Glory be to God the Father, Who chose thee, Glory be to God the Son, Who loved thee, Glory be to God the Holy Spirit, Who espoused thee. AMEN,
Quote/s of the Day – 2 August – St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop, Confessor, Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
As you most probably are aware, the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games were marred by some degrading and horrible blasphemies. A parody of the Last Supper was enacted and broadcast with incredible obscenity. Let us pray St Alphonsus Act of Reparation on our knees with tears and love to Our Saviour:
Act of Reparation By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church Indulgence of 3 Years – Once a Day
O Jesus, my Saviour and Redeemer, Son of the living God, behold we kneel before Thee and offer Thee our reparation; we would make amends, for all the blasphemies uttered against Thy Holy Name, for all the injuries done to Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, for all the irreverence shown toward Thine Immaculate Virgin Mother, for all the calumnies and slanders, spoken against Thy Spouse, the Holy Catholic and Roman Church. O Jesus, Who hast said: “If you ask the Father anything in My Name, He will give it you,” we pray and beseech Thee, for all our brethren who are in danger of sin; shield them from every temptation to fall away from the true faith; save those who are even now standing on the brink of the abyss; to all of them, give light and knowledge of the truth, courage and strength, for the conflict with evil, perseverance in faith and active charity! For this do we pray, most merciful Jesus, in Thy Name, unto God the Father, with Whom Thou livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
“Lord it is good for us to be here” Matthew 17:4
“Lord, let us remain here; let us never more depart from this place; for, the sight of Thine Beauty consoles us more than all the delights of the earth! Let us, then, brethren, courageously resolve to bear patiently with all the sufferings which shall come upon us during the remaining days of our lives: to secure Heaven, they are all little and nothing. “Your sorrows shall be turned into joy.” (John 16:20) When, then, the crosses of this life afflict us, let us raise our eyes to Heaven and console ourselves with the hope of Paradise. Have courage! Let us love God and labour for Heaven. There the Saints expect us, Mary expects us, Jesus Christ expects us – He holds in His Hand a Crown, to make each of us a king in that eternal Kingdom!”
“Let us read the lives of the Saints; let us consider the penances which they performed and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.”
O Jesus, My Sweet Love! (I too have kept Thee suffering)
Prayer of Contrition By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor of the Church
O Jesus, my sweet Love! I too have kept Thee suffering through all Thy life. Tell me, then, what I must do in order to win Thy forgiveness. I am ready to do all Thou askest of me. I am sorry, O sovereign Good, for all the offences I have committed against Thee. I love Thee more than myself, or at least, I feel a great desire to love Thee. Since it is Thou Who hast given me this desire, do Thou also give me the strength to love Thee exceedingly.
It is only right that I, who have offended Thee so much, should love Thee very much. Always remind me of the love Thou hast borne me, in order that my soul may ever burn with love of Thee and long to please Thee alone. O God of love, I, who was once a slave of hell, now give myself all to Thee. Graciously accept me and bind me to Thee with the bonds of Thy love. My Jesus, from this day and forever, in loving Thee will I live and in loving Thee will I die.
O Mary, my Mother and my hope, help me to love Thy dear God and mine. This is the only favour I ask of thee and through thee, I hope to receive it. Amen
Act of Spiritual Communion By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
I desire, good Jesus, to receive Thee in Holy Communion and since I cannot now receive Thee in the Blessed Sacrament, I beseech Thee to come to me spiritually and to refresh my soul with Thy sweetness. Come, my Lord, my God and my All! Come to me and never let me ever again be separated from Thee by sin. Teach me Thy blessed ways, help me with Thy grace to imitate Thy example, to practise meekness, humility, charity and all the virtues of Thy Sacred Heart. My divine Master, my one desire is to do Thy will and to love Thee, more and more. Help me, that I may be faithful to the end, in Thy service. Bless me in life and in death, that I may praise Thee, forever in heaven, Amen
August – The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1876
Excerpt from – “Object Of This Devotion”
The object of the Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is twofold, material and spiritual; the former secondary, the latter primary. The material object is the material heart of the Mother of the Word Incarnate. The spiritual object is her spiritual heart, that is to say, the ardent charity with which she was inflamed for God, as well as that, which she bore towards men. There is neither distance, separation nor opposition between these two loves; it is precisely because she loves God that Mary loves us and, the more perfectly she loves God, the greater her affection for us.
The love which Mary bears us is similar to that manifested towards us by her Divine Son, when, while on earth, He sought sinners rather than the just; our condition as sinners, far from opposing an obstacle, is rather a claim upon her. In this point, as in all others, Mary walks faithfully in the footsteps of her Son and model and, if she loves the just with a love of complacency because of their virtues, the love of compassion and mercy which she feels for sinners, is still greater, not because they are worthy of it but because, of their greater necessities. Finally the material heart of Mary, by means of which we should raise our thoughts to the spiritual, is ordinarily represented, not only with flames escaping from it which figure her love and crowned with flowers, emblems of her virtues but also, pierced with a sword, to call our attention to her sorrows.
The end proposed by devotion to the Immaculate Heart, is to urge us to a greater love towards Mary; for this object we are invited to consider her heart which is the most perfect masterpiece which nature and grace combined, have ever formed of a simple creature – besides this, in our regard, it is the heart of the most tender of mothers who loves us far better than we love ourselves. In these two considerations is to be found her claim upon our love –can we refuse it? This general end contains several partial ones, some of which it will be well to indicate – such as gratitude towards Mary, confidence in her, lively compassion for her sufferings and imitation of her virtues.
Note: The Messenger of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Jesuit periodical of the Apostleship of Prayer. It is printed in Dublin, Ireland and with monthly sales of around 52,000, it is still one of the largest-selling magazines in Irelandand I believe there are versions in various countries around the world.
Quote/s of the Day – 1 August – “The Month of the Immaculate Heart of Mary”
“Mary is the new Tree of Life, who, instead of the bitter fruit picked by Eve, gives to mankind that Sweet Fruit on which the whole world is fed.”
St Ephrem (306-373) Father and Doctor of the Church
“Gracious Lady, thou art a Mother and Virgin, thou art the Mother of the body and soul of our Head and Redeemer, thou art too, truly Mother of all the members of Christ’s Mystical Body. For through thy love, thou hast co-operated in the begetting of the faithful in the Church. Unique among women, thou art Mother and Virgin, Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ. Thou art the beauty and charm of earth, O Virgin. Thou art, forever, the image of the holy Church. Through a woman came death, through a woman came Life, yes, through thee, O Mother of God.“
St Augustine (354-430) Father and Doctor of Grace
“In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I trust. Look to the Star, call upon Mary! In danger, in difficulty or in doubt, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Keep her name on your lips, never let it pass out of your heart.”
St Bernard (1090-1153) Mellifluous Doctor of the Church
“The most efficacious means to foster devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690 Visionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Our Morning Offering – 28 July – “The Month of the Most Precious Blood” – Pentecost X
O Love Eternal! An Act of Love By St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Doctor of the Church (From his “A Treatise on the Love of God”)
O Love Eternal, my soul needs and chooses Thee eternally! Ah, come Holy Ghost and inflame our hearts with Thine Love! To love — or to die! To die — and to love! To die to all other love in order to live in Jesus’ Love, so that we may not die eternally but that we may live in Thine Eternal Love, O Saviour of our souls, we eternally sing, “Live, Jesus! Jesus, I love! Live Jesus, Whom I love! Jesus, I love, Jesus Who lives and reigns forever and ever.” Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 3 July– “The Month of the Most Precious Blood”
Eternal Father, I Offer unto Thee By St Margaret Mary Alacogue (1647-1690) Visionary and Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Eternal Father, I offer unto Thee the infinite satisfaction which Jesus rendered to Thy Justice, on behalf of sinners, upon the tree of the Cross and I pray that, Thou wouldst make the merits of His Precious Blood available to all guilty souls to whom sin has brought death. May they rise again to the life of grace and glorify Thee forever.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the fervent devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in satisfaction for the lukewarmness and cowardice of Thy chosen people, imploring Thee, by the burning Love which made Him suffer death that it may please Thee, to rekindle their hearts, now so lukewarm in Thy service and to set them on fire with Thine Love that they may love Thee forever.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the submission of Jesus to Thy Will and I ask of Thee, through His merits, the fullness of all grace and the accomplishment of all Thine Holy Will. Blessed be God! Amen.
Thought for the Day – 30 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
The Adorable Heart of Jesus Meditations for a Month
EXERCISES OF DEVOTION.
Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to make amends for the outrages He suffers in the Blessed Sacrament
O Heart of Jesus, ever on fire with love for men and ever outraged by their ingratitude! Thou hast done everything on earth, during Thy mortal life, to show Thy Love to men, even so far, as to wear Thyself out and to consume Thyself for them. Thy Love was repaid then, by nothing but contempt and the most disgraceful insult. And now that Thou burnest with the self-same love in the Holy Eucharist, where Thou art still dwelling in Thy Sacrament of Love in the midst of us, Thou dost suffer at the hands of ungrateful men the most cruel outrages, although they have no longer the excuse of ignorance and know now, what Thou art.
I see Thee on our Altars expose, during the lapse of so many hundred years, to numberless irreverences, sacrileges and insults, the memory of which fills me with horror and which, are going on now, even amongst those who believe in the True Faith!
Moved by these outrages, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Adorable Heart and weep for Thine outraged Love. I beg Thy pardon for the ingratitude of which I myself am guilty. I detest the sins which I have committed in Thy Presence by irreverence, coldness, and negligence. I would make reparation for them, as also, for the abominations committed against Thee by so many heretics and bad Catholics.
Would that by my homage and my grief, I could make amends to Thy injured honour. Would that by my tears and my blood, I could wash out the insults I deplore. Would that by some new kind of homage, I could atone for so many irreverences, insults and sacrileges. My life would not be too much to sacrifice for so worthy an object. Grant me, O Sacred Heart, by Thine own sweetness and boundless mercy, the pardon which I ask for, and give me grace to keep the resolution, which I now make, to do all I can in the future , to pay Thee, in the Sacrament of Thy Love, the profound adoration which I owe Thee and to show Thee that gratitude and love which are justly due to Thee. I resolve to repair my past faults by the modesty of my deportment in Thy churches, by my constancy in visiting Thee, my devotion and fervo.r in receiving Thee and, in fulfilment of Thy desire, I impose upon myself the duty of often repeating Acts of Reparation in Thy Presence, as Thou hast deigned to direct, in order, as far as I can, to atone for the injuries done Thee by others and of which Thy very love makes Thee the Victim in this Divine Sacrament.
Bless, I beseech Thee, this resolve and give me grace to keep it faithfully. Amen.
Quote/s of the Day – 30 June – “The Last Day of Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
The Nine First Friday of the Month Dedicated to the Devotion of Love and Reparation the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
“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 Friday for Nine Consecutive Months the grace of final repentance. They shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving the Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment.” — Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary
How to complete the First Friday’s Devotion:
Attend Holy Mass and Receive Holy Communion on each First Friday; The Nine Fridays must be consecutive; They must be made in honour and in reparation to His Sacred Heart.
Act of Love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus By Servant of God Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val (1865-1930)
Reveal Thy Sacred Heart to me, O Jesus and show me Its attractions. Unite me to It forever. Grant that all my aspirations and all the beats of my heart, which cease, not even while I sleep, may be a testimonial to Thee, of my love for Thee and may it say to Thee – “Yes, Lord, I am all Thine” the pledge of my allegiance to Thee, rests forever in my heart and will never cease to be there. May Thou accept, the slight amount of good that I do and be graciously pleased, to repair all my wrong-doing – so that I may be able, to bless Thee, in time and in eternity. Amen
Act of Consecration and Reparation to the Sacred Heart By Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903) Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine Altar. We are Thine and Thine we wish to be but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us, freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee, many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus and draw them to Thine Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful, who have never forsaken Thee but also of the prodigal children, who have abandoned Thee, grant that they, may quickly return to Thy Father’s House lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou, King of all those. who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism and refuse not, to draw them into the Light and Kingdom of God. Turn Thine Eyes of Mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people – of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may it now descend upon them, a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy 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 be to the Divine Heart which wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honour forever!” Amen
The above prayer, composed by Pope Leo XIII was included in the 1899 Encyclical, Annum Sacrum, issued by Leo XIII as he Consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Consecration was influenced by two letters written to the Holy Father by Blessed Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, who stated that in visions of Jesus Christ, she had been told to request the Consecration.
One Minute Reflection – 30 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – Pentecpst VI – Romans 6:3-11; Mark 8:1-9 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Giving thanks, He broke and gave to His disciples to set before them …” – Marl 8:6
REFLECTION – “Our Lord multiplied bread in the wilderness and changed water into wine at Cana. Thus, He accustomed His disciples’ mouths to His Bread and Wine, until the time when He would give them His Own Body and Blood. He gave them a taste of transitory bread and wine, to stir up in them, a desire for His Own life-giving Body and Blood. He gave them generously of those insignificant things that they might know that His more important gift would be free. He gave these things freely, even though, they might have bought them that they might know they would not be asked to pay for something beyond price – …. for, if they were able to pay the price of some bread and wine, yet they would not be able to pay for His Body and Blood.
Not only did He freely fill us with His gifts but He treated us yet more lovingly. For He gave us those little things freely, to draw us, so that we would come to Him and freely receive that great good of the Eucharist. Those fragments of bread and wine which He gave, were sweet to the mouth but the gift of His Body and Blood, is of value to the spirit. He attracted us by these tasty foods ,to draw us to that which gives life to our souls …
The Lord’s Work achieves all things – in the blink of an eye, He multiplied a morsel of bread! What people effect and transform after ten months of labour, His Ten Fingers carried out in an instant … From a handful of bread, a quantity of loaves comes to be – it was for them, as it was at the time of the first blessing – “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth” (Gn 1:28).” – St Ephrem (306-373) Deacon in Syria, Father and Doctor of the Church added by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. (Commentary on the Diatessaron 12:1-4).
PRAYER – O God, Who made this day holy by the Martyrdom of Thy Apostles Peter and Paul, grant Thy Church to follow in all things the teaching of those from whom she first received the faith.Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
EUCHARISTIC Heart of JESUS, model of the Priestly heart, have mercy on us. COR JESU Eucharisticum, cordis sacerdotalis exemplar, miserere nobis. – Indulgence 300 Days, Everytime – Raccolta 177St Pius X, 11 September 1907.
Our Morning Offering – 30 June – “The Last Day of the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost VI
A Magnificat By St John Eudes (1601-1680) A Hymn of Praise and Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Holy Heart of Mary
My soul doth magnify the admirable Heart of Jesus and Mary And my spirit rejoices in Thou great Heart. Jesus and Mary have given me their Heart, This immense Heart, in order that all in me May be performed in its love.
Infinite praise to them, for their ineffable gift. This Heart infinitely merciful, has done great things for me. It has possessed me from the womb of my mother. Infinite thanksgiving for Thou ineffable gifts.
The abyss of my misery has called on the abyss of His Mercy. Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts. This Heart infinitely meek has presented me With blessings of its sweetness. Infinite thanksgiving for His ineffable gifts. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 28 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – St Irenaeus (c130–c202) Bishop, Martyr, Father of the Church – 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 4:1-5; Matthew 10:28-33 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And fear you not them who kill the body and are not able to kill the soul …” – Matthew 10:2828,
REFLECTION – “They did not nail Polycarp but only tied him up. And so, he was bound, putting his arms behind his back, like a noble ram taken from a large flock for sacrifice, a burnt offering acceptable to and made ready for God. Then he gazed up to Heaven and said: “O Lord God Almighty, Father of Your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through Whom we have received knowledge of You, God of the angels and the powers and of all creation, God of the whole race of the righteous who live in Your sight: I bless You, for You have thought me worthy of this day and hour, to share the cup of Your Christ, as one of Your Martyrs, to rise again to eternal life in body and soul in the immortality of the Holy Ghost. May I be taken up today into Your Presence among Your Martyrs, as a rich and acceptable sacrifice, in the manner You have prepared and have revealed and have now brought to fulfillment, for You are the God of truth… And so also I praise You for all things; I bless and glorify you through our Eternal High Priest in Heaven (Heb 4,14), in Your beloved Child, Jesus Christ, through Whom be glory to You and to Him and to the Holy Ghost, now and for the ages to come. Amen.” – Letter of the Church of Smyrna concerning the Martyrdom of Saint Polycarp (69-155) [Especially appropriate today, as St Irenaeus was a Student and Disciple of St Polycarp.]
PRAYER – O God, Who enabled blessed Irenaeus, Thy Martyr and Bishop, to overcome heresy with true doctrine and to establish peace happily in the Church, grant, we beseech Thee that Thy people may be steadfast in holy religion and give us Thy peace in our times. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
MAY the HEART of JESUS be loved everywhere. INDULGENCE – 100 Days, Once a day – Pope Pius IX 23 September 1860.
Our Morning Offering – 28 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus! By St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787) Most Zealous Doctor
O Adorable Heart of my Jesus, Heart yearning expressly. for the love of men! Until now, I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, Abyss of Love and of Mercy, how is it possible, hat I do not die of sorrow, when I reflect on Thy Goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy Blood and Thy Life for me and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself everyday for me, in the Holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages! Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy Tears and Thy Blood, give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love, until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.
Our Morning Offering – 26 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
O Heart of Jesus! By St Gertrude the Great (1256-1302)
Sanctity of the Heart of Jesus, consecrate my heart; Providence of the Heart of Jesus, watch over my heart; Unchangeableness of the Heart of Jesus, strengthen my heart; Purity of the Heart of Jesus, purify my heart; Obedience of the Heart of Jesus, subjugate my heart; Amiability of the Heart of Jesus, make Thyself known to my heart; Divine attractions of the Heart of Jesus, captivate my heart; Riches of the Heart of Jesus, do ye suffice for my heart; Floods of grace and blessing which flow from the Heart of Jesus, inundate my heart. O Heart of Jesus! be Thou my joy, my peace, my repose in this world and in the next. O Heart of Jesus! adored in Heaven, Invoked on earth, feared in hell, Reign over all hearts, Reign throughout all ages, Reign forever in celestial glory. Amen
One Minute Reflection – 25 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – St William (1085-1142) Abbot – Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6; Matthew 19:27-29 – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“… Shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess life everlasting.” – Matthew 19:29
REFLECTION – “The possessions which we have, are not our own: God has given them to us to cultivate and He wishes us to render them fruitful and profitable … Always deprive yourself, therefore, of some part of your means, giving them to the poor with a willing heart … It is true that God will return it to you, not only in the next world but also in this, for there is nothing which makes a person prosper, in temporal matters, so much, as almsgiving. But until such time as God shall repay it, you will always be impoverished to that extent. Oh! how holy and rich is the impoverishment which is caused by almsgiving.
Love the poor and poverty, for by this love you will become truly poor, since, as Scripture says: “We become like the things that we love” (cf Hos 9:10). Love makes those who love, equal to one another: “Who is weak and I am not weak?” says St Paul (2 Cor 11:29). He might have said: “Who is poor, with whom I am not poor?” For love made him become, such as those whom he loved. If, then, you love the poor, you will be truly participating in their poverty and poor like them. Now, if you love the poor, be often among them; be pleased to see them in your house and to visit them in theirs; associate willingly with them; be glad that they are near you in the Churches, in the streets and elsewhere. Be poor in speech with them, speaking to them as their equal but be rich in deed, giving them of your goods, as one who possesses more abundantly.
Will you do even more? … Become a servant of the poor; go to serve them … with your own hands … and at your own expense. This service has more glory in it than a throne!” – St Francis de Sales (1567-1622) Bishop of Geneva and Doctor of the Church (Introduction to the devout life, Part three Ch 15).
PRAYER – O God, Who made Thy Saints an example and a help for our weakness, grant us, as we walk the path of salvation, so to venerate the virtues of the blessed Abbot William that we may obtain his intercession and follow in his footsteps. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
“JESUS, meek and humble of HEART, make my heart like unto Thine.” – 300 Days, EVERYTIME. (Unless otherwise stated, e.g., “once a day,” a partial Indulgence may be gained any number of times in succession.) St Pope Pius X, 15 September 1905.
Our Morning Offering – 25 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”
Be my Strength, O Sacred Heart! By St Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) Visionary of the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I fly to Thee, I unite myself to Thee, I enclose myself in Thee! Receive my call for help, O my Saviour, as a sign of my horror of all within me, contrary to Thy holy love. Let me die rather a thousand times, than consent to sin against Thee! Be my strength, O God – defend me, protect me. I am Thine and desire forever to be Thine! Amen
One Minute Reflection – 24 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – The Nativity of St John the Baptist – Isaias 49:1-3, 5-7, Luke 1:57-68 – – – Scripture search here: https://www.drbo.org/
“And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed and he spoke, blessing God.”- Luke 1:64
REFLECTION – “Speaking of John, we read in Luke: “He shall be great in the sight of the Lord and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Lk 1:15-17). For Whom, then, did he prepare a people and in the sight of what Lord was he made great? Truly of Him, Who said that John was something “even more than a prophet” and that “among those born of women, none is greater than John the Baptist” (Mt 11:9.11). For he made ready a people for the Lord’s advent, warning his fellow-servants and preaching repentance to them, so that they might receive forgiveness from the Lord when He should arrive, after being converted to Him from Whom they had been alienated because of their sins and transgressions …
Yes, “in his mercy” God, “the Day-spring from on high, has looked upon us and appeared to those who sat in darkness and the shadow of death and has guided our feet into the way of peace” (Lk 1:78-79) just as Zacharias, recovering from the state of dumbness he had suffered because of his unbelief, blessed God in a new way, when he had been filled with a new spirit. For all things have entered upon a new phase by the fact that the Word, after a new manner, has accomplished the purpose of His coming in the flesh, that He might return to friendship with God, the human flesh which had departed from God. And this is why men were taught to worship God after a new fashion.” – St Irenaeus (130-202) Bishop, Martyr, Theologian, Father of the Church (Against the Heresies III).
PRAYER – O God, Who made this a day most worthy of our celebration because of blessed John; grant Thy people the grace of spiritual joys and direct the minds of all the faithful into the path of eternal salvation. T hrough Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
Sweet Heart of my JESUS, Make me love Thee ever more and more! INDULGENCE – 300 Days. i. Partial, Every time ii. Plenary, once a month. Pope Pius IX, 26 November 1876 Raccolta 162
Thought for the Day – 23 June – Meditations with Fr Richard Frederick Clarke SJ (1839-1900)
The Adorable Heart of Jesus Meditations for a Month
On The Difference Between Devotion to the SACRED HEART and Devotion to the BLESSED SACRAMENT
There have been, from the very beginning, people who asserted that there was no essential difference between Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and that to the Sacred Heart and who consequently, rejected the latter as only adding a new name to a very old Devotion. But whoever has read, what we have said in the preceding chapters, will readily perceive how far this opinion is removed from the truth, it being evident that these two Devotions differ from each other – firstly, in their objects ; secondly, in the motives for honouring these objects; thirdly, in the essential end of their institution. This is to say, they differ in the three most important points which can distinguish Devotions one from the other.
They differ in the first place in their object; for, in the one is proposed alone the Adorable Heart of Jesus Christ, without any reference to the rest of His Body. In the other the entire Body of Jesus Christ is proposed under the Sacramental Species, without any special reference to His Heart.
They differ, in the second place, in the motives for honouring the object, for in the Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the motive for honouring the Body of Jesus Christ, is the Infinite Dignity of this Adorable Flesh which, through its union with the Word, is worthy of the adoration of Angels and men. In the Devotion to the Sacred Heart, the essential motive for honouring I, is the love with which It is inflamed and the sufferings It endured, through the ingratitude of men which has relation to the Divine Heart and to no other part of the Body.
In short, in instituting the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament the object was to render to Jesus Christ, abiding amongst us, the adoration, the gratitude and the love which are so justly due to Him in this Ineffable Mystery. It is in order to satisfy these obligations that the Church has instituted the festival of the Blessed Sacrament with its Solemn Octave, with processions, decorations and all the pomp and magnificence with which this Feast is celebrated. But in that of the Sacred Heart the principal object of its institution is to make reparation to our Lord for the insults His Love has received in the Holy Sacrament through the ingratitude of men — a reparation which Jesus Christ desires should be directed to His Heart which is, as it were, the Source and the Seat of this Love.
Now it is clear that this object is not attained by Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, for this Devotion would still remain intact, even if our Lord had never been outraged in this Mystery. All that is now done in honour of this Adorable Sacrament would still be justly given without any other aim than to render, to our Lord, the outward marks of respect and gratitude due to His Divine Presence among us.
Our Morning Offering – 23 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” – Pentecost V
Auctor Beate Sæculi Jesu, Creator of the World! Unknown Author
Jesu, Creator of the world! Of all mankind Redeemer blest! True God of God in whom we see The Father’s Image clear expressed!
Thee Saviour, love alone constrained To make our mortal flesh Thine own; And as a second Adam come, For the first Adam to atone.
That selfsame Love that made the sky, Which made the sea and stars and earth, Took pity on our misery, And broke the bondage of our birth.
O Jesu! in Thy Heart Divine May that same Love forever flow, Forever mercy to mankind From that exhaustless Fountain flow.
For this Thy Sacred Heart was pierced, And both with blood and water ran; To cleanse us from the stains of guilt, And be the hope and strength of man.
Jesu! to Thee be glory giv’n, Who from the Heart dost grace outpour, With Father and with Holy Ghost, Through endless ages evermore.
Trans. The Benedictines of Saint Cecilia’s Abbey, Ryde, UK slightly adapted from Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878) original translation Music: PUER NOBIS, LM; adapted by Michael Praetorius, (1571-1621). This particular Vespers Hymn is taken from the Feast of the Sacred Heart. In a Seminary or Monastery, this hymn would be sung. It has a very compelling melody, which adds to the beauty of a Hymn which extolls the mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The theme of the entire piece is Our Lord’s Sacred Heart and how It is the Fount of Mercy for all who come to Him. It tells how we should value the Infinite Redemption He wrought for us.
Our Morning Offering – 21 June – “The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus” –
Eternal Father, I Offer unto Thee By St Margaret Mary Alacogue (1647-1690) Visionary and Apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Eternal Father, I offer unto Thee the infinite satisfaction which Jesus rendered to Thy Justice, on behalf of sinners, upon the tree of the Cross and I pray that, Thou wouldst make the merits of His Precious Blood available to all guilty souls to whom sin has brought death. May they rise again to the life of grace and glorify Thee forever.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the fervent devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in satisfaction for the lukewarmness and cowardice of Thy chosen people, imploring Thee, by the burning Love which made Him suffer death that it may please Thee, to rekindle their hearts, now so lukewarm in Thy service and to set them on fire with Thine Love that they may love Thee forever.
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the submission of Jesus to Thy Will and I ask of Thee, through His merits, the fullness of all grace and the accomplishment of all Thine Holy Will. Blessed be God! Amen.
AnaStpaul 
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