Sunday Meditation: Did the Bishops Really Consecrate the Nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

On June 11th the bishops ostensibly consecrated the U.S. to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But did they? What is a consecration? Here's the prayer they offered. As you read it find, if you can, the point where they consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart:

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you. From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you.

In this month of the Sacred Heart, Let us read the Visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

What better time to read the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque than the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart. She can appropriately be described as the apostle of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. How united she was to his passion and death to the point of receiving the stigmata. How united she was to the sufferings of her Lord.

Sunday Meditation: The Relationship Between Feelings and Sin

I've been reading selections from St. Claude de la Colombiere's writings: letters, retreat notes, diary entries, etc. He often writes about the correct approach to feelings and how to deal with them. In our age, when so many people have tossed reason to the wind and act mostly on their feelings, St. Claude's wisdom is much needed.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on Us!

I can't let this Feast of the Sacred Heart end without praising and thanking God for using St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to reveal to us the intimate love He has for each one of us. I think of little Francisco of Fatima wrapping his arms around the tabernacle and lamenting, "Love is not loved!"

Tomorrow is First Friday: Take Advantage of the Graces!

I'm focusing on the nine First Fridays devotion to secure the promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary. They're wonderful! What a consolation if you've made them!

Larry and I fulfilled the requirements in June. They're easy: go to Mass on the first Friday of the month for nine consecutive months, receive Holy Communion worthily, and go to confession within eight days before or after. There's even a website to help you keep track and send you reminders as First Friday approaches. I signed up and I hope you will too. And if you haven't enthroned the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts in your home, why not ask your pastor about it. The Legion of Mary happily visits families to carry out the enthronement. If your parish is blessed with a Legion, ask them about it.

I probably made the nine first Fridays when I was a child, but I want First Friday to become a perpetual devotion in my life. That will insure I go to Confession at least once a month as well as making sure each month starts out with reflecting on the grace mercy and love of Our Lord. What a win-win situation. So please join me by going to Mass tomorrow aware of the day's significance and reflecting in your heart on the goodness of God who desires us all to become saints.

It's First Friday - Good Day to Begin the Nine First Fridays Devotion

From the Catholic Culture website:

From the writings of St. Margaret Mary: 

"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment." 

With regard to this promise it may be remarked: (1) that our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him; (2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive; (3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord; (4) that our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end; (5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Firdays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly desires; and (6) that the practice of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.

What greater month to begin the nine first Fridays than the one dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine." For more on the Sacred Heart devotion go here.

"[T]he Heart of Christ must be recognized as the heart of the Church." Pope John Paul II

Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: An Opportunity for Great Graces!

Today is a day of promise. It's the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary in 1673 and 1674, He told her the love of many had grown cold and urged her to promote devotion to His Sacred Heart. He promised many graces and blessings to those who honored Him. Christ longs to draw us from the brink of destruction because of His great love. St. Margaret Mary testified to that love when she said:

"And He [Christ] showed me that it was His great desire of being loved by men and of withdrawing them from the path of ruin 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 Him all the honour and love possible, might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which His heart is the source." — from Revelations of Our Lord to St. Mary Margaret Alacoque

Pray today to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus promised special graces to those who on this day, 1) Receive Holy Communion, 2) Honor His Sacred Heart, and 3) Make acts of reparation in honor of His Sacred Heart. To see the twelve promises Jesus made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for those who honor His Sacred Heart and make the nine first Fridays of reparation go here. Why would any Catholic fail to do this when the promises of Jesus offer such a great return for so little a sacrifice?

First Friday This Week: Have You Ever Made the 9 First Fridays?

Jesus told St. Margaret Mary, "I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."

Wow! Who wouldn't want that promise. So my new 2011 resolution is to make the Nine First Friday's this year and make them well. I may have done this as a child and, since we go to daily Mass almost every day of the year, I may have made them unconsciously, but I want to do it this year consciously and with heartfelt love.

What's required? Attending Mass on nine consecutive first Fridays out of love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and in reparation for those who do not receive Him, live sinful lives, and do not give Him the love and honor due to Him.

Learn more here.

Mercy and Madness

The Church dedicates the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Following, as it does, the month dedicated to Our Lady, we are placed securely between the immaculate heart of the Mother and the merciful heart of her Son, our Savior. It's a safe and secure place to be.

Our President also made the month of June special. He proclaimed it "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month" to coincide with the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots the violent homosexual demonstrations in New York often seen as the beginning of the "gay rights" movement. As it began so it continues.

Jesus gave those devoted to His Sacred Heart twelve promises through his intermediary, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. These are the first four:

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

"I will give peace in their families and will unite families that are divided.

"I will console them in all their troubles.

"I will be their refuge during life and above all in death."

When I read these, I hardly need to read the other eight to embrace this devotion. Peace in my family? Consolation in all the pains of life? The assurance of God's refuge when I'm dying? Thanks be to God!

Obama also made promises - to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act that protects marriage between one man and one woman and to eliminate "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as a policy for hiring in the military. Promoting the gay agenda, hell on earth, is a priority for him.

Promises: twelve for heaven and two for hell. The choice seems obvious.