First Friday february 2, 2024 

Guards of Honor 1st Friday / February 2024 Fr. David Bellusci, OP 

“My Heart has expected reproach and misery and I looked for one who would grieve together with Me, but there was none; and for one that would comfort me, and I found none!” (Ps. 68)

“BEHOLD THE HEART WHICH HAS SUFFERED SO MUCH!”

Refuge in the Sacred Heart of Jesus

When St. Margaret Mary Alacoque writes to Mother de Sumaise at Dijon in March, 1696, we are given further insight in how St. Margaret Mary deals with suffering, and even the nature of this suffering – “contradictions and humiliations from creatures.” When people with whom we share our faith, our common journey of prayer and devotions, going to Confession and Communion, offend us by refusing to accept the depth of our spiritual life or those very personal moments with our Lord, and respond instead, with derision and scorn, indeed, this is painful – the Cross that St. Margaret Mary carries. She is being purified like the great mystics through these humiliations demonstrating her faith through endurance. For God to carry out his mission and choosing certain individuals for this, He wants the expression of our love through the trial and purification of our sinful nature to make more room for Him and His mission. 

St. Margaret Mary even acknowledges that she might succumb under the weight of His cross. She feels her vulnerability, her fragility, how much longer could she endure this suffering. Nevertheless, St. Margaret Mary carries her cross as the “goodness He deigns to send me.” St. Margaret Mary understands that the cross is not punishment but sent by the goodness of God as God knows how best to cleanse us, strengthen us, and prepare us. In the midst of this turmoil, St. Margaret Mary finds that she is never abandoned by God, even though she sees herself as a “wretch.” How does St. Margaret overcome all this hardship she encounters? She says it herself: she finds “refuge” in the adorable heart of Jesus. 

We can learn from St. Margaret Mary not only to persevere in the midst of suffering, but to take refuge in the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus to help us through suffering.

Most Adorable Sacred Heart, unite my heart with yours.

Prayer to Renew Our Fidelity and Devotion 

Divine Jesus, my Saviour and my King, with all my heart I renew the promise which I have made to love, to glorify and to console Your adorable Heart as a member of the Guard of Honor. Grant O good Master, to make me daily more loving, more devoted and more faithful. I ask this same grace for all the Associates through the Immaculate Heart of Your Mother. AMEN