First Friday march 1, 2024 

Guards of Honor 1st Friday / March 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!”

Consolers of the Sacred Heart

Like many of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s letters -- in fact most of her letters – suffering is the recurring theme. Writing to Mother Sumaise during Lent, March 1686, St. Margaret Mary identifies the Heart of Jesus -- this adorable Heart of love that has suffered for us -- calling us to be united with His heart, also in suffering. Yet, “suffering” is not only the language of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, “suffering” is the language of the Saints -- the only means by which we can be one with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

The Mother of Our Saviour knew this best: her Immaculate Heart was united with her son’s Sacred Heart on the Cross. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is given to us at the Cross; and Mary is at the foot of the Cross with her Son – and Jesus gives us His Mother, “This is your Mother.” Why is suffering central in the writings of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and so many of the Saints: when our suffering unites us with Jesus crucified, our suffering has a salvific value: human suffering has meaning when we are one with Jesus. For Jesus teaches this himself: “Whoever wants to be my disciple, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24-28). 

The Lenten season provides this penitential period of self-denial, a chosen form of penance so we journey with Jesus in the desert. Of course, suffering we may encounter even when we do not choose it as a result of health-issues that come our way, or the suffering caused by painful relationships, and the loss of loved ones. No matter how we may experience suffering, when we are one with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we participate in His suffering on the Cross. This suffering of ours – one with Jesus -- helps purify us of our sins; we can also offer this suffering for others who are in need our prayers. And as Guards of Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, our prayers, our self-denial, our suffering, serve to console the heart of Jesus caused by the repeated blasphemies which His Sacred Heart is subjected to. And so, we are consolers of the Sacred Heart. Let us stand with Mary at the foot of the Cross consoling the Heart of Jesus.

Jesus, we offer our Lenten prayers and self-denial,

in reparation for the offenses and sacrileges in our Church.

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