First Friday June 7, 2024
Guards of Honor 1st Friday / June 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)
“We place all the intentions of our members in the Loving Heart of Jesus and ask Him to bless them.”
The Sacred Heart Offered to Us
On June 21st, 1686, the Friday following the Octave of Corpus Christi, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque writes a note to Sister Marie-Madeleine des Escures. Devotion to the Sacred Heart spreads in the Visitandine convent of Paray-le-Monial thanks to Sister Marie-Madeleine. The feast on the Friday after Corpus Christi was designated by Jesus speaking to Saint Margaret Mary to be devoted to His Sacred Heart. With the help of Sister Marie-Madeleine, Paray-le-Monial was the first convent to observe the devotion.
Sister Margaret Mary’s letter teaches us that devotions do not “just happen.” The cloistered nun is the instrument to whom Jesus reveals Himself with his message. But how can Sister Margaret Mary reach out to others when she is cloistered in her convent? She relies on her communication with Sisters who will listen to her--always under obedience to her superiors and director--and those who will promote the devotion. We rely on the goodwill, faith, and spiritual disposition of others. Our relationship with Christ our Lord is not only between ourselves and our Saviour, but also a shared faith, a community of believers that we call Catholics whom we embrace with the language of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And we even reach out to those non-Catholics who are willing to listen.
Saint Margaret Mary starts simply with the convents of nuns who are willing to listen to her, read the message -- and share the Revelation. Sister Margaret Mary states, “It seems to me that Our Lord greatly desires His Sacred Heart to be honoured in some special way so that the effects of the Redemption may be renewed in souls.” The Sacred Heart devotion strengthens us to combat sins and help others battle against sin that continue to accumulate. Jesus wishes to abundantly impart on us his graces and mercy which He does through his Sacred Heart -- in the depths of His love, Jesus uses every means to save us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Try to please the Heart of Jesus by being faithful to your Hour of Guard
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