First Friday september 6, 2024 

Guards of Honor 1st Friday / September 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.”

Sacred Heart of Jesus: Loved, Honoured, and Glorified

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque writes in September 1686 to Mother Louise-Henriette de Soudeilles who is the Superior of the Visitandine community at Moulins. We discover in this letter the passion that moves St. Margaret Mary so in love with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, that she wants to share with her sisters, in her Visitandine communities, so that this burning love of the Sacred Heart may spread like wildfire. Love is conveyed by sharing love; love is not meant to be contained for oneself. The truest love is the Heart of Jesus offered as a sacrifice for us. This explains why St. Margaret Mary is so eager to make the Revelations known, to love the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is why St. Margaret Mary insists – with mindful humility – on devotion to the Sacred Heart by the placing the image of the Sacred Heart in a prominent position for the protection of oneself and one’s family, and also to honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In writing to Mother Louise-Henriette, three significant words are used in relation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: to be “loved,” “honoured,” and “glorified.” We understand from St. Margaret Mary’s writings that this is the mission given to her by Jesus. St. Margaret Mary’s letters express the missionary quality – and appeal -- of making the Sacred Heart of Jesus not only known, for knowing Jesus is the start, but to lead others to love, honour, and glorify Jesus. St. Margaret Mary knows this to be her mission, but she reminds us that this is our mission, the mission of the Church: to make Jesus loved, to make Jesus honoured, to make Jesus glorified. This mission St. Margaret Mary carries out with faith and courage. We also need to pray for faith and courage. St. Margaret Mary also reminds us that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has its source in the Gospel: The Heart of Jesus was sacrificed on the “tree of the Cross” to show His love for us, and “continues to do so in the Blessed Sacrament.” The love of the Sacred Heart is the one and same sacrifice offered on the Cross and continues to be offered in the Blessed Sacrament. The love of Jesus is true because it is real. As St. Margaret Mary conveys in her letter, Jesus still reaches out to us in His Body and Blood offered for us and to us.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, let us love you with a burning love!

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