Ave Maria Meditations
DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
“Behold the Heart,” said Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary, “that has loved humanity, and has spared nothing for them, even to consuming itself to give them pledges of Its love, but which receives from the majority of people, no other return but ingratitude, and insults toward the Sacrament of Love.”
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is nothing more than an exercise of love toward our loving Savior. Therefore, the principal object of this devotion, the spiritual object of this devotion, is the love with which the Heart of Jesus is inflamed toward all. Let us now attempt to satisfy the devotion of those who are enamored of Jesus Christ, and who desire to honor him in the Most Holy Sacrament, by a novena of holy meditations and affections to His Sacred Heart.
The Nine First Fridays Devotion
“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving tile sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment.”
— from the Promises of our Lord to Saint Margaret Mary
Conditions required: To make nine Holy Communions; on the first Friday of the month (confession required within eight days); for nine consecutive months, without interruption; with the proper disposition (norms); with the intention of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and to obtain the fruit of this great promise.
THE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS TO ST. MARGARET MARY:
Many are the promises that the Sacred Heart of Jesus has made to His Servant St. Margaret Mary, in favor of His devoted ones, as is evident from her writings. The principal ones are as follows:
I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
I will give peace in their families.
I will console them in all their troubles.
I will he their refuge in life and especially in death.
I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection
I will bless those places wherein the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
+Prayer by St. Margaret Mary : O Heart of love, I place my trust entirely in You. Though I fear all things from my weakness, I hope all things from Your goodness!
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.
I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.
Amen.
+St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
