EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: DAY 6

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

(The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was started and made popular by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She was inspired by visions of Jesus to spread this devotion).

Hymn

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
Into every troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit;
Let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver;
Let us all thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee:
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

OPENING PRAYER

Generous Heart of Jesus, it is in Your power to make our hearts like yours. By ourselves we have nothing and we can do nothing but You have given us the desire to love You. Therefore, O my Jesus, may Your holy Will be the inspiration of our thoughts, desires, and actions from now on.

O God, who in the Heart of your Son, wounded by our sins, in the infinite concessions of love treasures, grant that we offer a fair reparation, consecrating ourselves to the Sacred Heart all our lives. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

SCRIPTURAL READING: Jeremiah 31:2-4

The Lord says this: They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword. Israel is marching to his rest. The Lord has appeared to him from afar: I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you. I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel. Adorned once more, and with your tambourines, you will go out dancing gaily.

The Word of the Lord…

REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (Apostle of the Sacred Heart):

Part 6 (Acceptance and the gradual spread of the devotion)

Finally, she went to confession to St. Claude de Colombière. For the first time in her life, someone believed her immediately. He taught her the discernment of spirits and advised her to constantly thank God for the graces he had given her. He gave her permission to pray the way God had taught her and ordered her to stop punishing herself for struggling with vocal prayer. Shortly after this, she went to receive Communion from St. Claude. Jesus gave her a vision of both their hearts being consumed by His. He told her that they were to work together to spread devotion to his Sacred Heart. Claude eventually wrote a book about her visions. This brought a new dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and also vindicated her in her community. Finally, all opposition from the community, regarding Margaret’s visions, ended in 1683, when Margaret Mary became the assistant to the Superior.

St. Margaret Mary, who later became known as Novice Mistress, led the monastery in observing the Feast of the Sacred Heart privately and inspired the construction of a chapel built to honor the Sacred Heart. Today, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is revered by Catholics around the world.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! I adore you; I offer to you all that I am and all that I possess; I consecrate to you my soul with its faculties, my body with all its senses, my heart with all its affections, desiring in all things to honor, love, and glorify you; in thanksgiving for the numberless benefits that I have received from you, especially in the Holy Eucharist; in atonement for my own sins as well as in reparation for all the offenses that are committed against you in the sacrament of your love, and, finally, in humble supplication, that I may henceforth be faithful to you, that I may please you in thought, word, and deed, that I may suffer in patience and in perfect resignation to your holy will, that I may become like to you in meekness and humility, that I may persevere in your love and your grace to the end of my life, and that I may praise you and bless you with the saints and angels in eternity.

We beseech you, also, O good Jesus, by your Sacred Heart, overflowing with sweetness and mercy, to bless our Holy Father, the Pope, and our Holy Mother, the Church; to take under your special protection this congregation [my parish], our homes, our country, our rulers, our legislators, our bishops, our priests, and all Religious Orders. We recommend to you all our concerns, our friends, relatives, benefactors, and all those who have asked us to pray for them; those who are sick and those who are dying, and all who are under any affliction. Cast an eye of compassion on obstinate sinners, [the mistaken], and unbelievers. Give eternal rest to the faithful departed. Bless in particular the apostolic labours of those who are engaged in giving missions and retreats, in propagating the Faith in [mission] lands, in spreading your kingdom on earth, and in fostering devotion to Your Most Sacred Heart and to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

I. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.’ Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of…… (here, name your request) Our Father… . Hail Mary… Glory Be to the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.’ Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of…… (here, name your request) Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be To the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.’ Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of… . . (here name your request) Our Father… . Hail Mary… Glory Be to the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto Yours (x3)

Immaculate heart of Mary, Pray for us!!!

Hail Holy Queen…

St. Joseph, Pray for us!

 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us!

Sources:

The Letters of St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque, Tan Books, 1954

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by John Croiset, Tan Books, 1988

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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?