The Promises Made to Those Who Practise Devotion to the Sacred Heart
1. When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and commanded her to propagate the worship of His Sacred Heart, He promised very special blessings to those who would be truly devoted to His Sacred Heart and spread this devotion among others. “I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life... consolation in all their troubles... peace in their families... blessings on all their undertakings.”These promises are an inducement to us to love Jesus and to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart.
Our Divine Saviour is not content with having loved us so much during His mortal life and given us His Precious Blood, the Blessed Eucharist, and His most holy Mother for our salvation. He sees that His infinite love is not returned as it ought to be and seems to exercise a gentle pressure in order to compel us to love Him. “Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It spared nothing... to prove to them Its love. And in return I receive from the greater part of men nothing but ingratitude, by the contempt, irreverence, sacrileges and coldness with which they treat Me in this Sacrament of Love.”
“I thirst, I burn with a consuming desire for men’s love, and I find none to quench this thirst, according to My wish, by making any return of love.”
Who could fail to feel the force of this appeal?
2. The promises made by Jesus to those who are truly devoted to His Sacred heart are a new proof of His infinite love and mercy. However, if anyone were to cultivate devotion to the Sacred Heart merely to gain His benefits, and to think more of his own spiritual and temporal advantage than of Jesus, he would display a niggardly spirit quite unworthy of Our Lord’s favour.
The worship of the Sacred Heart could degenerate into a kind of utilitarian egoism undeserving of the name of devotion. Pious practices could become cold and formal, and degenerate into sentimentality tinged with superstition. There is nothing to prevent us asking the Sacred Heart for graces and favours which we need. In fact we should do so, for it is He Who has made these promises to us and is eager to fulfil them because He loves us. But we should be generous with Jesus in return for His infinite generosity towards us. We should love Him because He is so worthy of our love. Our love should be expressed not only in prayers and outward forms but in a deep personal transformation which will make us more like Jesus. True love transforms and unites two hearts. Let us love Jesus and we shall live with Jesus, through Jesus, and in Jesus. His love will effect in us the miracle which it produces in St. Paul. “To me to live is Christ.” (I Phil. 1, 21)
3. Sweet Heart of Jesus, make me love You more and more.
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