June - Devotion to the Sacred Heart

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The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in honor of which I’ve decided to go a little in-depth on the devotion for those unfamiliar with this excellent means to grow closer to Christ. As a recent devotee to the Sacred Heart, I can personally vouch for the beautiful abundance of spiritual graces which accompany this most blessed among all devotions (emphasis mine). As well as promote its necessity in this current crisis we face regarding the faith, which was expressed by Our Lady at Fatima.

The devotion of the Sacred Heart was known in its material form since the early Church, but it was not until the 17th century that it was given to the world from our Redeemer through the French Visitation nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690).

The core of the devotion is to honor and adore the Heart of Jesus Christ, crowned in thorns, wounded with the spear and aflame with Divine Charity. Our Blessed Redeemer appeared to St. Margaret Mary on numerous occasions, repeatedly showing her His Heart in the form illustrated and charging her, along with Bl. Claude de la Colombiere of the Society of Jesus, to propagate the devotion throughout Christendom.

This devotion was established with the promises of Our Lord to re-kindle piety and restore the faith in times of lukewarmness. Early in its spread, the devotion was attacked by the Jansenist heretics and scrutinized by the Holy See. It eventually triumphed, and the cult was officially sanctioned by the Church with a universal feast instituted on the first Friday following the octave of Corpus Christi .

The common promises associated with the Sacred Heart devotion are as follows:
  • I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
  • I will establish peace in their families.
  • I will console them in all their troubles.
  • They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
  • I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
  • Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
  • Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
  • Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
  • I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
  • I will give to devotees of My Heart the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
  • Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
  • The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
 
The promises of the Sacred Heart devotion are typically found in this tabular form of 12 promises, but there has been debate as to the authenticity of this format. As St. Margaret Mary, Bl. Claude de la Colombiere, nor any of the Visitation sisters can be credited with its publication. Most of these early devotees to the Sacred Heart expressed the promises through longer tracts of quotations from St. Margaret Mary.

According to the booklet by Fr. Paul Wenisch, S.J., Promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary , the promises given to St. Margaret Mary in her writings are generalized as follows:
  • The Promise of Love: To pour out His love, to set up His reign of love in the hearts of men.
  • The Promise of Mercy: Saving sinners, withdrawing them from perdition, securing their salvation.
  • The Promise of Graces: To bestow abundant graces of salvation and sanctification.
Devotions and Prayers to the Sacred Heart

There are several popular prayers and practices that we can use to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus each day, the most common being that of the Litany of the Sacred Heart.

As well as many that can be found at the following:

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/prayers-to-the-sacred-heart/

The irresistible Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and subsequent prayers and practices, most importantly the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart: Devotion to the Sacred Heart, and First Friday Devotions
 
Further reading on the Sacred Heart devotion

Promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary by Fr. Paul Wenisch, S.J.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Rev. S. Franco, S.J.

Imitation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Rev. Peter J. Arnoudt, S.J.
My personal favorite

A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Rev. James Kubicki

Heart of the Redeemer: An Apologia for the Contemporary and Perennial Value of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Timothy O’Donnell

The Autobiography of Saint Margaret Mary by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The Life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque by Emile Bougaud


As a final appeal, I highly recommend exploring this devotion to those who are not familiar with it. You come to find that the graces associated with it will flow to you very quickly. And what better way to honor Our Lord than to pick up a devotion to the Sacred Heart during the month dedicated to His Heart?

On a quick note, due to space constraints I was unable to post my entire thread on this wonderful devotion. Check out Devotion to the Sacred Heart to see everything.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us!

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Thank you Bonaventurian for your posts and all the wonderful and helpful links.God bless you.
 
I have heard that this novena to the Sacred Heart was prayed by Saint Padre Pio for those for whom he had promised to pray.
 
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