The Devotion to the Sacred Heart

[Sue_Burton]

Hi

At the moment I am working on a new website on the Sacred Heart. It is far from finished but getting there.
our.homewithgod.com/sacredheart/

I have discovered so many new things, like there being more promises than we find in pamplets and on prayer cards. I am placing these in their orginal form as written by the Saint. However I cam across something that disturbs me and I do not know if this is the same for many here or if it is just in our own Parish.

One thing that bothers me though is given how very dearly the Church has embraced the Sacred Heart devotion - how is it that they do not make available the ability to do all Our Lord wants. Many of the faithful have to go to work and hence in the mornings are unable to take Holy Communion and offer It to this Heart of Our Lord every first Friday. So given this fact which the Holy See must be aware of, surely in order to allow the faithful to be able to comply with Our Lord’s wishes in this matter and as it is pointed out by the Saint Our Lord Himself chose the day of each month: He did not say Saturday or Sunday or Thursday, He said Friday for a reason, then why is it not made available that every first Friday of the month, for nine months that Mass is not made available in the evening. I am actually considering writing the Holy See in this regard. Sometimes it seems to me that the Church sanction and embrace something being from Our Lord and then fail at the same time to comply with Our Lord’s wishes. It is ok for Religious Communites and even Priests because they have this available to them, but it seems that the Holy See is not allowing mothers, fathers, those who have to work to supply for families, for basic need, to do the same as they. I find this really sad and wonder whether or not to actually put this to others who feel the same as I do and perhaps have them to send letters to their Bishops and the Holy See asking that every parish makes an evening Mass available for the first Friday of every month.

I shall mention this I think on the end of the page of the promises - at the end. Maybe some Parishes have this available but perhaps if all those who share a love for the Sacred Heart of Our Lord who are unable to comply because there is no facility for them to do so

I do not understand that if it is known and more has been asked for by God, something from the Church and the Church themselves declare that we can believe and encourage belief that these words are given to us by God, why the Church refuse to implement or make it possible for the faithful to implement the instructions given by Our Lord? It sometimes feels that the Church say believe this is from God, and then deny us the things needed to ensure we can comply. It does not seem right and in some way seems as if the Church at times while believing words are from God refuse to comply with His Word. Jesus being the head of the Church, should when we know something comes from Him, always do what is asked?

God Bless
Sue

 

[puzzleannie]

it is indeed impossible to complete the First Friday or First Saturday devotion in many parishes because there is not always a Mass every day of the week in many understaffed parishes. It is up to the individual to do some research and find another parish, chapel, monastery, school etc. where a Mass is offered on those days. For First Saturday, obviously the evening Mass in anticipation of Sunday fulfills that condition. Friday is a little harder. For instance here there is a school Mass later in the morning, but only a communion service at the regular daily masstime. Masses for funerals and weddings also meet the condition, but you can’t count on that.

In our former parish attending daily Mass, Mass on Holy Days, meeting 1st Friday and Saturday conditions, and getting to confession regularly meant knowing the masstimes and locations of 3 parishes and their missions, and a school. For a while one parish had no pastor so we even had to get creative on Sundays.

In any case, as worthy as this devotion is, it is part of a private revelation, and not an absolute command from the Lord binding on all Catholics.

 

[Sue_Burton]

Agreed it is not implied by the Church as a law. But I guess my own opinion is that if one believes that this directive truly came from Jesus Christ Himself then it should be implemented especially given that the Church does endorce the words as coming from Jesus Himself.

I think sometimes there can be too much complacancy with directives given by Our Lord. If they were of no importance then Our Lord would not have given the directive. Surely anything from Heaven is greater than anything on earth?

I myself have access to three Parishes and none of them offer a Mass the First Friday of the month at a time when those who work or care for children can attend. I cannot see why this should be a problem. We celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and by this say 'we know you came to the Saint Lord, and we believe all that she relayed as Your words: however despite You asking, despite Your directives, we will not comply to anymore than you ask than we ourselves choose. This cannot surely be right! I mean morally? If God says jump, man should always ask how high!

Surely when we consider all that Jesus Christ suffered for our sakes, to comply with what He asks is nothing in comparison: it is if we believe the asking to come from Him, the least we can do!

It may be that given the Church does not make this possible for so many no matter how much they desire to comply, that a spritual communion is the best we can do! On an individual basis, Our Lord would note our desire and actions and receive these as if we had complied.

I wonder if there is anyone who in their own Parish or where they can travel, be able to do as Our Lord asks? For those who have no one to care for or no job and do have Mass on Friday morning available, these are fortunate. But the majority cannot without losing employment get time off work every first Friday or not have their children in school at that time, nor if they do not drive or own a car get public transport to get them to Church at the time Mass is being celebrated.

God Bless
Sue

 

[Sr_Sally]

We travel to a parish about 30 minutes away to attend a special evening Mass and Benediction just for First Fridays. Our local parish does have Mass 3 times on a week-day mornings, but it is nice to attend the special devotion, and everyone is more awake than at 6:15 am which is the only morning Mass we can attend during the school year!

I agree that it is a special devotion, but as Puzzleannie says it is from a private revelation and so not binding on anyone. Even though St Margaret Mary saw Jesus, that doesn’t make his words to her greater than the gift he gave to St Peter and his successors.

 

[Sue_Burton]

You are soooo lucky. Here it seems there is a shortage of Priests. Until recently at least a morning Mass was available every day.

I certainly agree that nothing revealed or given to St Peter is less or could it ever be. In fact in this regard Our Lord Himself said whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven.

I guess it is the private revelation difference I am not taking into account. I see the Church embrace it so I am looking at the devotion as being an intergraded part of the Church, not just because of the Feast Day but also because Priests are proned to spend Thursday evening before the Blessed Sacrament giving that hour of reparation also asked for by Our Lord.

I certainly by this understand more fully the martyrdom of the Saints when they saw and heard Jesus direct something and they not being able to comply because obedience came first, even over Jesus. Often as it seems this was because they did not believe it was Our Lord. If St Peter heard Our Lord ask I am certain he would not refuse anything!

In England there is in some parts problems with too few Priests. This too may be a factor.

I think for those of us who want to practice the fullness of this devotion and who cannot because for whatever reason there are no provisions to offer as closely as possible of it and perhaps doing spiritual communion when we cannot on that day receive Holy Communion.

God Bless
Sue