MEDITATION 103: ON DEVOTION TO THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS BY ST. JOSEPH SEBASTIAN PELCZAR

Imagine that you see the centurion, piercing with a spear, the Heart of Jesus who hangs upon the cross.
 
Point 1. The cause and purpose of devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
 
Consider that to have devotion to the Heart of Jesus means to honor and love this Heart, to contemplate and assimilate the desires and virtues of this Heart, to invoke the help of this Heart, and to promote honor and love for this Heart according to our ability.
Why should this Heart be worshiped and loved? Because It is a part of Jesus’ humanity, inseparably united with the Godhead, hence this Heart deserves Divine honor; because It is the seat of mercy, the throne of grace, the treasury of gifts and the source of supernatural life -- God’s life on earth; finally, because It is the center of the holiest of sentiments, the school of the most perfect virtues and the model of all holiness.
What is the purpose of this devotion? To make a return to the Lord Jesus for the infinite love that He has shown us in His earthly life and continues to show in His glorious and Eucharistic life; secondly, to make reparation for the innumerable human sins and ineffable offenses that He suffers in the Most Holy Mystery of the Altar; finally, to obtain the abundant treasures that this Heart distributes. Do you appreciate this devotion properly?
Consider that this devotion is required by the Savior himself, as seen in the revelations given in 1674 and 1675 to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and approved by the Church. In these revelations, the Lord Jesus requested that the First Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi should be dedicated in honor of His Heart; that loving souls, through prayer and Holy Communion, would atone for the many unfortunate insults He suffers from people in the Most Blessed Sacrament; that the image of this Heart may be displayed in special honor; and that this devotion may be considered as a new proof of His love for these “last days.” The Lord Jesus also promised to give abundant gifts to all who will nurture a sincere and ardent devotion to His Divine Heart. These promises can be summarized in twelve points:

1. I will grant them all the graces necessary to fulfill the duties of their state in life.
2.  I will establish peace in their family.
3. I will console them in all their difficulties.
4. I will be their refuge in this life, and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will shower abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in My Heart a fountain and boundless ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls will become fervent.
8. Devout souls will rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I  will bless the homes in which the image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored. 
10. I will grant priests the gift of touching the hearts of hardened sinners.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. To all those who will receive Holy Communion on the first nine Fridays of the month, I will give the grace of final penitence so that they will not die in a state of sin.

Do these promises not encourage you to earnest worship and love for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?
 
Point 2. How to express devotion to the Heart of Jesus according to the revelations given to St. Margaret Mary.
 
It is, first of all, to try to know the dignity, holiness, love and generosity of the Heart of Jesus as well as His inner life, that is, His life of constant prayer, self-denial, humility and obedience, spending Himself and making reparation for us; His life of sacrifice and constant dedication for us, His zeal for the glory of the Heavenly Father and for our salvation. Therefore, meditate often on the Heart of Jesus and motivate oneself to imitate his virtues and aspirations.
To consider, in particular, the three great monuments of Jesus’ love -- the manger, the cross, and the sacramental tabernacle, and to return love for love, avoiding all sin and either fulfilling or enduring everything for God.
To consecrate oneself completely to the Heart of Jesus, that is, to acknowledge the dominion of this Divine Heart, to surrender willingly to His scepter and to offer Him everything: one’s property and health, all bodily senses and powers of soul, all one’s thoughts, feelings, words, deeds and sufferings, and all the moments of one’s life, so that God Himself would direct and govern all of them to His glory, that everything would please the Divine Heart of Jesus. To repeat daily this act of offering of all our affairs[29], and at the same time to consecrate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus one’s family and one’s Congregation, and, finally, the whole Church and the entire world.
To pray to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and thus, invoke Its help: in dangers, like Peter on the Lake of Gennesaret; in sins, like Magdalene at the feet of Jesus; in suffering, like Martha at the tomb of Lazarus. To love also the prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus endowed with indulgences, such as ejaculatory prayers[30], the Litany to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Chaplet to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Hours to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To venerate the Divine Heart of Jesus and thus to kneel before this Heart hidden in the Most Holy Sacrament. At the same time, to venerate the images of this Heart and to have them in a prayer book, on house walls, on church altars, and to wear over your heart a medal or a scapular of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
To celebrate devoutly the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the First Fridays of each month, and the entire month of June. Besides that, following the example of St. Margaret Mary, to sanctify every day of the week, especially every Friday, with some act in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and twice every day, i.e. at 9:00AM in memory of the Savior’s sorrowful way, and at 4:00PM to honor the wound of His side  -- to enclose oneself, so to speak, in the Heart of Jesus and to make various acts of love, which St. Margaret Mary called the “Divine meeting” or “holy signal.”
Following the example of this holy soul, to have an ardent devotion to the 33 years of Jesus’ life and to the Passion of the Lord.
To visit the Blessed Sacrament every day to repair for the insults inflicted upon Him, to participate, at least sometimes, in Holy Mass for this intention, and to receive the Communion of reparation.
To enlist in a confraternity in honor of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and finally, to spread, according to our abilities, devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Choose any number of these acts and devotions to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, but then be faithful in keeping the promises given to the Divine Heart if you want to have abundant favors. Have you been like this until now, and tried not to grieve the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?
 
Examination of conscience. Act of contrition. Resolutions.
 
            I will often repeat this act of love: Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love.
 
            Spiritual communion. Closing prayer.


[29] The following prayer may be used for this: Lord Jesus Christ, in union with that Divine intention, with which on earth you offered to God your praises through your Most Sacred Heart, and now offer them in the Blessed Sacrament until the end of time, I most gladly offer you, throughout this entire day, without reserve, all my intentions and thoughts, all my deeds and words, in imitation of the most holy heart of the Blessed and ever Virgin Mary Immaculate.

[30] Like, e.g. Sweet Heart of my Jesus, grant that I  may love you more and more; Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love; May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere; Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine, etc. 

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MEDITATION 159: THE PIERCING OF THE HEART OF JESUS. THE LORD JESUS IS TAKEN FROM THE CROSS AND PLACED IN THE TOMB. 
BY ST. JOSEPH SEBASTIAN PELCZAR

​Imagine that you see the centurion pierce the Heart of the Lord Jesus, and you watch Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus remove His Body from the Cross and carry It to the tomb.
 
Point 1. Piercing of the Heart of Jesus.
 
Consider that the Roman centurion, trying to learn whether Christ the Lord was dead, drove a spear into His side so that its blade pierced His Heart. As he drew his spear, blood mixed with water flowed from the wound, as a stream of God’s grace. Moved, he dismounted, knelt, beat his chest and confessed loudly that Jesus was the true God and Savior. O great mystery! A pagan soldier rends the Heart of Jesus and is the first to experience his mercy to show all people the way.
This Heart is the most magnificent throne of the Divine Majesty, the most holy temple of the Godhead, and at the same time, is the center of divine-human love, from which the Church emerged as the Bride of Christ and our Mother. Come then, all children of this Holy Mother, to worship the Most Holy Trinity. Come you also, with tributes and offerings to the Divine Heart.
This Heart is the wellspring overflowing with graces from which all can draw; the source which is accessible to all. The Lord Jesus invites everyone to this fountain: All you who thirst, come to the water. Come, arid hearts, and those consumed with the fever of worries and temptations; come, draw from this fount the water of life. Hearts, wounded and weak, come to be healed and to find your strength in this ever flowing spring. Come and get this water because you too are weak, and at the same time exposed to various cares and temptations.   Remember that as many times as you receive Holy Communion, so many times do you press your lips to the opened Heart of Jesus.
 
This Heart is the school of all virtues in which the unskilled and little ones are to learn a holy life, and especially learn love, because, for love, this Heart offered Itself on the cross and offers Itself in the Sacrament of the Altar. It is also the school of humility since from His Heart constantly comes the voice: Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart (Mt 11:29). So hasten to this school and learn to live God’s way. Does everyone do that? Are the hearts of all Christians, and especially of all religious, a bit like Jesus’ Heart? Ah, of course not! The Heart of Jesus is the purest and most holy of hearts, and human hearts are subjected to evil desires and are tainted with sins. The Heart of Jesus is gentle and sweet, and human hearts are violent and easily escalate with hatred. The Heart of Jesus is compassionate and tender, and human hearts are selfish and hard. The Heart of Jesus burns with zeal for the glory of the Father and for the salvation of souls, and human hearts are indifferent and cold toward God and people. The Heart of Jesus is obedient unto death, humble and patient, -- and human hearts are stubborn, haughty and touchy about every distress. Now look at your heart to see if it resembles that of Jesus; should you find passions and vices in your heart, humble yourself, repent and pray: O Jesus, take my heart and give me your Heart. Do you promise this?
Finally, this Heart is our refuge, in which the abandoned finds a home, the one asking is heard, the tempted is strengthened, the distressed receives consolation, the sinner obtains the grace of remorse and forgiveness. Therefore, in all your spiritual and earthly needs, run to this Heart. And you do not need to look far for this Heart, because it is alive and always beating in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Whenever you participate in the Holy Mass, when you receive Holy Communion or pray in front of the sacramental tabernacle, entrust yourself every time to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Blessed Mother. On the other hand, spread, as much as you can, honor and love for this Heart. Do you do this?
 
Point 2. Jesus is taken from the cross and placed in a tomb.
 
Consider how two virtuous people, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, remove the body of Jesus from the cross to be placed in the tomb. They set up ladders, knock out nails, and, with deep reverence, lay the holy Body on the lap of the Mother of God. Oh, with what feeling Mary raised her hands to Jesus in order to let him rest near her motherly heart. With what love she clasps Him to herself, and covers this bloodied face with kisses, what is more, with her tears, she washes away his wounds and pulls out the thorns from his head. O beloved Mother, how many swords pierced your Heart at that moment! And who sharpened these swords but sinners, of whom I belong?
According to the Jewish custom, Joseph and Nicodemus anointed the body of Jesus with aromatic ointments, wrapped it in a clean sheet, and having kissed It reverently, carried It to a tomb hewn in a nearby garden and belonging to Joseph of Arimathea; for as the Lord Jesus, a lover of poverty, did not have a house of his own, so also did He not have his own grave.
Love voluntary poverty and may you keep your vow faithfully. Does your conscience reproach you for anything?
As Joseph and Nicodemus carried the body to the tomb and laid it on a rock bench, Mary sat down at Jesus’ head, while Magdalene was kneeling at his feet. But dusk is already falling, and the soldiers are also approaching to seal the stone on the tomb and to surround the tomb with guards, as Pilate had ordered at the request of the elders. Rise, Mary, and go back to Jerusalem. And Mary returned, it seems, to the house of John; but how empty and sad she is in it. Her heart will not be soothed in its longing until, in a number of years, she will be taken up, body and soul, into heaven.
And with what feeling will you depart Christ’s tomb? First of all, this tomb reminds you that your heart is to be a new and clean tomb in which you are to place the Lord Jesus every day in Holy Communion; see therefore that you first strive for a sheet of innocence of soul and for the fragrant ointments of prayers, mortifications and good deeds. Are you really trying to do that?
Moreover, the tomb of Christ speaks to you that you too will soon rest in a tomb that will be the end to your consolations and sufferings. In it, your body will fall prey to decay and will change to dust; and what will happen with your soul? Strive to bring to God’s judgment a clean conscience and a rich harvest of merits, so that your soul would receive for its earthly works and pains a glorious throne, upon which your glorified body might sit one day. Are you really trying to do that?
Now say goodbye to the Savior lying in the tomb. Fixing your eyes on His holy wounds, still ask yourself:
Lord Jesus, why have you, most innocent and most holy, suffered so much? To take away your sins.
Then how is it Lord, are my sins so great an evil that your Blood, Son of God, was needed to take them away? Yes, your sins are so great an evil.
So as many times as I have committed a mortal sin, that many times I have killed you, Lamb of God? You have killed me so many times.
O Jesus, forgive me for having dared to commit such a terrible crime so many times; but I will never dare again, never again, O Jesus.
And why have you still suffered, O Lord? To show you how much your soul is worth.
Oh, count all the moments of My earthly life and the sighs that escaped from My breast; and those tears that flowed from My eyes; and the wounds that were inflicted upon My Body; and the drops of Blood that I shed; add as well my soul that I gave for your soul; it all speaks to you about what your soul is worth. And you value this soul so little!
Ah, it is true, Jesus, but from now on I will consider this soul as your bride and I will guard her so stithat I might give her unblemished to you.
And yet why have you suffered, O Lord? To reveal my love to you.
How much then, Lord, have you loved me, poor sinner, so much that you became a man for me and gave your life for me on the cross? And am I worthy of it? You are unworthy, but my love embraces also the unworthy.
O Jesus, what will I give you for so great a love? Even if I donate my sweat and my blood, if I have worked for you all my life, suffered and died for you, all this is nothing. What a pain I suffer that I have nothing to give to the Lord for everything He has given me! So I give myself, I give my life, I give my death, I give my eternity. From now on, let my every breath be for you, my every thought for you, my every word for you, my every deed for you, my every suffering for you. Loving you will be my only desire. My only concern will be to honor you and extend your kingdom. Do you promise it?
 
Examination of conscience. Act of contrition. Resolutions.
 
            In every temptation and need, I will turn with confidence to the Sweetest Heart of Jesus through the Most Holy Mother of God.
 
            Spiritual communion. Closing prayer.
 
 
 
 

​We, the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
are a contemplative-active, pontifical, Franciscan
Religious  Congregation founded by
St. Joseph Sebastian Pelczar and Blessed Klara Szczesna
in 1894 in Krakow, Poland.

By our prayer and apostolic service,
we are dev​oted to extending the Kingdom of Love
of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus everywhere. ​
​
​We are an international Congregation serving in Poland,
Ukraine, Italy, France, Bolivia, Argentina, Jamaica, West Indies,
and the United States.  The United States Province of the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is represented in the
Dioceses of Altoona-Johnstown, Buffalo, Columbus, Grand Rapids,
​and Mandeville, Jamaica, West Indies. ​
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Chwała Najświętszemu Sercu Jezusowemu.
Chwała na wieki! 
​Glory be to the Most Sacred Heart  of Jesus.
Glory Forever!
MOTTO OF OUR CONGREGATION SUNG BY OUR SISTERS

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