Virgo Potens

The Blessed Eucharist is the Testament of the Heart of Jesus. 1 of 2 THE SACRED HEART 1 I rise from dreams of time, From the shadows of this life, From the tombs and places waste, From an earth of sin and strife; I rise from dreams of time, And an angel guides my feet To the sacred altar-throne Whereon Thy Heart doth beat. 2 The lone lamp quivers still, And a wondrous silence reigns, Only with low voice mild The Holy One complains: “ Long I have waited here, And though thou heed’st not me, The Heart of Mary's Son Beats ever on for thee." (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 23.— Friday within the Octave of Corpus Christi 2. If it was unbecoming to His majesty, says St. Bernard, it was not unbecoming to His love. Love is strong as death, and Our Lord's love for us was far stronger than death. With divine ingenuity He had devised a way of satisfying His love that enabled Him to render His sacrifice a continual one, which should last to the end of the world, and by which He should die mystically for us each day upon the altar. He offered one sacrifice for sins forever. It is not something past and gone, a mere recollection of His love in the past. It is an ever-present memorial of His eternal love. Would that I could realize more this unceasing, undying love of Christ for me! 3. Each consecrated Host in itself represents the death of Christ. He is present there, motionless, helpless, silent, giving no more sign of life than when His sacred body was enclosed in the tomb. He has made Himself thus helpless for love of me. He has once more emptied Himself of all His glory to teach me that even the King of heaven gives His best gift to men by an infinite humiliation of Himself. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 23.— Friday within the Octave of Corpus Christi 2. If it was unbecoming to His majesty, says St. Bernard, it was not unbecoming to His love. Love is strong as death, and Our Lord's love for us was far stronger than death. With divine ingenuity He had devised a way of satisfying His love that enabled Him to render His sacrifice a continual one, which should last to the end of the world, and by which He should die mystically for us each day upon the altar. He offered one sacrifice for sins forever. It is not something past and gone, a mere recollection of His love in the past. It is an ever-present memorial of His eternal love. Would that I could realize more this unceasing, undying love of Christ for me! 3. Each consecrated Host in itself represents the death of Christ. He is present there, motionless, helpless, silent, giving no more sign of life than when His sacred body was enclosed in the tomb. He has made Himself thus helpless for love of me. He has once more emptied Himself of all His glory to teach me that even the King of heaven gives His best gift to men by an infinite humiliation of Himself. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 20th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 23.— Friday within the Octave of Corpus Christi The Motive of Jesus in the Institution of the Blessed Sacrament 1. What was the motive which induced Our Lord to hide Himself under the form of a little piece of bread? In His life on earth He had drunk to the dregs of the cup of humiliation, and when His sufferings were over, the time of His exaltation had come. He was to sit forever at the right hand of His Father. He had fought the battle and won the victory, and trampled upon Satan's head. It seemed unbecoming to His divine majesty that He should descend so low. (continued)

NOVENA to the SACRED HEART Say once a day for 9 days, especially beginning on the Feast of Corpus Christi and ending on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. The Feast of Corpus Christi is traditionally the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 The Gratitude of the Sacred Heart 2. To those who love Jesus He imparts a sweetness and joy which makes all the joys of earth seem paltry and contemptible. If He sends trials to those who love Him, it is only that He may have an excuse for giving them a greater reward hereafter, and even with the trials He mixes so much peace and lightness of heart that the saints pray for more trials and more sufferings. 3. But what is the gratitude of the Sacred Heart in heaven? Words cannot express it, our hearts cannot imagine it. We shall enter into the joy of Our Lord, that is, He will share with us His own unspeakable happiness. Nay, He Himself will come forth and serve His elect, to prove His exceeding gratitude to every faithful servant. O Jesus, may I be one of those thus honored! May I earn Thy Divine gratitude by my love and my obedience! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 19th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Gratitude of the Sacred Heart 1. There was never anyone so grateful for every little act of kindness as Jesus Christ while He was on earth. The woman of Samaria gave Him a drink of water, and in return He gave her the grace of eternal life. Zacheus left his business to see Him, and in return salvation came to all his house. St. Mary Magdalen poured upon His head a little box of ointment, and her gift obtained for her a name as long as the world shall last, and an everlasting reward in heaven. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the same now; still grateful for the smallest sacrifice, for each thought of affectionate remembrance. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 22.— The Feast of Corpus Christi 2. Why is this day chosen out for this peculiar honor? Why is the altar more gaily dressed and more brilliantly lighted than at any other season? It is because God thus rewards the infinite condescension of His Eternal Son. Because Jesus humbled Himself to death, His sacred humanity is now exalted in heaven. Because He humbled Himself still more by taking the form of bread, He is greeted on Corpus Christi day with the jubilant gratitude of those amongst whom He deigns to dwell in this apparent annihilation of all His majesty. How can I ever thank Him enough for this astonishing mercy? 3. Thus it is that God shows His appreciation of humility and self-abasement. The lower we stoop for God's sake, the higher He will raise us. Yet how little I have of this spirit! I dislike to be humbled, and want to show off my own excellence, and to pretend to a dignity which I do not possess. I dislike it if any virtue I think I possess is overlooked, and if I am treated as of no account. O Lord Jesus, make me more like to Thee! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 19th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 22.— The Feast of Corpus Christi The Triumph of Humility 1. One of the most magnificent of all public ceremonies in Catholic countries is the procession on the feast of Corpus Christi. The faithful strain every nerve to show the Blessed Sacrament the greatest possible honor by every kind of external symbol of veneration and love. It is indeed a triumphal procession; music and singing, flowers and lights; triumphal arches and richly decorated altars are prepared for the King of kings. Rejoice in all these honors shown to your Lord and God. (continued)

2 of 2 The Cravings of the Sacred Heart 2. What sort of a love does He ask for? What are its marks if it is to satisfy Him? (1) It must be a love of obedience. If you love Me keep My commandments. It must obey each whispered inspiration, it must have no will save His. (2) It must be a generous love, a love that rejoices in making some sacrifice for Him. A love which counts it a joy to follow in His footsteps and to suffer for Him. (3) It must be a love of compassion. It must grieve at all that grieves Him. It must lament over the sins of others. It must seek to make reparation in some way or other for all the coldness and ingratitude of men. 3. How am I to know whether my love is one that at all satisfies the desires of the Sacred Heart? There is one certain test: when self contests my obedience with Jesus, whom do I obey? When self-love resents some injury do I indulge it? When self craves some pleasure which Jesus asks me to forego, do I listen to self or to the gentle voice of the Sacred Heart of Jesus? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 18th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Cravings of the Sacred Heart 1. What is it that we desire one and all with a strong desire? It is to be loved. The Heart of Jesus does not differ in this respect from the hearts of ordinary men. He, too, longs for love. While on earth, the bitterest pang of His Sacred Heart was that He came to His own, and they refused Him their love. He still desires our love. He still cries out to each of us from His Cross, I thirst—I thirst for your love. Alas! how faintly I have loved in return. (continued)

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee. EFFICACIOUS NOVENA to the SACRED HEART of JESUS Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in Thee. Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 ~ 21.— The Eve of Corpus Christi 2. To the Holy Spirit is appropriated the love of God. He is nothing else than the mutual Love of the Father and the Son. From them the Holy Spirit proceeds, not only in virtue of the love of the Eternal Father for the Word, and of the Word for the Eternal Father, but as identical with that love. Thus it is that God is love, and he who dwells in supernatural charity for others truly dwells in God the Holy Spirit. 3. The Holy Spirit is the author of all the gifts of God to His Church. When Our Lord ascended, the Holy Spirit came to take His place to lead men into all truth, to dwell in their hearts, to fill them with the fire of His love. All the supernatural gifts in the Church, all the miracles, all the graces, come to us from the Holy Spirit of God. In the Church He is ever present, and with it He will always remain. He is present in each of the faithful united to God by supernatural charity. Come, then, O Holy Spirit, and pour into my heart Thy gifts of love! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 21.— The Eve of Corpus Christi 2. To the Holy Spirit is appropriated the love of God. He is nothing else than the mutual Love of the Father and the Son. From them the Holy Spirit proceeds, not only in virtue of the love of the Eternal Father for theWord, and of the Word for the Eternal Father, but as identical with that love. Thus it is that God is love, and he who dwells in supernatural charity for others truly dwells in God the Holy Spirit. 3. The Holy Spirit is the author of all the gifts of God to His Church. When Our Lord ascended, the Holy Spirit came to take His place to lead men into all truth, to dwell in their hearts, to fill them with the fire of His love. All the supernatural gifts in the Church, all the miracles, all the graces, come to us from the Holy Spirit of God. In the Church He is ever present, and with it He will always remain. He is present in each of the faithful united to God by supernatural charity. Come, then, O Holy Spirit, and pour into my heart Thy gifts of love! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 18th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 21.— The Eve of Corpus Christi God the Holy Ghost 1. The Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is the end to which all things tend. He is the Spirit of holiness, and holiness is but another name for likeness to God. And as the end of man is to be conformed to the image of God, in the Holy Ghost all things find their end and their perfection. "In Him are all things," says St. Paul. Am I advancing steadily in this likeness toGod which is the gift of the Holy Spirit? (continued)

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart of Jesus among Little Children 2. On another occasion when the children shouted to Him in childish glee, Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord! the Pharisees begged Him to silence them. But Jesus rebuked the objection almost sternly: Have you never read, Out of the mouths of infants and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise? Perfected praise! As if there was something in their innocent voices sweeter to Him than in any others of the mingled crowd! 3. But Jesus bestowed still higher praise on the sweet simplicity of children. He told His disciples that if they wish to enter the kingdom of heaven, they must become like little children: docile, obedient, cheerful, submissive, affectionate. Am I such? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Of such is the Kingdom of Heaven Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 17th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart of Jesus among Little Children 1. All good men love little children. There is something in them that recalls the presence of God, a freshness and innocence which is the mark of His creative hand before sin has marred and almost obliterated it. Our Lord more than once showed the love of His Sacred Heart for children. When a crowd of women came with their little ones begging Him to bless them and the disciples tried to push them aside, Jesus interposed: Suffer the little children to come to Me. And then He called them one by one and blessed each one, and laid upon each His Sacred hands. What graces must have flowed into the hearts of those favored children! We should pray for all the little ones whom we love, that Our Lord may in like manner bless them. (continued)

2 of 2 ~ 20.— Tuesday after Trinity Sunday 2. To the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity is appropriated the wisdom of God. He is continually spoken of in Holy Scripture under the name of Wisdom, or the Word of God. It was thus the wisdom of God that caused Him to become man. For us He was made foolishness. For us He emptied Himself, not only of His glory, but in the eyes of men He lacked that wisdom which is His special prerogative. 3. It was by the Divine Word that all things were created. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was made nothing that was made." Hence, all created things are framed by the Wisdom of God and are made after His likeness. We ought to respect all things in proportion as they reflect the divine perfections, even the flowers and the beasts of the field, and above all man, who bears the image of the Son of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 20.— Tuesday after Trinity Sunday 2. To the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity is appropriated the wisdom of God. He is continually spoken of in Holy Scripture under the name of Wisdom, or the Word of God. It was thus the wisdom of God that caused Him to become man. For us He was made foolishness. For us He emptied Himself, not only of His glory, but in the eyes of men He lacked that wisdom which is His special prerogative. 3. It was by the Divine Word that all things were created. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was made nothing that was made." Hence, all created things are framed by the Wisdom of God and are made after His likeness. We ought to respect all things in proportion as they reflect the divine perfections, even the flowers and the beasts of the field, and above all man, who bears the image of the Son of God. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)