Virgo Potens

2 of 2 The Confidences of the Sacred Heart 2. At length Our Lord found one heart to which He could confide the story of His disappointments, and tell the tale of His sufferings. The Blessed Margaret Mary was an unknown, obscure, a poor, feeble woman. But she was so dear to His Heart that He determined to tell her of His griefs, and entrust to her the task of obtaining for Him some comfort and relief in His sorrows. How great a privilege was hers! Would that I had something of her love! 3. Moved by the devoted love of this poor, unknown religious, Our Lord appeared to her, revealed to her the treasures of His Sacred Heart, and complained to her of the cruel treatment He had received from men. Has He not good reason to complain of the way I have treated Him, and am I not one of those who have caused Him so much grief and sorrow? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ The Confidences of the Sacred Heart 1. Our Lord for nearly seventeen hundred years endured in silence all the ingratitude of men. Some faithful hearts had been devoted to Him, but from the generality He had received neglect, coldness, indifference, sometimes outrage, insult, sacrilege. He had witnessed the revolt of thousands and tens of thousands from the Church's yoke. Satan had usurped His place in their hearts, and they had heaped every sort of indignity on His servants, on His Church, on Himself in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. They had denied His Presence in the Blessed Sacrament; they had cast off His yoke and persecuted His servants. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 24th The humble man does not seek to appear humble by affectation of manner; on the contrary, if he knows that others believe him to be humble, he feels a painful confusion. His nature is to be sincere, simple and straightforward. He is of lowly bearing, and lowly too has he kept his human caprices and his pride. He is not hard and haughty, but gentle, reverent and obedient. And you?” Ah, try and realize how backward you are in the school of Jesus Christ! He came to teach you one single lesson, that of humility: “Learn of Me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” And how have you profited by this lesson hitherto? You will reply that many of these practices seem very difficult to you; but say to yourself: “The impure find it difficult to live in chastity, the avaricious find it difficult to give alms, and in the same way the proud man finds it difficult to practice humility.” It is not that humility be difficult of itself, but it is your pride that makes it difficult, and we may say with Eusebius: “You make the yoke of the Lord heavy for yourselves.” [Hom. de Machab.] ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 24th [127. continued] The humble man respects and reverences those above him, and he is kind and courteous to the poorest of the poor; and in this he only follows the teaching of the Preacher: “Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient.” [Ecclus. iv, 7] Is this the way in which you generally behave? (continued)

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart on Calvary 2. "Father, forgive them." This prayer was not offered for those alone who were present on Calvary, but for all sinners. Instead of showing indignation at their sins, He only feels pity for them, knowing as He does the terror of the anger of God. What a lesson for us! When we are offended our prayer too often is: Father, punish them as they deserve. What a contrast to the prayer of the Sacred Heart! 3. But He not only prays for them, but urges an argument in their behalf: "They know not what they do." If they know what it is to offend God, they would not, could not sin. How ingenious is the Sacred Heart in finding an excuse for His murderers; for all who sin deliberately. Do I make excuses for those who treat me badly? Do I not too often imagine and invent a motive of malice which does not really exist? What a contrast between Jesus and myself. What need I have to pray: Jesus meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thy Heart. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ The Sacred Heart on Calvary 1. When a man is suffering intensely, an impulse must be very strong which turns him from his sufferings. Let us listen to the words that Our Lord kept repeating as His executioners nailed Him to the Cross, and as He hung there amid the insults and derision of the scribes and Pharisees. "Father, forgive them." This is the prevailing impulse of the Sacred Heart— to obtain forgiveness for those who ill treated and crucified Him! (continued)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 23rd 127. If the humble man becomes aware that he has offended or injured his neighbour, he immediately humbles himself, apologizes and asks to be forgiven, manifesting sorrow for the offense he has given. The humble man always fears to be dictatorial when carried away by his zeal, and therefore proceeds with much circumspection, exercising his zeal more on himself than on others. He gives his opinion modestly, and submits it to that of others without obstinacy. But you? (continued) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

Mother of Mercy, pray for us. THE NOVENA of THREE HAIL MARY’s In Preparation for the Feast of the Visitation of Our Blessed Lady, July 2nd This Novena honors three special gifts given to Our Lady by God: her power, her wisdom, and her mercy. The traditional practice of praying three Hail Mary’s each day in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, requesting her assistance throughout the course of one’s daily life, is centuries old, and has been recommended by St. Anthony of Padua, St. Mechtilde (Matilda) and St. Alphonus Liguori.  It originated about the same time as the most Holy Rosary in the form in which we have it today. Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart at Gethsemane 2. Why was Our Lord at this time so shorn of His strength and courage? Because then He took upon Himself in detail the sins of the world. His Sacred Heart suffered for them the same blackness of desolation and distress as if they were His own. He voluntarily deprived Himself of every source of comfort, and allowed Himself to feel the effects of sin as none could feel them save one who saw the nature of sin as God sees it. 3. One of the lessons to be learned from the awful scene of Christ's Agony is the effect of sin wnen given its full scope, and its power to destroy the beauty and the strength even of God made Man. If it could work such havoc in the Son of God, what must it do in us? If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ✧✿✿✧❁❁✧✿✿✧ The Sacred Heart at Gethsemane 1. During Our Lord's Sacred Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, His mental desolation and distress seem to have been more intense, more crushing, than at any subsequent part of His Sacred Passion, saving only when on the Cross He cried: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" During the rest of the Passion He seemed almost to rejoice, but in the Garden He was beaten down, full of terror and sadness, scarce able to endure, pale and haggard and ghastly under the agony of soul that overwhelmed Him. In your desolation think of the utter desolation of the Sacred Heart, and claim its sympathy for you. (continued)

Sayings of the Saints “Dost thou wish God to draw near to thee? Humble thyself, for the more thou raisest thyself, the more will He be above thee.” [Enarr. in Ps. cxli] ~ St. Augustine of Hippo St. Augustine, pray for us.

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 22nd Perhaps you may imagine that these things are points of perfection; but they are points of humility, which, as far as you are concerned, may be of precept. When it is a question of humility, I should not like you to imagine that you need only reach that point which is absolutely necessary for you, without going a single hair’s breadth beyond it. When you say to yourself, “I am not obliged to do this or that act of humility,” it may be that you are making a great mistake. However much your exterior humility must be directed by prudence, you certainly cannot dispense with the interior humility of the heart. ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

“Not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but contrariwise, blessing: for unto this are you called, that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3, 9 (Douay-Rhiems) Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 22nd [126. continued] The humble man, when he is reproved, receives the correction in good part, and thanks him who has had the kindness and goodness to give it. He does not judge or speak evil of anyone, because he believes that everyone is better than he is, and because he knows he is capable of doing worse things still. He lives in peace with all and respects all and, without expecting to be honoured himself, he is the first to honour others, as the holy Apostles Peter and Paul have commanded: “Having peace with all men.” [Rom. xii, 18] “With honour preventing one another.”[Ibid. ii, 10] “Honour all men.” [1 Pet. ii, 17] And you–—what can you say of yourself? (continued)

NOVENA to the PRECIOUS BLOOD June 22nd ~ June 30th Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

NOVENA to the PRECIOUS BLOOD June 22nd ~ June 30th Begins today at Christus Regnat ~ https://t.me/RexUniversi

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart of Jesus among His Enemies 2. Yet how gentle He is to all, how for bearing, how sweet and patient and winning in His demeanor. They must indeed have been hard and wicked not to have yielded to the fascination of His Divine attractiveness. Yet so it was: they hated Him just because of His meekness, His charity, His holiness. So it is now. The more clearly the beauty of the Church, the Spouse of Christ, shows forth, the more men seem to hate her. 3. The Sacred Heart, however, with all its divine gentleness, was very stern in dealing with one class of sinners. All who were leading others wrong were the object of the fierce wrath and indignation of Jesus. This wrath was the more terrible just because of His very gentleness. How He denounces those who give scandal and those who are the occasion of sin to others! If I have ever led others into sin, I have good cause to tremble before the wrath of the Lamb ! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 22nd ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart of Jesus among His Enemies 1. There is nothing more painful to the tender heart of one who loves his fellows than to be surrounded with those who look coldly on him, misunderstand him, misinterpret his words, misconstrue his actions. Such a life is in itself a perpetual martyrdom. Such was the life of Jesus. What continual pain and anguish and desolation He must have endured from His youth up, from the hostility of His townsfolk, His own relations, the scribes and Pharisees, the ancients and the rulers. (continued)

2 of 2 Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 21st The humble man, when he hears that people are speaking ill of him, is not disturbed, but quietly learns to amend his ways, even though he may not have committed the faults of which he has been accused. He does not lament, as if he were persecuted: he does not say that those who speak thus of him are malignant and jealous rivals; but he believes that they know him better than he knows himself. Do you do this? (continued) ~ Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo (1660-1753), Humility of Heart. Tr. Herbert Cardinal Vaughan (1903).

MON DIEU, que demandez-vous de Moi? La Douceur de l’Agneau MY GOD, what do you ask of Me? The Sweetness of the Lamb Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 21st 126. In order to know to what extent you are lacking in humility, examine yourself from this point of view. The humble man not only is not angry with those who offend him, but loves them and gives them back good for evil. Yes, it is indeed so, because he looks upon them as instruments of the mercy and justice of God, and he is also persuaded that his sins and ingratitude towards the Divine Goodness deserve far worse punishment. And you? (continued)

Adoration of the Sacred Heart O SACRED HEART! WITH BURNING LOVE Hymn 1 O Sacred Heart! with burning love, On Thee encaptured Angels gaze; To Thee triumphant saints above Forever sing their grateful praise. Chorus: O Sacred Heart! may we adore, And love Thee ever more and more. 2 Thou, Heart of Jesus! art the throne Of mercy—Thou the fount of grace; Our hope of Heav'n from Thee alone, Sole refuge of our fallen race. [Chorus] 3 O Lamb of God! meek victim, slain For us, let not the stream that flowed From Thy pierced Heart have flowed in vain. Oh! cleanse us with Thy precious blood. [Chorus] 4 God's Mother! Virgin ever blest! Thy heart and His are always one; Plead thou our cause; thy sweet request Is never slighted by thy Son. [Chorus] ~ Laudis Corona (1880)