Virgo Potens

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 28th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart in the Tabernacle 1. Where shall we find a better proof of the love of the Sacred Heart for man than in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar? He was not satisfied with proving His love for men by His Sacrifice on the Cross, but He must needs prolong that Sacrifice to all time. There is no moment in which He is not still offering Himself upon some altar to show that He loves us as much as ever. (continued)

2 of 2 ACT of REPARATION to the SACRED HEART of JESUS We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offences against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy Divine Love; and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded. Would, O divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honour, the satisfaction Thou didst once make to Thy eternal Father on the cross and which Thou dost continue to renews daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee. O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may one day come to that happy home, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

ACT of REPARATION to the SACRED HEART of JESUS O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries, to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject. Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offences, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy Law. (continued)

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart in Heaven 2. How is Our Lord employed in heaven? When the Apostle speaks of Him as at the right hand of God, he describes His life as primarily that of an advocate for sinful man. He is always living to make intercession for us (Hebrews vii. 25). He is continually holding out to His Father His hands which bear the marks of the Sacred Wounds, and pleading for sinners. His prayer still is, Father forgive them ! What a consolation for us ! 3. He has another work in heaven which He Himself announced. He told His disciples, I go to prepare a place for you. I go to bestow on you the graces necessary to obtain. I go to help you to fight the battle and win the crown. My Sacred Heart will never be satisfied till you are all here with Me, rejoicing forever before the throne of God. O Jesus, my Lord and myGod! grant that I may not fail of my eternal reward. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 27th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart in Heaven 1. Now that Jesus has returned to His throne in heaven, has He forgotten His friends on earth? No, He loves them now as much as ever, nay, He loves them if it be possible better than ever. As the world grows old, and the love of many waxes cold, He entertains a greater pity and compassion and love for those who remain faithful to Him. His Sacred Heart still beats in sympathy with every one of us no less than it did for the poor widow who had lost her son, and for Peter when he denied his Master, or for the disciples in their sorrow and desolation during the three days that He lay in the grave. (continued)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 27th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart in Heaven 1. Now that Jesus has returned to His throne in heaven, has He forgotten His friends on earth? No, He loves them now as much as ever, nay, He loves them if it be possible better than ever. As the world grows old, and the love of many waxes cold, He entertains a greater pity and compassion and love for those who remain faithful to Him. His Sacred Heart still beats in sympathy with every one of us no less than it did for the poor widow who had lost her son, and for Peter when he denied his Master, or for the disciples in their sorrow and desolation during the three days that He lay in the grave. (continued)

2 of 2 The Sacred Heart after the Resurrection 2. The chief point which Our Lord seems desirous to secure in His friends is that they should be at peace: at peace in themselves, and at peace with all around them. He knew that without peace no one can ever make progress, no society can prosper. This is why the peace-makers are so dear to His Sacred Heart, and why He gives them the title of being pre-eminently the children of God. Have I peace in my soul? and do I foster and promote peace around me? 3. Our Lord also seems to be grieved at any doubt or incredulity among His followers respecting the Resurrection. He cannot bear the sceptical spirit, He loves the spirit of simple faith. When we hear of some miracle in the physical or moral order, we ought to desire to believe it and to lean to the side of acceptance. The wish to believe will not make us foolishly credulous; it will rather quicken our instinctive per ception of truth. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 26th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ The Sacred Heart after the Resurrection 1. When Our Blessed Lord rose again from the dead, His apostles were at first struck with mingled fear and joy. He in His turn seeks to reassure them, condescends to eat with them, to let them touch Him, encourages in them a loving familiarity. Jesus in the love of His Sacred Heart does not like men to be afraid of Him—on the contrary, we cannot have too implicit a confidence in Him; we cannot go too far in reverent affection for His Sacred Heart. (continued)

✧❀❀✧❀✧❀❀✧❀✧❀❀✧ Thus ends: Veni Sancte Sptritus, Short Meditations from the Ascension to the Octave of Corpus Christi ✧❀❀✧❀✧❀❀✧❀✧❀❀✧

2 of 2 ~ 29.— Octave of Corpus Christi 2. The Blessed Eucharist is also primarily and above all a fount of love within us. As oil nourishes fire, so does holy Communion nourish our love to God. As fire without fuel soon becomes faint and dim, so our love cannot remain bright and strong unless its flame is fed with the fuel of the body and blood of Christ Our Lord. As He Himself says: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you." 3. The Blessed Eucharist is also a fount of love to man. Whence do the saints derive their supernatural charity, if not from holy Communion? What else made them patient, meek, forbearing, loving, kind, self-sacrificing? Was it not Jesus, Who comes to dwell with them, and Who gave them the commandment that they should do for others what He had done for them? Do I derive from holy Communion this all-embracing charity ? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 29.— Octave of Corpus Christi 2. The Blessed Eucharist is also primarily and above all a fount of love within us. As oil nourishes fire, so does holy Communion nourish our love to God. As fire without fuel soon becomes faint and dim, so our love cannot remain bright and strong unless its flame is fed with the fuel of the body and blood of Christ Our Lord. As He Himself says: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you." 3. TheBlessed Eucharist is also a fount of love to man. Whence do the saints derive their supernatural charity, if not from holy Communion? What else made them patient, meek, forbearing, loving, kind, self-sacrificing? Was it not Jesus, Who comes to dwell with them, and Who gave them the commandment that they should do for others what He had done for them? Do I derive from holy Communion this all-embracing charity ? ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 26th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 29.— Octave of Corpus Christi The Chief Ends of Holy Communion 1. The Blessed Eucharist is above all the sacrament of love. It is not only the abiding proof of Our Lord's incredible love for us, but the chief means by which we are enabled to do something to return love for love. In it we can show our love to God by offering to Him a sacrifice which is far more pleasing to Him than all the sacrifices which the whole of mankind can offer—the sacrifice of His divine Son. This we can do each time we hear Mass. This we can do still more when we receive holy Communion and offer ourselves to Christ, Who is our guest, as a mark of our love to God. (continued)

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 ~ June 25th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 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 ~ 28.— Wendesday within the Octave of Corpus Christi 2. It also allays concupiscence. It is the great remedy against luxury and impurity. It takes away the overwhelming force with which the allurements of the flesh attack us, and gives us power to resist them, however violent they may be. Frequent Communion is sometimes the only means of saving a man from falling into grievous sin. Thank God forgiving us so effective a means of keeping faithful to Him. 3. It also curbs and checks the assaults of the devil. Those who commit sin at other times are often entirely free from his attacks on the day when they receive holy Communion. Sometimes, indeed, the day of Communion brings with it stronger temptations; but when this is so, grace enough, and more than enough, is given to insure a complete victory. Trust, then, in holy Communion with implicit confidence, and you will never have any grievous falls, if you are vigilant and do your part. ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus ~ June 25th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ ~ 28.— Wednesday within the Octave of Corpus Christi The Effects of Holy Communion The Blessed Sacrament of the Altar is not only a remedy for sin in the past, but also a preventive of sin in the future. 1. It gives strength against temptation. It is essentially the food of the strong; the food that imparts strength even to the weakest. We need not be discouraged by our own weakness while we have such a resource as this. It will enable us to overcome every possible temptation. God puts a weapon into our hands with which we must needs conquer. Do I make use of it as I ought? (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 ~ June 24th ✧❁❁✧✿✿✧❁❁✧ 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)

2 of 2 ~ 27.— Tuesday within the Octave of Corpus Christi 2. Moreover, whenever we receive Holy Communion in good dispositions, the mere fact of worthy reception has the same effect. Even if anything hindered us from acts of love and contrition, the fact of the presence of Our Lord cancels sin, and helps to remove the obstacle that it places in the way of our love for God. What a reason this is for frequent Communion! 3. In both these ways, by the mere fact of reception and the acts of contrition and love which it engenders in us, holy Communion also takes away the temporal punishment of sin, and shortens the time of our purgatory. Each good Communion of itself blots out some of the penalty still due to God's justice. How wonderful are the effects of holy Communion! How grateful we should be for it! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)

2 of 2 ~ 27.— Tuesday within the Octave of Corpus Christi 2. Moreover, whenever we receive Holy Communion in good dispositions, the mere fact of worthy reception has the same effect. Even if anything hindered us from acts of love and contrition, the fact of the presence of Our Lord cancels sin, and helps to remove the obstacle that it places in the way of our love for God. What a reason this is for frequent Communion! 3. In both these ways, by the mere fact of reception and the acts of contrition and love which it engenders in us, holy Communion also takes away the temporal punishment of sin, and shortens the time of our purgatory. Each good Communion of itself blots out some of the penalty still due to God's justice. How wonderful are the effects of holyCommunion! How grateful we should be for it! ~ Rev. Richard F. Clarke, S.J., The Devout Year (1893)