“All We Need is Love”
The message of Jesus appearing to St Margaret Mary 350 years ago was an event that brought to light not only Jesus’ perfect love and how we are invited to cultivate a deep and personal love with Jesus but also offer up our lives and all that we think, say and do to the Lord including our worship and Communion.
St. Margaret Mary shows us the path to responding to Jesus’s perfect love by offering acts of consolation through prayers, going to Mass, and loving Jesus despite what the world is doing. Jesus desires for us to cultivate a deep and personal relationship with Him, where we offer up our daily joys, works, sufferings, and sorrows, personhood and even vocation to the Lord. When we offer these acts of love and focus on responding with love for Love to Jesus.
Jesus asked St. Margaret Mary to make reparation for all those who mistreat him in the Eucharist:
“Behold the heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this sacrament of love.”
This Devotion is a powerful way to access new graces and to return “Love for Love” to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Jesus loved us unto death, so when we return that love, we not only respond to His love but we are changed and impacted as well.
So let us all do our part to share the love of Christ with others. Here are some simple suggestions to help strengthen your devotion.
Gather with Others:
One of the most powerful ways to live out the Devotion to the Sacred Heart is by gathering with others who share your passion. Can you invite a few friends, family members, or fellow parishioners to come together? Whether it’s in your home, at your parish, or even virtually, coming together allows you to encourage one another and build a supportive community around the Sacred Heart. The goal is to keep the flame alive in your heart, home, and parish community.
A great place to start is by Enthroning the Sacred Heart as King, Lord, and Savior of your home and sharing that love with others. When we enthrone the Sacred Heart, we are willing to allow our home to be “Another Bethany,” where Jesus can enter and feel welcomed and where Love is returned for Love.
Visit the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration on Thursday:
Another beautiful way to deepen your Devotion is through Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Consider organizing a regular Adoration hour at the parish or a time when you and others can pray before the Eucharist. Adoration is a beautiful opportunity to be in the presence of Christ, reflect on His love, and draw closer to His Sacred Heart. Invite others to join you and experience the peace and grace that comes from spending time with Jesus.
Some parishes gather after visiting the Blessed Sacrament in Adoration or attending Mass- or both. When we spend time in prayer we allow the Lord to touch our heart, feed our soul and give us new graces. This is especially important on the eve of the First Friday, the Thursday before the First Friday because Jesus made this request to St. Margaret Mary.
Jesus asked for devotees of the Sacred Heart to make a holy hour on Thursday night. This commemorates the time Jesus suffered greatly in the Garden of Gethsemane and when he asked his closest apostles to stay with him. After finding his apostles asleep, he asked: “So, could you not watch with me for one hour?” In his great suffering then and now, Jesus wants us to spend time with him and to be close to him.
Read More about the Thursday Before The First Friday- Here (Including Night Adoration in the Home)
Attend Mass on Friday:
Some groups gather after Mass on the First Friday. Jesus also said to St. Margaret Mary:
“On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: ‘I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that Its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under My displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, My divine Heart making Itself their assured refuge at the last moment.'”
The First Friday should be more than a nine day commitment, it should be an opportunity for on-going reparation. I think of the First Friday as a way to start-over spiritually each month by going to Confession, going to adoration and Mass and allow Jesus to help me have a “spiritual reset”.
Read More about the First Friday Here:
Host a Book Study or Prayer Circle:
Opening your home for a book study or prayer circle is a wonderful way to foster community and dive deeper into understanding the Sacred Heart. Choose a book that focuses on the Sacred Heart, or simply gather to pray and share your thoughts on this Devotion. It’s a way to grow in faith together, support one another, and make the love of Christ known in your daily lives.
Here is a link to books we recommend at the www.SacredHeartrevival.com site. There you can see not only great books but also a map of where the Enthronement has been done around the world.
*More Books on this site!
Start a Sacred Heart Group in Your Parish or Community to Support Others in Living Out this Devotion:
Starting a Sacred Heart Group in your parish can be a rewarding way to bring others into this beautiful Devotion. Whether it’s a monthly meeting, a prayer group, or an outreach program, your group can become a beacon of Christ’s love in your parish community. I’m here to assist you in organizing, finding resources, and answering any questions you may have as you embark on this journey.
Gathering Once a Year:
Attend the Sacred Heart Congress for yearly renewal and support in-person (Westerville, OH on November 9, 2024 or virtually. Visit www.WelcomeHIsHeart.com/Congress to learn more. This year we have Fr. Nathan Cromley, and the focus is how we can be renewed by the loving heart of Jesus.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart:
In 1675, Jesus told St. Margaret Mary that He wanted the Feast of the Sacred Heart to be celebrated on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave. In 1856, the Feast of the Sacred Heart became a universal feast.
Reach out and I can send you PDF of the 12 Promises, study questions and guides to help you LIVE the Promises and claim them for your life.
Let Me Help You!
If you’re ready to take the next step in creating a Sacred Heart Group or need support in gathering others, please reach out. I’m eager to help you accomplish this goal and make a lasting impact in your parish. Together, we can spread the love of the Sacred Heart and draw others closer to Jesus.
Let’s make this Devotion come alive in our communities—starting today!