Are you looking to grow closer to Jesus in 2020? Consider gaining new clarity on your spiritual life by strengthening your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here are five simple steps you can do to not only grow closer to Christ but His PERFECT Love! This world is in desperate need of MORE love so why not embrace and spread the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
1. Start your day with the Sacred Heart Morning Offering.
Daily Offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen
2. Tenderize our hearts by small acts of love and mercy to others. These acts can include performing the Works of Mercy!
The Works of Mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are Spiritual Works of Mercy, as are forgiving, and bearing wrongs patiently. The Corporal Works of Mercy are feeding the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity; it is also a work of justice pleasing to God. (CCC 2447)
3. Our hearts are transformed by more frequent reception of the heart of Jesus which is the Eucharist. Could you add one more day going to Mass? Offer up this Mass for reparation of the sins of others and ask Jesus to soften your heart.
“As I was about to recieve Holy Communion, Our Lord told me that He would come Himself to imprint on my heart the mystical life which He leads in the holy Eucharist, a life entirely hidden and annihilated in the eyes of men, a life of sacrifice and seeming inactivity. He added that He would Himself give me the strength to do what He required of me.” – St. Margaret Mary (II, 198)
4. Add to your home holy reminders of the Sacred Heart.
“He is the Source of all blessings, and will bestow them wherever the picture of HIs divine Heart is placed and Honored.” – St. Margaret Mary (II, 300)
5. Invite others to enthrone their homes to the Sacred Heart by sharing this powerful devotion with friends, family, and fellow parishioners.
“I can hardly express my joy at seeing the increase of devotion to the Sacred Heart of my Savior. I seem to live for that alone. Sometimes such an ardent desire to make It reign in all hearts is kindled within me that there is nothing I would not do and suffer to bring this about.” – St. Margaret Mary (II, 304)
“While at prayer, I begged our Lord to make known to me by what means I could satisfy the desire that I have to love Him. He gave me to understand, that one cannot better show one’s love for Him than by loving one neighbor for love of Him; andthat I must work for the salvation of others, forgetting my own interests in order to espouse those of my neighbor, both in my prayers and in all the good I might be able to do by the mercy of God. – St. Margaret Mary (II, 128)
