June Monthly Devotion: Sacred Heart of Jesus

 "There is no surer means of attaining perfection than to be consecrated to the Heart of Jesus. If therefore, we wish to attain that perfection which the adorable Heart of Jesus desires of us, we must make an entire sacrifice of ourselves, and of everything that depends on us, to the Sacred Heart and live entirely for It."
- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

As we leave the blessed month of Our Lady, we turn our attention to the June - the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No one knew Our Lord more intimately than His Blessed Mother - every beat of His heart, what made Him ache, the causes of His joys and sorrows, and every tender feeling He experienced. 

In imitation of Our Lady, we are called to this same intimate union with the Divine and Sacred Heart of Jesus. Though His heart was always open, a lance pierced His holy flesh and precious heart, creating the wound which would become a refuge to all men. In an outpouring of mercy and grace, Our Lord invites us to hide ourselves within these wounds, to place our wounds in His. In merciful love, Our Lord takes our wounds into Himself and offers them to the Father in union with His sacrifice on the cross. 

Let us run to His Sacred Heart - for it burns with love for us! Each beat of His heart is a summon of love, calling us into a deeper contemplation and union with the Heart which wrought our salvation. 

We invite you this month to contemplate the heart of Jesus with us, through the intercession of saints associate with this devotion such as St. Margaret Mary, St. Claude la Colombière, St. Gertrude, St. Alphonsus Liguori, and many others. 

May Our Lady of the Sacred Heart brings us ever closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which burns with love to be our source of consolation, peace and mercy. 

Photo Credit: Fr. Lawrence, OP

​Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.

I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen.